Content Area(s): Science, Language Arts
Grade(s): K, 1

Invitation
How does a teacher help students record information from science experiments and extend knowledge while addressing a wide range of learning styles and proficiencies? How can a teacher use computers to develop literacy in an integrated content study? This unit enhances a required science study of wood by having kindergarten and first grade students create an observation log and slide show of research reports.

Tools
Computers, printer, word processing software; Template: Wood Experiment; a primary drawing/slide show program such as Kid Pix, reference CDs, Internet access, wood samples

Situations
The students work in class during this unit. The unit requires 3-4 weeks.

Interactions
The student teams work together when selecting topics, conducting experiments, and researching, writing and editing reports. They work as individuals when creating a graphic for the class slide show. The teacher assigns the students to partner teams. She sets up the experiments, models procedures for experiments and research, creates a form for student observation logs, works with teams, facilitates writing on the computer, helps edit writing, and guides students to incorporate graphics into a slide show.

Standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)
The student generates questions and conduct research about topics using information from a variety of sources. The student develops the foundations of writing. The student develops an extensive vocabulary. The student uses the writing process to compose original text.

Tasks
The students conduct experiments on wood, observe its properties, and use the computer to record observations from the experiments. The students explore information resources and take notes. Finally, they write a report and produce a computer graphic for a class slide show on wood.

Assessment
The teacher evaluates the logs and the slide shows by the following criteria:1) What level of teacher support did the student need? 2) Is the sketch accurate? 3) Does the conclusion relate to the prediction? 4) Is there evidence of vocabulary growth? 5) Is there elaboration in the sketch or writing? 6)Did each partner actively contribute to the project? 7)Does the report have an introduction, facts, and a conclusion?