STANDARD LESSON PLAN FORMAT

Describe the Class: Kindergarten class of 20, 4 with special needs (2-ADHD, 2-low Resource
pull-out)

Subject/Skill: Science and Math: Investigating ladybugs, counting, and tallying

Objective(s): After reading Are You a Ladybug? Students should be able to identify ladybugs and

their distinct characteristics like what they look like, what they eat, and their environment.

Students should be able to distinguish and identify ladybugs to catch them. Students should be

able to work individually to count ladybugs using tally marks, and work collaboratively to total

the number of ladybugs each group accumulated. Students will work as a whole group to

compare numbers and total ALL ladybug counts.

Procedures: 1. Read Are You a Ladybug? by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries (Whole Group)

(10 min) 2. Have a discussion on the carpet about what ladybugs look like, what they like to eat,

and where they live (Whole Group) (10 min) 3. Break into six groups of three, and one group of

2 (put one special needs student in each group) and give each student in each group a small net to

catch ladybugs, a pencil, and a colorful index card. Each group will have the same color card (5

min) 4. Go outside to the grassy part of the playground and try to catch ladybugs (Small Groups)

(10 min) 5. After catching ladybugs, each member in the group will count how many ladybugs

they captured separately and using tally marks, will record this number on their index card. The

teacher will monitor students to make sure they are following directions. (Individual) (7 min) 6.

Students let the ladybugs loose, then go back to the classroom where students will get into their

groups to tally all their index cards in total (using tally marks), and then meet on the carpet to

compare the numbers of groups, which group had the most, which group had the least, and which
groups tied. The teacher will have a member from each group come up and write their total on

the whiteboard. We will also talk about writing tally marks correctly (Whole group) (8 min)

Materials: Are you a Ladybug book, small mesh nets, assorted colorful notecards, pencils,

Smartboard, Whiteboard, Whiteboard markers

Grouping Structures: Whole group, small group, individual

Modifications: In case of inclement weather, an alternative to going outside and catching

ladybugs would be to have a scavenger hunt around the classroom using small ladybug erasers,

tallying the number of ladybugs each student finds on their individual whiteboards, sharing their

findings with the class, and then tallying the total number of ladybugs

Assessment: Students understand the attributes of ladybugs and their habitat. Students need to

work on their understanding of using tally marks to make a five, rather than 5 straight lines.

Students also need to communicate and work more collaboratively together when in small

groups. Students have mastered the skill of counting. Students worked well with Special Needs

students and were helpful.