Madelayne Perez

Special Education setting

ELA/4th Grade

Aim: How do good readers identify the characteristics of a tarantula?

Purpose

Students will identify the characteristics of a tarantula?

Skills

Students will be able to identify the characteristics of a tarantula.

Students will be able to use visuals in an informative text.

Objective

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of a

tarantula by engaging effectively in collaborate discussion.
Students will identify the characteristics of a tarantula and
contrast them from other kinds of spiders.

Learning Target

I can notice the different characteristics between tarantulas and

other spiders.

I can answer questions using specific details from a text.

I can demonstrate (show) what I know by contributing to

discussion.

Standards

RI. 4.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a

historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened
and why, based on specific information in the text.

RI. 4.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or

quantitatively (e.g. in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain
how the information contributes to an understanding of the text
in which it appears.

Vocabulary

Vertebrate having vertebrae; having a backbone or a spinal

column.

Invertebrate without a backbone; pertaining to creatures

without a backbone.

Arachnids a word that comes from the Greeks for spider.

Old-fashioned outdated

Fangs - one of the long, sharp, hollow or grooved teeth of a

venomous snake by with poison is injected.
Students IEP Goals

Saul (Student 1)

Student will read a passage at a lower 4th

grade level and answer comprehension
questions related to the passage.

Kejean (Student
2)

Student will compare/contrast characters,

setting and mood of verbally presented
passage or text, while maintaining topic.

Solomon
(Student 3)

Student will independently complete a

literacy graphic organizer at a 4th grade
level from which he will write a fourparagraph essay. The organizer will include
identifying the main idea with three
supporting details.

Jayden (Student
4)

Student will compare/contrast characters

from a passage or text.

Pre-Assessment / Set Induction

To activate prior knowledge the teacher will ask, Last week we talked
about how each individual has its own special characteristics which
they are known for, what do you remember about our discussion?
Well, today we are going to learn about the characteristics of a
tarantula. You will see that like us tarantulas have their own special
characteristics which they are known for.
The teacher will then ask students who can give the definition of a
characteristic.
Vocabulary

The teacher will say, Now lets go over some vocabulary words we will
find in our reading today. The teacher will ask students if they know
the definition of any of the vocabulary words listed on the chart. The
teacher will then go over the definition of each word before starting the
reading. The teacher will remind students the techniques good readers
use, which is putting a post-it next to the vocabulary word on the text.
Whole Group
The teacher will read aloud pages 16-17 from the book The Tarantula
Scientists by Sy Montgomery, while students follow along in their book.
While the teacher is reading students should focus on understanding
the gist of the text, or what the passage is mainly about. When the
teacher reaches pages 18 and 19, the teacher will engage students in
the reading by letting them read one paragraph. This is how the
teacher will assess reading fluency, decoding and comprehension.
While engaging in the reading the teacher will discuss what
characteristics all spiders share, and how the text differentiates
between tarantulas and other kinds of spiders. When the reading is
complete, students will turn and talk to their neighbor and discuss any
characteristics they found interesting from the reading. Students will
then share their findings.
After, the students share their findings with the class; students will be
given 2 minutes to look at the pictures and read the captions on page
20 independently. To end the whole group instruction the teacher will
then ask students to pick one `tarantula characteristics they liked the
most and how is that characteristic utilize by the tarantula. Students
will then share with the class.

Follow Up Activity/Assessments Assignments/ Independent

Work
Differentiated handouts are meant to target all of the learners in the
classroom.
Emerging learners This group will receive a graphic organizer (web)
where they will choose one characteristic they like and will write three
functions the characteristic is used for.
On grade level learners - This group of students will receive a
graphic organizer in the form of an outline. The students will have to
write the characteristic they liked the most, and write in sentence form
the functions of the characteristic.

Advanced learners This group will draw a picture of the

characteristic they found more interesting and in a paragraph form
they will have to write the function of the characteristic.
Differentiation
To differentiate my lesson I incorporated a picture of the different
characteristics of spiders and tarantula for my visual learners and
auditory learners. I also gave students a graphic organizer to withdraw
supporting details from the text. The repletion/recap also helps my
emerging learners retain information. The various assessments both
formal and informal help students self-evaluate, as well as help me
monitor student progress and understanding.

Material and Resources

Reading passage on The Tarantula Scientist
Graphic organizers
Post-its
Evaluation/Assessments (Exit Ticket)
Students will complete a learning activity provided by the teacher. The
student will answer the following question on their learning activity,
What have you learned about captions? What have you learned about
the characteristics of a tarantula? Write one sentence for each
question.

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date:

____________________
Choose one tarantula characteristic you like. Write three
details describing its function.

Name a characteristic of the tarantula

Describe the characteristic.

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________

Can you try one more?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________________
Date: ____________________

Choose a tarantula characteristic you liked the most. Draw a

picture and describe what it is used for.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________

Name: ________________________________________________
Date: _________________________

Complete the web. Choose a tarantula characteristic you liked

and write three details of what it is use for.

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date:

_________________________
Exit Ticket
Reflect on what you have learned about the characteristics of a
tarantula and the captions. Write a sentence for each
question.
1. What have you learned about captions?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2. What have you learned about the characteristics of a
tarantula?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________