Learning about Bats
Date of Lesson:  Nov. 5th                                          Teacher: Erika Calhoon
Grade Level: 2nd/3rd grade                                         Subject Area: Science/Music
Time Needed:40 minutes                                         Topic: Bats

Standards:

·          Wisconsin DPI Grade 4 Science Standard
o   F.4.4 Using the science themes, develop explanations for the connections among living and non-living things in various environments
·         Music Content Standard 1: Sings with others, a varied repertoire of music
o   D. Sing in groups, blending vocal timbre, matching dynamic levels, and responding to the cues of a conductor.

Materials Needed:
·         Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
·         Whiteboard/Chalk board
·         Bat PowerPoint
·         Computer Projector
·         “Bats are good because…” worksheets
·         Crayons/colored pencils/markers

Objectives:
·         Students will respond with reactions about bats, given their prior knowledge, then again after a read-aloud segment by the teacher.
·         Students will identify that bats eat different types of things, and have different importance in nature, given an instructional PowerPoint and discussion stemming from the read aloud.
·         Given instruction, students will sing the song “Bats Eat Bugs.”
·         Students will write one reason why bats are good and draw an accompanying picture, given the PowerPoint and discussion about how bats are helpful animals and their “Bats are good because…” worksheet.

Lesson Context:
            This lesson is designed to be an introduction to bats and their importance in our world.  It will connect science, literature, and music to portray the idea that bats are amazing, necessary animals in our world.  Since this is an introduction, mini lesson, there is little prior knowledge.  The age level of this group would not allow for a lengthy study of bats and their life.  I used some prior knowledge of my own for information for this lesson, as well as a section in the back of the Stellaluna book with great info.  I also viewed these websites to get some facts and information.  I chose them for their straightforward content and kid-friendly format.

·         http://www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/bats/
·         http://www.bats4kids.org/
·         http://www.about-bats.com/types-of-bats.html

Lesson Opening:
            The lesson will start with a brainstorming session on the whiteboard led by the teacher.  Students will be asked to contribute to an Idea Web with “bats” as the center idea.  Students will write down any ideas, words, and connections students have to bats.  Teacher will ask students to say ideas that they have heard from other people as well.  This is to assess students’ prior knowledge and assumptions about the lives of bats.

Procedures:
·         Have students sit in an area where they can see as you read the book, Stellaluna.
·         Include questions during the read-aloud that relate to what the students brainstormed about or that relates to other things in your classroom. 
·         Finish the book by asking students what they learned about bats that they hadn’t known before.
·         Using the PowerPoint as a guide and to provide visuals, talk to students about the different kinds of bats and what they eat. 
·          Talk to students about why bats are important and how they are helpful and necessary animals in nature. 
·         Tell students they will be learning a short song to help them remember certain myths about bats that aren’t true.
·         Sing the sort song for students.  Then tell them that they will repeat each line back to you as you say it.
·         Have students repeat each line after you do to learn the lyrics.  Then tell them that we will add the melody.
·         Sing each line and have students repeat it back to you, singing.  After they have sung each line back to you, ask them to join you in singing it all together.
·         Then ask students to sing it to you by themselves. Start them off with the pitch and the first few words.
·         Pass out a half sheet to each student, with the title “Bats are good because…” Allow each student to write one reason they learned bats are good and if they would like, draw a picture to accompany. 


Closure:  Have students share the reasons they wrote on their paper.  While they are telling their reasons, make a new idea web with their comments.  Ask them how their opinions of bats might have changed.

Special Considerations: For students who are more visual than auditory learners, have the lyrics on a PowerPoint slide and have that up during the teaching of the song.

Assessment: The assessment includes participation during the idea web, assessing prior knowledge and also students writing down new information they learned about bats on their “Bats are good because…” sheets. 

Why is it important that students learn my lesson?: This lesson teaches student about bats, but it also teaches an appreciation for creatures that may not look pretty or nice, but have a very important role in the life cycle of nature and our world.  Students learn that sometimes we hear information about topics that might not be true, or are told as myth.  It is good to look at all sides of a topic and research what is good about something.  There are elements of literature, science, and music, which all reiterate the fact that bats are animals that are really wonderful and are very important, even if they may look scary.  And also, bats do not usually harm humans; they are very unlikely to bite or hurt a human, so we should protect them and show them kindness like we show other animals.