Lp+draft+Angela

**Grade Level:** 3, 4
 * Title:** Exploring whales, sharks and dolphins
 * Title:** Exploring whales, sharks and dolphins
 * Duration:** 50 minute session


 * **Learning objectives:**
 * Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between a whale and a shark.
 * **Learning outcomes**:
 * Find, Identify and record species that are endangered and why?
 * Identify and record general characteristics and at least three unique behaviours whales and sharks through discussion, Venn diagram and simple information facts.


 * Resources:**
 * //Do Whales Have Belly Buttons?: Questions and Answers About Whales and Dolphins//, by Melvin and Gilda Berger
 * //I Didn't Know That Sharks Keep Losing Their Teeth: and Other Amazing Facts about Sharks// by Claire Llewellyn
 * pencils
 * Teacher created Venn diagram
 * Teacher generated information sheet
 * Various texts on whales, sharks, dolphins from school library
 * Procedure:**
 * //Part I://** Set up reading stations with books. Book stations focus on one animal each: whales, sharks, and dolphins. As a class, read and discuss portions of //Do Whales Have Belly Buttons?: Questions and Answers About Whales and Dolphins// //,// and //I Didn't Know That Sharks Keep Losing Their Teeth: and Other Amazing Facts about Sharks//. Ask the children to read the title and look closely at the cover picture. What can they tell about the book from its cover? (ex. It is nonfiction. It has whale facts.). Inform students that one reason for reading these non-fiction texts is to answer questions they may have and perhaps create more questions to research. Discuss how sharks and whales are different and similar, also what endangered means. Model how to use a Venn diagram to record this information. Students move around stations reading books about sharks, whales and/or dolphins and use the Venn diagrams and information sheets to record information (endangered or not?, find, identify and record general characteristics). Information gathered is used to write an informative paragraph on three unique behaviours and Is it an endangered species? Why?, this will then be displayed and shared with the class.

Informal assessment of understanding/recording information and reading Asses Venn diagrams and paragraphs for appropriate grade level performance ||
 * Assessment**: