NTEQ Lesson Plan #2
Teacher: Sherrilyn Midgette
Lesson Title: Endangered Species of the Desert
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 3rd
Diverse Group: Visual
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I. Learning Objectives:
 By the end of the lesson, students will have researched,
collected,
and
recorded
specific
information
about
endangered desert animals and their habitat in order to
determine
if
the
habitat
contributes
to
the
endangerment or not.
 Students will create a “Flyer” that represents one
endangered
desert
animal
to
distribute
to
other
classmates or grade levels for the purpose of raising
awareness of this problem and convincing others to help.
II. Computer Functions:
 Use the links on the teacher’s wiki page to collect data about
the desert’s habitat and its endangered animals
 Database will be used to organize the information collected
 Word processing will be used to create a flyer for the
presentation
III. Specify Problem:
After researching the habitat and endangered animals of the
desert, do you think that desert animals are in more danger of
becoming extinct than animals that live in a different habitat? Give
3 reasons prove your answer.
IV. Data Manipulation:
 Use the database to record the research information
 Decide which 3 animals are the most endangered and why
V. Results Presentation:
Distribute
and
present
to
the
class
a
colorful,
but
informative, flyer created to promote awareness of the endangered
animals in the desert. It must include a chart of the animals,
pictures and reasons to support the answers to the problem
question for this lesson.
VI. Activities During Computer Use:
 Students are to read the introduction and directions for their
tasks from the teacher’s wiki.
 Students use the links on the wiki to explore and gather
required information on their chart.
 Students fill in their Graphic Organizer chart (Desert Habitat
Notes) as they collect their information.
 Students fill in the teacher-created database fields with the
collected information on their chart.
 Students sort the database information according to the
population of the endangered animals today. (most to the
least)
 Students print out the report.
 Students print out the “Think Sheet”
VII. Activities Before Computer Use:
 Teacher
discusses
with
the
group
the
meaning
of
“endangered”.
 Students make a list of endangered animals by brainstorming.
 Teacher
and
students
discuss
the
difference
between
“endangered” and “extinction”, and how animals that were
once endangered become extinct.
 Teacher explains to the students that their assignment today
is to focus specifically on endangered desert animals.

Teacher
explains
and
answers
questions
concerning
the
graphic organizer chart entitled: Desert Habitat Notes.
VIII. Activities After Computer Use:
 Students answer questions on “Think Sheet”
 Discuss and plan how to visualize the endangerment of the top
3 desert animals and why they may be more/less endangered
than other animals from different habitats.
 Students share responsibilities for creating the flyer.
 Students choose a reporter for their presentation.
***Students will need to return to the computer in order to
complete their presentation assignment.
IX. Supporting Activities:
 Students
may
draw
and
decorate
their
own
individual
endangered desert animal of their choice within its habitat on
8 ½ x 11 sheets of poster board and available art supplies.
 Students may view a video of Desert Animals.
X. Assessment: use a rubric to assess the following
 Database: correct information entered/sorted
 Graphic Organizer completion
 Think Sheet completion
 Presentation-Flyer: a meaningful solution to the problem was
presented
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How does this lesson plan meet the needs, abilities, interests, and
learning styles of the tactile/kinesthetic learning group?
The structure of this lesson enhances learning for those who are
visual learners by incorporating many times of pictures such as
those on the internet and the video. Also, the students are given
an opportunity to show their creativity through the group project
and their individual drawings.
***Visual depiction display:
Students will be positioned facing one another when they discuss
their project. They should be near an art center which should be
close to the computers for easy access.
Subject: The Desert and its animals!
K
W
L
Desert Animals and
Habitat Notes Chart
Animal Class Shelter Food Weather Lifespan Predators Population