UH COE Lesson Plan Template (Inquiry Lesson)

Name of Teacher 
Joselyn Hernandez
Candidate 

Lesson Overview
Grade Level 2nd Grade
Estimated Time
One 45 minute class
Needed
Students will learn about animal characteristics and how they relate to where an animal
lives, how it moves and what it eats. Students will be shown an image of an animal in an
incorrect environment. They will have to determine what is wrong with the image. Then they
will have to work with a small group to list characteristics of an animal, using a stuffed
animal and picture cards for reference. When we come back we will discuss what animal
Lesson Description characteristics are and how they relate to where they live, how they move and what they
eat. They will go back to work with that same group and for each characteristic write how
that relates to either what it eats, where it lives, or how it moves. As an exit ticket, we will all
look at an image that is projected on the screen. They will examine the image, pick a
characteristic of the animal and describe how it relates to how an animal moves, what it
eats or where it lives.
(10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their
parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their
Content Area
environments. The student is expected to:
Standards
(A) investigate how the external characteristics of an animal are related to where it
lives, how it moves, and what it eats 
Technology
Standards
Students will be able to:
- Use their observational skills to list characteristics of animals
Objectives
- Determine how those characteristics relate to where an animal lives, what it eats or
how it moves

Resources/Materials/Tools 
Physical Characteristics
Traits
Environment/Habitat
Terms/Vocabulary
External
Relates
Behaviors
Technology Projector
Resources PPT
Other Resources

Lesson Procedures 
This template is A step-by-step description of the scope and Describe how each stage of Cite specifically what
sequence of lesson activities, with estimated the lesson will be managed, resources for this activity
built on the time on task noted in parentheses for each including role of teacher and will be used, and
traditional step. In other words, completely describe the learners (who is doing what describe in detail how
UH COE Lesson Plan Template (Inquiry Lesson)
“Madeline Hunter” flow of the lesson-the content to be at each point), location (e.g., they will be used.
lesson structure. presented, and the strategies to be used. classroom, computer lab, Note who will be using the
Include actual words you will use and outside), and any special tool and in what ways.
questions you will ask students. Consider considerations, such as for Note any safety
items such as: parts of the lesson that might differentiated instruction. considerations needed.
be difficult, and how you will know whether
you can go on; how to ensure that students
completely understand directions before
releasing them to work independently; and
what students will do if they finish their work
early.
What’s wrong with this picture? Students will discuss
slideshow. Students will be shown an what is wrong with the
image where and animal is placed in image.
an incorrect habitat/environment.
We will discuss why
Guiding questions: that animal couldn’t
What is wrong with the image? live there based on Teacher will be
Why wouldn’t that animal live there? their physical using the computer
Why couldn’t it live there? characteristics. We will and projector for
Engage  Where does this animal live? Do we discuss why their this. PPT
know? characteristics do not presentation will be
allow them to survive projected to the
in that environment. class.

Ex. Sea Turtle in a

desert, Camel in a
snowy area, etc.

The teacher will group students in Students will work in

groups of 3’s. Groups will be groups. Each one will
determined beforehand. be assigned an animal.
They will have 4
Students will be assigned an animal minutes to come up
and will be given a stuffed animal with as many physical
along with pictures of the animals. characteristics as they
can for the animal. Students will be
Explore  The students will be instructed to using teacher made
(Collaborative and go back with their groups and they Students will be images of the
hands-on) will have 4 minutes to discuss with working around the animals for
their groups and come up with as rooms in order to reference.
many physical characteristics as complete this task.
they can. They will need these for Timer will be set and
an activity later on in the lesson students must write
that will build off of this. their physical
characteristics on
We will come back to the rug after sticky notes.
this. Students will be instructed to
UH COE Lesson Plan Template (Inquiry Lesson)
meet up at the rug when the timer
goes off.
Deconstruct TEKS with students. Students will be
participating in a
We will define what physical discussion on what
characteristics are, and practice physical
determining the relationship to its characteristics are.
habitat, diet or movement. We will They will help
brainstorm examples of external deconstruct the
characteristics such as: ​fins, wings, TEKS.
fur, limbs, tails, ears, etc.
Students will be
The teacher will show students looking at the slides
more images of animals in either a and determining what
correct or incorrect environment. is wrong with each
Teacher will ask students guiding image based on their
questions in order to create a characteristics.
discussion and model what they
will be doing in the elaborate. Guiding Questions:
- Is this image
correct? Why
Explain  Teacher will be
or why not?
(student and using the computer
- What physical
teacher discourse, and projector for
characteristics
teacher modeling, this. PPT
does this
vocabulary presentation will be
animal have?
instruction, clarify projected to the
- How do those
misconceptions) class.
characteristics
relate to where
the animal
lives? What it
eats? or how it
moves?
- What
characteristics
are related to
what this
animal eats?
- What
characteristics
are related to
how this
animal moves?
- What
characteristics
are related to
UH COE Lesson Plan Template (Inquiry Lesson)
where this
animal lives?
Teacher will direct students to go Students will go back
back with the same group they to their groups with
were working with and they will their assigned animal
use those same characteristics but and determine how Students will be
Elaborate 
now they will get a fact sheet each physical using teacher made
(Extend or apply
describing the animals diet, habitat characteristic is information cards on
the learning to a
and how they move. related to how it eats, each animal along
new setting; active
where it lives and how with images of the
and collaborative)
They will each pick one sticky note it moves. animals.
with a characteristic and determine
how it relates to where an animal
lives, moves or what it eats.
The teacher will project an image The students will
of an animal. determine a physical
characteristic of the
Students will demonstrate their animal and how it
Evaluate 
understanding by completing a related to either where
(Students
sticky note assessment. Teacher it lives, what it eats,
demonstrate their
will show the class one animal and or how it moves.
understanding. How
tell them where it lives and what it
will you know what
eats and how it moves. The
they’ve learned?)
students will determine a physical
characteristic of the animal and
how it related to either where it
lives, what it eats, or how it moves.

Plans for Differentiated Instruction/Accommodations 

Special 
Education  N/A
Students 
The lesson will have a variety of visuals including images and stuffed animals for reference.
English  The students will be able to come up with the characteristics using visuals. The lesson will
Language 
include a turn and talk where students will be asked to communicate their learning to their
Learners 
peers and the class.
Students will be asked to come up with as many external characteristics, so they are not
Gifted and  limited to the amount that they can come up with. Also, in their groups, the students are
Talented  required to choose 1 characteristic and identify how it relates but the extension would be
they choose another one if they finish early.
Other:  

Potential Challenges/Plan B 
Students may become excited with the plush animals. Expectations will be set that if they cannot do their work
with the plush, they will lose the privilege of using them.
UH COE Lesson Plan Template (Inquiry Lesson)
Students may not understand how to connect the external characteristic, in case this happens, we will regroup
and work them out together.

In case projector doesn’t work, I can display the images for the students on the board (printed).

Notes and Credits