Teacher: Nancy Stewart PVO South - Ogden, IL
[email protected]Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 4th
Unit Title: Ocean Life
Lesson Title: Starfish Dissection
Objectives 1. Students will learn the external anatomy of the sea star
2. Students will learn the internal anatomy of the sea star
` 3. Students will learn how to dissect a starfish
Materials/Resources Needed:
1. One set of instructions with pictures
2. Safety goggles and 1 pair of latex gloves
3. Magnifying glass
4. One short plastic ruler
5. 1 pair of tweezers and scissors
6. Alcohol swabs (for clean-up)
7. Mat for dissection and paper towel
8. 1 Starfish
9. Flip Video Camera
Anticipatory Set We will watch short video showing living creatures of the sea and focus on the starfish habits. We will also view a previous year (year 2 with flip camera) video of class taping the proper way to dissect.
Objective/Purpose Using the flip camera, students will be able to view and label the external and internal anatomy of starfish and be able to properly dissect a starfish. Students will view and learn radial symmetry and that the starfish is an invertebrate. Students will learn vocabulary needed for the lesson.
Input Using the video of previous classes, students will be instructed on proper dissecting procedures, proper safety for handling dissecting tools and emergency steps that must be taken for any unfortunate accidents.
Model I will show the class a video of step-by-step dissection.
Check for Understanding I will allow students to take a test answering questions about the vocabulary and anatomy as well as a practical test. Each student will properly label a sea star picture by observing a dissected starfish having pins stuck into the anatomy to be labeled. Students will publish their video for the up-coming class as a preview into next year and this video will again be used the following year for lesson.
Closure Students will draw in their personal science spirals a picture of their observations using the vocabulary words for description and express how videotaping the lesson has increased their learning.
