Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023

STEM 434/534 Lesson Planning Template Spring 2023

(Complete answers in Purple font)

Topic: Weather conditions

Name: Emily Ratliff
Brief Lesson Description:
and seasons that affect
Grade: 2nd Grade
plants, animals, and their
surroundings.

In this lesson, students will explore and understand that weather patterns and different
seasons can affect the environment, animals, and plants. Due to dramatic changes in the
participation, temperature, and light students will explore how plants, animals, and people
respond to these dramatic changes that can occur over time.

Specific Learning Outcomes:

- Students will explore plants, animals, weather conditions, and seasonal changes while
inspecting growth and behavior changes.

- Students will identify animals that migrate, hibernate, or show other

changes due to seasonal weather changes.

- Students will explain how an animal’s behavior may change throughout

the year due to food source availability.

- Students will model the effects of weathering and erosion on the land
Surface.

I Can Statements:
- I can explore plants, animals, weather conditions, and seasonal changes.
- I can inspect the growth of plants and animals and watch the seasonal changes.
- I can identify animals that migrate, hibernate, and change due to seasonal weather.
- I can explain how animals may change their behavior due to food source availability.
- I can model the effects of weathering and erosion on the land surface.

S.M.A.R.T Goal:

During this lesson I am going to provide my students with great understand of this
standard. I will provide students knowledge about plants, animals, weather conditions, and
how seasonal changes can all be affected by different things in the environment or
weather changes. I will provide each student with the same opportunities for these
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
engaging activities to come.

Brief Lesson Description:

The students will evaluate and determine why weather changes, seasonal changes, and
habitats change. Students will also learn how animals will adapt to new environments when
their past home may be destroyed by weather. Students will also determine the life of
plants and how they adapt to their surroundings.

How did this lesson develop as a result of your examination of research and data
about employing culturally sustaining pedagogical strategies? (Think equal opportunity,
student interests, race, gender, disabilities etc.)
- This lesson is developed to support pedagogical strategies by allowing students equal
opportunity for all assignments, lessons, and activities that we will do in the
classroom. Students will be able to make connections through this lesson while they
are at home, traveling, ex. This lesson explains how weather changes, seasons
change, and habitats. Plants and animals affected by the weather and disasters will
also be taught in the lesson. This is a great way for all students to interact and
communicated about their real-life experiences with these things and share their
knowledge. This lesson is hands on learning base opportunity for all students of
different races to collaborate together and grow in their knowledge of education.

Narrative / Background Information

Prior Student Knowledge:
- Students will know that there are different weather patterns and seasonal changes.
- Students will know the affect of growth in animals and plants due to changes in the
environment.

Science VA SOL Health VA SOL NGSS (You may have to

Safety look to a different grade
The student will investigate a) Explain the level for the connection)
and understand that weather importance of assuming
patterns and seasonal responsibility for personal NGSS- Science centers.
changes affect plants, safety. Plants and animals and things
animals, and their that change their
surroundings. Key ideas environment.
include.

a) weather and seasonal

changes affect the growth
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
and behavior of living things.
b) wind and weather can
change the land;
Science & Engineering Practices: (You must tie engineering practices into your plan)
 Engineers also tie a role into this lesson plan that students are going to learn about.
How must we tract these such weather conditions and different information about
animals, seasonal changes, and growth in our environment?

Engineers play a big role creating thermometers, barometers, and different technology
that help us keep track of different weather, seasonal changes, and determine different
changes in the land. Engineers also help us analyze the growth and behavior of living things.

- By using satellites
- Thermometers
- Barometers
- Computer simulation
- Ecosystem Restoration
- Build new exhibits for endangered animals

Possible Preconceptions/Misconceptions:

- Living organisms might not respond to the weather conditions

- Understand the safety precautions that come with observing weather changes, and
animal behavior.
- Environment issues with plants.

LESSON PLAN – 5-E Model

ENGAGE: Opening Activity – Access Prior Learning / Stimulate Interest / Generate
Questions: (Discrepant events are awesome to use here)

SAFTEY FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS:

Students will be required to wear gloves. All students will be provided gloves before our
assignments and hands on learning lessons that requires them to work with objects.

Time Allowance: 30 minutes.

Whole class group activity:
TTW discuss different weather patterns and what causes these types of weather changes
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
that can happen quickly.
TTW discuss the changes in habitats that will be affected by the weather conditions.

TSW determine what caused the weather patterns to change.

TSW discuss what outcomes might happen to the animal’s habitat and environment they
live in after the weather conditions that might occur.
TSW will discuss what the animals will do to adapt to their new habitats.
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023

All made by me in Canva

The teacher will let the students elaborate with their classmates and see if they had
experienced with these weather patterns. The teacher will discuss the disadvantages that
these types of weather conditions cause and explain to students how it can change the
environment.
EXPLORE: Lesson Description – Materials Needed / Probing or Clarifying Questions:

SAFTEY FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS:

Students will be required to wear gloves. All students will be provided gloves before our
assignments and hands on learning lessons that requires them to work with objects.

Using the environment to build a home: Time duration 45 minutes

TTW talk about building a bird nest with the class. This can be a inside or outdoors
experiment with students.

Materials needed for inside lesson:

- Yarn
- String
- Newspaper
- Twigs
- Paper plates
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
- Plastic eggs
- Glue
- Dried Leaves
- Gloves

The teacher will ask students questions before experiment such as:
- Has anyone ever seen a bird’s nest?
- How do you think the bird’s make their nest?
- Why is a bird’s nest important?
- Where does a bird get the materials to make the nest?
- What other animals may make their own nest? (Ex: beaver dam)

The teacher will place different materials around the classroom to gather as if they are a
bird finding different materials in the wild.

Students will then share with the class their bird nests and explain how they made it. They
will also explain why nests are so important for animals and how it keeps them safe.
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023

EXPLAIN: Concepts Explained and Vocabulary Defined:

Before KWL chart watch YouTube video: Adaptations in plants: What is adaptation? The
Dr Binocs Show: Peekaboo kidz. YouTube. (2020, August 21). Retrieved February 5, 2023,
from https://youtu.be/ca99WW_v0bA

KWL Chart: How do plants grow

TTW talk to students about plant growth and how the environment can affect the growth
of plants.
This activity will be done as a whole class. Students will write down different ideas on this
KWL chart.
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023

Time allowance: 30 minutes.

Made in Canva by me.

Vocabulary:
- Season
- Weather changes
- Habitat
- Erosion
- Disaster
- Plant
- Adaptation

ELABORATE: Applications and Extensions:

EVALUATE:

Formative Monitoring (Questioning / Discussion):

- As a class we will discuss again about how weather changes and how it affects plants
and animals’ habitats. The class will do an assignment individually that asks questions
about our lessons to see how well they understood the lessons. An exit ticket will
also be used for this type of questioning.

Summative Assessment (Quiz / Project / Report) (Include a rubric):

- Students will report a sheet based on the different weather patterns during the
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
week that occur. Students will report back at the end of the week with the data
they collected. Students will also explain how they think the weather that week
would affect the plants and animals.

Rubric:

3 2 1
Weather conditions Students explained Students struggled Students did not
with no difficulty explaining the explain the weather
the weather weather conditions conditions that
conditions that that week. week.
week.
How Plants are Students explained Students struggled Students did not
affected with no difficulty with explaining how explain how the
how the plant the plants were plants were
condition due to the affected by the affected by the
weather that week. weather that week. weather that week
How Animals are Students explained Students struggled Students did not
affected with no difficulty with explaining how explain how the
how the animals are the animals were animals were
affected by the affected by the affected by the
weather that week. weather that week. weather that week.

Plan for differentiation: (Be sure to specifically address the following learners)
 Students with high-incidence disabilities (e.g., autism, ADHD, mild learning
disorders)

ADHD:
- Students with ADHD disabilities will still be included with all in class activities and
individual assignments. Students will be seated away from windows and other
distractions that can be in the classroom. Students will be seated away from other
students that may encourage bad behavior. When conducting group work students
with ADHD will be seated with specific students that will be beneficial to help the
student improve.
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023

ELL:
- I will provide ELL the same or close assignments that fit the needs for this student
to succeed along with his/her classmates. I will provide videos and audio that help
the students understand the assignment/ lesson better. Group work will be
beneficial for ELL working with their classmates will help improve their English
Language. Gifted learners would be a great group for ELL to improve their English
language.

Gifted learners:
- Gifted learners will be given the same lessons and actives as the rest of the class. I
will provide different activities for the gifted learners if they complete their first
activities first that will challenge their critical thinking. I will also offer open ended
questions and have other gifted students work together. Gifted learners can help
other students play review games to practice.
Elaborate Further / Reflect: Enrichment:
 How will you evaluate your practice?
- I will provide exit tickets and a question jar for students to use for after the
assignment. Although students are always welcome to come directly to myself, some
may feel more conformable to show their knowledge though the exit ticket or ask a
question in the jar. Not all students have to use the jar to ask questions, but it is
provided if so. All students will do an exit ticket at the end of the lesson so I can
see their comprehension on what they have learned.

 Where might/did learners struggle in the lesson?

- Some students may struggle during this lesson if they have never had any real world
experiences with different types of weather conditions based on where they live.
Some students may struggle understanding that animals have to adapt to their
situations that occur just like we do as humans.

 How can the lesson be strengthened for improved student learning?

- This lesson will help students learn more about our environment. They will learn how
plants and animals adapt to seasonal changes and weather changes that might occur.
Learning about our environment is so important for students to know.

 Did the lesson reflect culturally sustaining pedagogies? If not, how can this be
enhanced?
Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
- This lesson can connect students with cultural backgrounds that everyone can learn
about the environment and explore the same. Scientist, weathermen/women, explore
the weather changes and how it affects plants and animals. Students can work
together as one to come up to a solution how to solve the problems.

Resources:
https://youtu.be/ca99WW_v0bA

Activities were created by myself in Canva.

Emily Ratliff STEM 434 2/5/2023
Materials Required for This Lesson/Activity

Estimated
Quantity Description Potential Supplier (item #)
Price
2 Yarn Dollar Tree $1
10 String Dollar Tree $1

2 Newspaper Local Gas Station $1

25 Twigs Outside $0
20 Paper Plates Dollar Tree $1
25 Plastic Eggs Dollar Tree $1
20 Glue Dollar Tree $2
30 Dried Leaves Outside $0
50 Gloves Dollar Tree $10