Created byEmily Marsters

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Animal Fact Sheet Fun

Grade 1English15 days

Animal Fact Sheet Fun is a project-based learning experience designed for first-grade students to research and create informative fact sheets about their favorite animals. The project encourages students to describe unique aspects of chosen animals using descriptive language and structured writing. Through activities like virtual safaris, fact-finding quests, and presentation practice, students develop skills in effective communication, research, and organization, all aligned with core language arts standards. The project culminates in a classroom presentation, where students share their knowledge and newly acquired facts about their selected animals.

Fact SheetsDescriptive LanguageAnimal ResearchPresentation SkillsFirst GradeEnglish Language Arts

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we create informative and interesting fact sheets that highlight the most unique and important aspects of our favorite animals?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

What makes your chosen animal unique and interesting?
What are the most important facts to include about your animal?
How can you organize information about your animal clearly?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will be able to identify key facts about their chosen animal and organize these facts into an informative format with a clear topic and conclusion.
Students will be able to use descriptive language to present interesting and relevant details about the animal in their fact sheets.
Students will develop skills in gathering and recalling information about their chosen animal from provided sources.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2

Primary

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.Reason: The project requires students to write fact sheets, which involve naming the topic (animal), supplying facts about it, and providing closure.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4

Secondary

Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.Reason: Students will present their animal fact sheets, expressing ideas and details about the animals clearly as part of their project.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.8

Secondary

With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.Reason: Students will gather and recall information about their chosen animal to prepare their fact sheet, with guidance.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Virtual Safari Adventure

Kick off the project by guiding students through a virtual safari where they encounter a variety of wild animals. As they explore, they are encouraged to take note of their favorite animals and some unique facts mentioned during the tour. This experience sets the stage for their fact sheet creation by immersing them in the animal kingdom.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Animal Ambassador Introduction

This activity kicks off the creation of the fact sheet by having students choose their favorite animal. They'll start by researching basic facts about their chosen animal to create a simple introduction.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Select an animal that interests you from the virtual safari.

2. Write the name of your animal at the top of the sheet.

3. Create an introductory sentence about your animal using prompts such as 'The____ is a very interesting animal because...'

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA simple introductory sentence about the chosen animal written on the student's fact sheet template.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2 by naming the topic (animal) in an informative text introduction.

Activity 2

Fact Finder Quest

Students dive deeper into researching their chosen animal, focusing on gathering unique and interesting facts. With guidance, they will learn to select 3-4 key facts that stand out.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Use books or online resources provided by the teacher to research your chosen animal.

2. Choose 3-4 unique and important facts about your animal.

3. Write each fact in a complete sentence on your fact sheet.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityThree to four complete sentences on the fact sheet that describe unique facts about the chosen animal.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsMeets CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2 by supplying facts about the topic, aligning with learning goals.

Activity 3

Closure Conclusion

Students learn to wrap up their fact sheet by writing a concluding sentence that summarizes the most interesting aspect of their animal.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Reflect on what you learned about your animal.

2. Think about what you found most interesting or surprising.

3. Write a concluding sentence highlighting this key point.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA concluding sentence added to the fact sheet that emphasizes a key takeaway about the animal.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2 by providing some sense of closure in the fact sheet.

Activity 4

Descriptive Details Craft

This activity helps students use descriptive language to make their facts more engaging. They will add adjectives and descriptive phrases to their fact sentences to make them more vivid.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Review the fact sentences you wrote in the Fact Finder Quest.

2. Choose adjectives or phrases to describe the animal and its features more vividly.

3. Revise each sentence to include descriptive language.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityEnhanced fact sheet with sentences that use descriptive language to engage readers.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsConnects with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4 by teaching students to describe things with relevant details.

Activity 5

Presentation Practice Safari

In this activity, students practice presenting their fact sheet to classmates. By sharing aloud, they will develop skills in clear communication and idea expression.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Practice reading your fact sheet aloud to yourself or a partner.

2. Focus on speaking clearly and expressing ideas with enthusiasm.

3. Present your fact sheet to the class during a pretend safari.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA classroom presentation of the student’s fact sheet, demonstrating clear and expressive communication.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4 by helping students develop skills in clear presentation and expression of ideas.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Animal Fact Sheets Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Introduction and Topic Naming

Evaluate the clarity and engagement of the introductory sentence that names the chosen animal.

Criterion 1

Clarity of Introduction

How well students introduce the chosen animal in a clear and engaging manner.

Exemplary

4 Points

The introduction clearly names the animal and begins with an engaging and well-structured sentence that draws interest.

Proficient

3 Points

The introduction names the animal and includes a well-structured sentence that is engaging.

Developing

2 Points

The introduction names the animal but lacks engagement or clarity.

Beginning

1 Points

The introduction is unclear or does not clearly name the animal.

Category 2

Fact Selection and Descriptiveness

Assess the accuracy, significance, and use of descriptive language in the facts presented.

Criterion 1

Accuracy and Significance of Facts

Evaluate the relevance and accuracy of selected animal facts.

Exemplary

4 Points

Selected facts are highly accurate, significant, and demonstrate exceptional relevance to the animal.

Proficient

3 Points

Selected facts are accurate and relevant to the animal.

Developing

2 Points

Selected facts are somewhat accurate and relevant but may include minor inaccuracies.

Beginning

1 Points

Selected facts are inaccurate or irrelevant.

Criterion 2

Use of Descriptive Language

Evaluate the use of adjectives and descriptive phrases to enhance the facts.

Exemplary

4 Points

Facts are vividly enhanced with rich adjectives and descriptive language that captivates the reader.

Proficient

3 Points

Facts are enhanced with effective adjectives and descriptive phrases.

Developing

2 Points

Some attempt at using descriptive language, but often inconsistent or ineffective.

Beginning

1 Points

Little to no use of descriptive language, making the facts plain or uninteresting.

Category 3

Concluding Sentence

Evaluate the effectiveness of the concluding sentence in providing a sense of closure.

Criterion 1

Effectiveness of Conclusion

How well the concluding sentence summarizes key points or interesting aspects of the animal.

Exemplary

4 Points

The conclusion effectively summarizes the most interesting aspects with clear and engaging synthesis.

Proficient

3 Points

The conclusion summarizes key points clearly and effectively.

Developing

2 Points

The conclusion is present but lacks clear summarization of key aspects.

Beginning

1 Points

The conclusion does not provide a clear summarization or lacks insight.

Category 4

Presentation Skills

Evaluate clarity, expressiveness, and enthusiasm in presenting the fact sheet.

Criterion 1

Clarity and Expressiveness

How well the student presents their fact sheet with clear articulation and expressiveness.

Exemplary

4 Points

Presentation is clear, expressive, and delivered with high enthusiasm and confidence.

Proficient

3 Points

Presentation is clear and expressive with good enthusiasm.

Developing

2 Points

Presentation lacks consistent clarity or expressiveness.

Beginning

1 Points

Presentation is unclear and lacks expressiveness.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

What new information did you learn about your chosen animal that you didn't know before?

Text

Required

Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about presenting your animal fact sheet to the class?

Scale

Required

Question 3

Which activity helped you the most in understanding your animal and creating your fact sheet?

Multiple choice

Required

Options

Animal Ambassador Introduction

Fact Finder Quest

Closure Conclusion

Descriptive Details Craft

Presentation Practice Safari

Question 4

How did using descriptive language make your fact sheet more interesting? Provide examples.

Text

Optional

Question 5

What strategies did you use to remember facts and details about your chosen animal?

Text

Optional