Feeding Crayfish

Learning Context

 

Purpose

The purpose of this Learning Experience is for the students observe what body parts the crayfish use to find and consume their food.  The students will observe as crayfish are given corns and lettuce to eat in their classroom environment.  The students will witness which food the crayfish prefer.

Goals

The students will be able to point out the antennae of the crayfish.  They will be able to express in words what the antennae is used for to increase survival of an organism.

The students will be able to write what crayfish like to eat.

Enduring Understanding

Both humans and crayfish need food and air to survive.  They also both rely on humane treatment in order to maintain dynamic equilibrium.

Essential Questions

How are crayfish similar to humans?

Overview of What Students Need to Know

Prior to Learning Experience:
The students are knowledgeable of all classroom and school rules and procedures.  (page Appendix 4-6)
The students know how to humanely treat living creatures, including crayfish.  The students know the body parts of a crayfish and therefore will be able to identify certain parts during the lesson.  In prior lessons the students have observed crayfish breathing by using food coloring.  They have also learned about the crayfishes’ external environment in the classroom viruses their environment in the wild.
During and After the implementation of LE:
During the implementation of the Learning Experience the students will be working with the crayfish to experiment with what and how the crayfish eat.
After the implementation of the Learning Experience the students will know what body parts a crayfish uses in order to find, transfer and consume their food.  After advanced students are finished with the lesson they will go to the computer lab to use the internet to understand why crayfish can go a month without food.
Key Subject-Specific Vocabulary:
Antennae-a pair of slender moveable segmented sensory organs on the head of crustaceans
Maxillae-the irregularly shaped bone that with its fellows forms the upper jaw
Maxilliped-any of the crustaceans’ appendages that compromise the first pair or first three pairs situated next behind the maxillae
Mandible-any of various invertebrates’ mouthparts serving to hold or bit food materials

Classroom Rules

Show respect by:

1. Keep your hands and feet to yourself

2. Use walking feet

 

3. Raise your hand and wait to be called on to speak in class

4. Use indoor voices

5. Return all materials to their rightful place in the classroom

 Letter home

9-10-2010
Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s):
          I would like to take this time to introduce myself to you.  My name is Danielle Wisner and I will be participating in Ms. Short’s classroom as a student teacher for the next seven weeks.  Currently, I am working on my Bachelors in Childhood and Special Education, with a concentration in Spanish at Daemen College.
          My teaching assignment began September 7th and I have been actively working with Ms. Short to learn classroom procedures and routines.  I am thoroughly enjoying interacting with the students and look forward to being involved in the classroom.  Throughout my placement at Transit Middle, Ms. Short will be supervising my teaching and will be assisting me as I plan, develop and facilitate activities and lessons that follow the New York State and District curriculum.  Ms. Short has arranged a schedule which gradually increases my teaching time with each successive week, until I am completely facilitating instruction throughout the entire day.
          My goal for this placement is to become more comfortable with fifth grade and learn new methods of teaching Math and Science.  I am very interested in all of the fun lessons that we are going to work on as a team.
          I look forward to working with your child throughout the coming weeks!
Sincerely,
Danielle Wisner

Notice of Camera/Video Usage
I will be collecting pictures/video as evidence of my teaching experience for my portfolio, which, may be viewed by potential employers.  If you do not want your child to be photographed, please inform either me or Ms. Short at your earliest convenience.  Thank you.