Habiwhat? Lesson Plan: Podcasting About Animals and Their Habitats

Submitted by: Shannon Jakeman

Grade Levels: K-3

In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades K-3, students use BrainPOP Jr. resources to explore habitats. They will identify animals belonging to specific habitats, and create podcasts describing an animal and its habitat.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Define and describe habitats
  2. Identify animals belonging to specific habitats
  3. Create podcasts describing an animal and its habitat

Materials:

  • Projection device for students to view movies
  • Interactive Whiteboard
  • Podcast Recording Script (1 per student)
  • Pencil (1 per student)
  • iPod/s
  • Recording device for iPods
  • Venn Diagram for Interactive Whiteboard
  • Computer with speakers
  • Access to BrainPOP Jr.

Vocabulary:

habitat, lake, pond, river, rainforest, desert, climate

Preparation:

Preview BrainPOP Jr. movies and determine pause points. Prepare a podcast recording script for student use. Teach students how to record onto and use an iPod. Prepare a Venn Diagram to be used with the Interactive Whiteboard.

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie, "Freshwater Habitats," pausing to reflect and discuss as questions which are addressed throughout the video. Students will then complete the "Talk About It" activity either whole group or independently. Students are to focus on which animals live in each water habitat.
  2. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie "Desert," pausing to reflect and discuss as questions are addressed throughout. Students will complete a Venn Diagram on an Interactive Whiteboard comparing and contrasting desert and freshwater habitats.
  3. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie "Rainforests," pausing to reflect and discuss as questions are addressed throughout. Students will complete the "Write About It" activity. As a whole group, students will work together to identify animals found within different habitats. The teacher will use the Interactive Whiteboard to display desert, freshwater and rainforest habitats. Students will use the magnifying glass on the Interactive Whiteboard to search for different animals within the habitats. Discussion will focus around special features of the animals living in the habitats.
  4. As a whole group, students will work together to identify animals found within different habitats. The teacher will use the Interactive Whiteboard to display desert, freshwater and rainforest habitats. Students will use the magnifying glass on the Interactive Whiteboard to search for different animals within the habitats. Discussion will focus around special features of the animals living in the habitats.
  5. Students will then record the podcast scripts using their iPods and then share them with the class.

Related:

    Filed as:  Animals, Arctic Habitats, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.8, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.6