5E Lesson Plan

Mr. Burk Bosse

2/8/2015
Science: Grade 4
Materials: Cabinet or storage, hamster food, check list and observation notes.
Standard 3 Life Sciences, Observes, ask questions about and describe how organisms change
their forms and behaviors during their life cycles.
Essential Standards and Clarifying Objectives 2.3.1 Observe closely over a period of time and
the record in pictures and words the changes in plants and animals throughout their life cyclesincluding details of their body plan, structure and timing of growth, reproduction and death.
To study and observe hamsters in their cage and natural environment.
Lesson objective(s): Aquent students with the Scientific Method, observation, hypothesize, and
experiment.
Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs: Diverse learners will do, observation,
ask questions, help with cleaning the lab utensils, and come up with hypothesis. Will be using
Vygotskys zone of proximal development.
Engagement
The teacher will introduce the newly purchased hamsters and cage with supplies to the students.
Hand out chores in the care of hamsters, and have the children watch a video on animal
husbandry.

The questions the children should ask themselves are, where do hamsters come from? Do
hamsters live in groups or alone? Are hamsters environmentally friendly? What do I need to
know about hamsters?
Exploration:
The students will learn how best to hold hamsters gently so they wont get bite, take notes of
their findings, learn to measure the amount of food to give a hamster, learn how to clean the
hamster cage, and have permission slips filled out by their parents to go to the museum
In your observation of the hamster, what did you already know? What didnt you know? And
how does the Scientific Method help you study the hamster?
Explanation:
The teacher will ask for the students to read their notes of research and explain what the students
discovered.
The teacher, having given a time limit on the study of the hamster, will ask if the students are
done with the study. The teacher will give a short quiz over the Scientific Method and the study
of the hamster.
The teacher will present a short quiz of hamster anatomy, with no multiple choice questions, but
with written answers.
Elaboration:
Students will develop a more sophisticated understanding by having to use the Scientific Method
in doing their research and will use scientific labels in their study.
The vocabulary the students will use will be the same as researchers use in a lab.

This knowledge is applied in our daily lives, because the children will have a better
understanding about living things and can relate the findings on the hamster to other people and
animals.
Evaluation: Students will demonstrate that they have achieved the lesson objective, by taking
tests, being able to explain the scientific method for their grade, turning in their notes to be
graded, and be able to lead the next students, who will do the observation of the hamster.
Testing, the teacher examining the students notes, throughout the study will be done from the
start of the observation to the end.