Molloy College

Education Department
Student: Meghan Molano
Course: EDU521
Grade: 2nd

Professor: Dr. Esposito

Content Area: Science
Date: 11/30/2016
Topic: Birds vs. Bats

Objective: After listening to a reading of the book Stellaluna and participating in a group
activity, students will be able to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting birds
and bats while using the correct vocabulary.
Motivator: Students will observe the cover of the book and guess what they think the
book is going to be about. Students will also be introduced to the main characters and
will be asked to describe each of the animals.
Standards:
5.2c Senses can provide essential information (regarding danger, food, mates,
etc.) to animals about their environment.
Indicator: This will be evident when discussing the different hunting techniques that
birds and bats use. For example: Bats use echolocation which requires the use of
hearing as a primary method to capturing their prey.

3.1a Each animal has different structures that serve different functions in growth,
survival, and reproduction.
Indicator: This will be evident when discussing the differences in the anatomy of
birds and bats.

1.4.3. Students develop relationships among observations to construct

descriptions of objects and events and to form their own tentative explanations of
what they have observed

Indicator: This will be evident when children observe the cover of the book and
describe the main characters. This will also be evident when students compare their
descriptions to what they learn in the book.

Materials:

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Dry erasete boards
Dry erase markers
Powerpoint
Vocabulary word wall
Computer

Strategies
Direct Instruction: Students will be introduced to the book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
and will be asked to observe the cover and share what they think the book will be about.
Students will also be given the names and type of animal of each main character.
Do Now: Students will be asked to describe a bat and a bird based off of their own
knowledge. Then each description will be written under each of the animals using a
PowerPoint.
Group Discussion: After reading Stellaluna, the class will break into groups of four to
write down some key similarities and differences between bats and birds on personal
white boards. Students may refer to word wall and descriptive observations for help.
After about 10 minutes each group will share what they have written and each of their
answers will be written on the PowerPoint, The PowerPoint will serve as helpful
information for future assignments and will be posted on the class website.
Adaptions:
Students will be given a video of the book being read on the class website.
Students will be able to access the comparing and contrasting PowerPoint on the
class website.
There will be an extra credit take home quiz that can be easily accessed on the
class website for students who need more time.
Differentiation of Instruction
Students who are struggling will be given a list of vocabulary words to study at
home two days before the lesson begins.
Students will have a Venn diagram that is partially filled out, but they can take it
home to complete the rest.
Students will be provided a copy of Stellaluna to take home and read before the
lesson.

Developmental Procedures
1. Students will be asked to observe the cover of the book Stellaluna and make
guesses as to what they think the book is about
2. Students will be asked to participate in a Do Now activity in which they will
describe a bird and a bat based off of their own knowledge.
3. Students will share their answers and each of the descriptions will be shared on a
power point slide according to the character (bat or bird).
4. Students will be read Stellaluna and instructed to pay attention to similarities and
differences between the bat and bird.
5. Students will be placed into groups of four and given personal dry erase boards.
6. Each group will write down similarities and differences between the two main
characters. Students can refer back to the vocabulary word wall.
7. After about 10 minutes, each group will share their findings and the correct
answers will be written on the power point.
8. Students will use the PowerPoint, knowledge of the topic and research
independently to create their own Venn diagrams to compare and contrast bats and
birds.
9. Students who complete the assignment in class can hand it in a get ready to
present tomorrow, while other students who are unable to complete the
assignment can finish it at home.
Assesment

Students will complete a Venn diagram which compares and contrasts, bats and
birds.
Students will also be given a short quiz on what they learned from Stellaluna and
class discussion.

Independent Practice

Students will research independently more similarities and differences between

bats and birds.
Students will also be asked to review vocabulary in preparation for the quiz.

Follow up: Direct Teacher Intervention

Students who perform poorly on the quiz will be given flash cards with
definitions to vocabulary words to study, and will be given an extra credit
opportunity.
Students who struggle with the Venn diagram will be given more time to complete
the activity at home.

Follow up: Academic Enrichment

Students will use vocabulary to write a short paragraph about a new nocturnal
animal each day of the week for homework. Students may also draw their animal
and share with the class.