1. Hagey 1
Information Literacy Lesson Plan
Lauren Hagey
FRIT 7136
Pathfinder URL
http://environmentresources.pbworks.com

2. Hagey 2
Title of What is my role in protecting Grade 3rd Grade – Special Education
Lesson the environment? Level
Curriculum Science - Environment Time 3- 45 minute class periods
Area Frame
Overview of Reliable Source Unit
This unit is designed for a 3rd grade special education class with mostly autistic students. The students are
learning about the environment, ways people are hurting the environment, and ways they can help the
environment. The teacher wanted students to be able to use the media center as a source for working
independently, but also to cater to some of their special needs. All of the resources found in this unit are
available online.
Stage 1 – Desired Results
Content Standards:
Information Literacy Standards for Lesson:
1.1.4 – Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to answer questions.
1.1.6 – Read, view, and listen for information (eg textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences
and gather meaning.
3.1.5 – Connect learning to community issues.
4.1.5 – Connect ideas to own interests and previous knowledge and experience.
3rd Grade GPS Standards for Unit:
S3L1. Students will investigate the habitats of different organisms and the dependence of organisms
on their habitat.
c. Identify features of animals that allow them to live and thrive in different regions of Georgia.
d. Explain what will happen to an organism if the habitat is changed.
S3L2. Students will recognize the effects of pollution and humans on the environment.
a. Explain the effects of pollution (such as littering) to the habitats of plants and animals.
b. Identify ways to protect the environment.
• Conservation of resources
• Recycling of materials
Big Idea from Lesson: Relating Information
Core Tasks from Lesson: Researching a topic to find useful and relevant information
Relate information found to interests and experiences

3. Hagey 3
Lesson Understandings
Students will understand that:
- an animal’s habitat/environment is vital to their survival.
- they have a responsibility to take care of the environment.
- different forms of pollution are harmful to the environment.
- they can look up information about their environment.
Related Misconceptions:
- The environmental problem is too big for one person.
- People can’t do anything about it because limited information is available.
Lesson Essential Questions
Overarching Question: Topical Questions:
- Why is it important to know about the - How is the environment affected by what humans do?
environment? - How are animals affected by what happens to the
environment?
Lesson Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge Skills
Students will know: Students will be able to:
- Their actions effect the environment. - Find ideas for their own environment clean up
- They have a chance and opportunities project.
to help the environment. - Use the computer to find information about the
environment.
Lesson Materials and Equipment
- At least 10 computer stations for student use
- Handout
“Environmental Kids Club”
- Access to Media Center Resources

4. Hagey 4
Lesson Procedures/Activities
1. Activating Strategy
The media specialist will begin by showing a slide show of pictures of animals or the environment that has
been harmed by human activities. Toward the end of the slideshow, it will show people helping the
environment. These will include pictures of people cleaning sea life after the oil spill, a community picking
up trash along a very polluted highway, planting gardens/trees in community areas, throwing recyclable
items in designated areas, and people carpooling to work.
2. Activity One
With the media specialist, the students will make a brainstormed list of various ways they have seen people
in their community pollute. Another list will be compiled of ways students have seen people in their
community prevent pollution or helped their environment.
3. Activity Two
Students will go to their individual computers with a worksheet. They will go to http://www.epa.gov/kids/
and visit various sections of the website to learn about different ways they can help or get involved in
preserving the environment. Students will follow and fill out the Environmental Kids Club worksheet.
4. Activity Three
Students will visit http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/groovygarden/index.html and click on dirt piles to
answer questions about what smart decisions they can make to help the environment.
5. Activity Four
Students will visit http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/action/way04.html and scroll to the project spotlights
and pick on that they would like to try themselves or vote on as a class to participate in.
Lesson Assessments
1. “Environmental Kids Club” Handout
2. Graphic Organizers
Cause and effect – demonstrates how students know how different activities can effect the environment.
3. K-W-L
Shows what students knew before the activity, what they learned, and what they still want to know.
Reflection
During the process of coming up with this lesson plan, I felt very challenged having to work with special
education children. I tried to use many fun and kid-friendly resources online so that they could work at their
own pace and so that the lessons would lend themselves to the students’ different needs. Many of the
students have needs where visual cues and interaction are very helpful.
The teacher I worked with was very helpful in telling me some of the activities that they will be doing in
the classroom, outside of media-driven activities. She really wanted me to find some sources for the
students to try to work individually. She wanted to come up with a good example of how they could come
together as a class and do something good for the environment. That’s why I chose to have them look at

5. Hagey 5
several projects that they could take on themselves. The teacher plans on having her students vote on one of
them to do by the end of the semester.
The students really enjoyed all of the activities. It seems that they learned the most and enjoyed the
Environmental Kids Club page the most. The K-W-L was helpful for me to see what students still wanted to
learn after their lesson.
Since I am not currently working in a school, collaborating was a bit challenging. I believe that working
within a school with the media specialist resources will definitely help in the future. I would definitely keep
all of these resources to use with other teachers in the future, as well.
Environmental Kids Club
HABITATS
1. Go to: http://www.epa.gov/kids/
2. Click on Plants and Animals
3. Click on EEK! Environmental Education for Kids
3. Click on Critter Corner
4. Click on Habitats
5. Go through the different habitats and write 2 interesting facts about each one:
Backyard Birds
1.
2.
Forest Habitat
1.
2.
Lakes are Great
1.
2.
Prarie Habitat
1.
2.
Wetland Habitat
1.
2.

6. Hagey 6
YOU AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT
1. Go back to: http://www.epa.gov/kids/
2. Click on You and Your Environment
3. Go to Energy Quest
4. Click on the yellow game device on the dresser.
5. Click on “Connect the Dots”
6. Click on the dots in order of the numbers to find shapes. Do at least 5 shapes.
7. Write one thing about each shape that you can do to help that thing in the environment.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
RECYCLING
1. Go to: http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm
2. Click on different sections of the picture to go to different parts of Recycle City
3. Every building will tell you their part in recycling when you click on it. There are several workers in each
building that can tell you more as well.
4. We’re going on a Scavenger Hunt! Find the following:
• Something made from recycled tires
• A way to use vinegar
• A use for old bricks
• Something made from old milk containers
• An electric car
• How coffee grounds can be reused

7. Hagey 7
Cause and Effect
Cause Effect
1. Throwing trash in the lake.
2. Too many people driving to work.
3. Fertilizer on lawns that drains into streams.
4. Leaving the lights on when you leave a room.
5. Running the dishwasher half full.