Big 6 On-line Research – Monarch Butterfly

The Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly

Lesson Template for Big 6 Online Research Assignment

Title	The Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly
Grade:	Grade 2 Science
Overview	Students will gather the information that is necessary to draw, label, and color a life cycle flow chart. Students will use charts to write a story.
Standards	Subject Matter: Subject: Science Content Standards – Grade Two – Life Sciences 2. Plants and animals have predictable life cycles. A Students know that organisms reproduce offspring of their own kind and that the offspring resemble their patents and one another. B. Students know the sequential stages of life cycles are different for different animals, such as butterflies, frogs, and mice Technology: Technology Standard 3. Research and Information Fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media. s. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on appropriateness to specific tasks. d. process data and report results.
	Assignment	Big 6 Skills
Essential Question	What questions frame the main theme or idea you want students to explore and grapple with?  (2-5)   What are the four stages in the life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly? These stages must be in sequential order.  Also what happens at each stage? If you choose the graphic organizer option: Create a graphic organizer as a part of task definition in order to help students brainstorm ideas and organize concepts and ideas. Graphic organizer will be used to help students with their research and answer the questions.	1. Task Definition 1.1 Define the information problem 1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem)  Students will define the task,  research and gather pertinent information to complete their assignment.
Subsidiary Questions	These may be more factual knowledge or comprehension questions that provide information supporting the essential questions.  (Can be part of your graphic organizer). How do we compare with the butterfly?  What are their physical characteristics? What do they eat? How do they travel? How do they grow? (A venn diagram will be used to compare traits such as eyes, legs, arms, wings, also for taste, smell, see travel. etc.)	2. Information Seeking Strategies 2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm) 2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)   Students will look at the different informational websites to get  a clear understanding of the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.
Student Tasks Activities Procedures	Locate the Data   Students will search websites and gather information about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. They will use their graphic organizer to help them find the information. Internet Data Collection: (List websites and describe data you want students to collect for research and comparison in Excel) http://www.tooter4kids.com/LifeCycle/Butterfly-Life-Cycle.html http://www.monarchbutterfliesusa.com/Cycle.html http://exhibits.pacsi.org/insects/buttermoth.html http://www.monarchbutterfly.com If you choose the Excel Spreadsheet option: Create and mock up a student assignment example using spreadsheet, database, or graphing options.  Include a step-by-step tutorial for students.	3. Location and Access – Locate the Data 3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically) 3.2 Find information within sources 4. Use of Information – Collect the Data 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) the information in a source 4.2 Extract relevant information from a source 5.Synthesis – Create the Spreadsheet Picturing the Data in Excel 5.1 Organize information from multiple sources 5.2 Present the information Students will create their organizational chart.  They will use the information to complete tasks of drawing, labeling and coloring the sequential stages of the life of the monarch butterfly.
Assessment	How will students demonstrate understanding of the issues and questions raised in the text and in the essential question? Describe how you will asses the student learning, the criteria you will use – checklist or rubric  Students will demonstrate understanding by correctly drawing, labeling, and coloring the graphic organizer (flow chart)..  A simple rubric will be used: 4. Full accomplishment   3. Substantial Accomplishment   2. Partial Accomplishment  1. Little Accomplishment.	6. Evaluation 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) 6.2 Judge the information problem-solving process (efficiency)