For my second lesson at Dixie Head Start, I focused on characteristics

of a fish and allowed for the students to explore the parts and characteristics
of a fish by using a real fish from the supermarket. During this lesson plan, I
focused on standards such as, Motor Development: Small Muscle:
Touch, Grasp, Reach, Manipulate: Coordinate the use of hands, fingers
and wrists to manipulate objects and perform tasks requiring precise
movements, Physical Well-Being: Body Awareness: Identify and describe
the function of body parts, Science Inquiry & Application:
Inquiry: Explore objects, materials and events in the environment, Science
Inquiry & Application: Inquiry: Make careful observations, Science
Inquiry & Application: Inquiry: Engage in simple investigations, and
Science Inquiry & Application: Inquiry: Record observations using words,
pictures, charts, graphs, etc.

My lesson of having the students explore the physical characteristics of

a fish went very well, and I believe the students truly enjoyed being able to
be hands-on. For my lesson, I brought in a fish (full body) and allowed the
students to use their hands to feel the different parts of the fish (head,
scales, tail, fins, and the inside). The students gathered around a table where
I supervised them passing around the tray that held the fish, allowing for
them to take their time and explore how they wanted. I believe my lesson
went very well and the students benefited from making the physical parts
and making the connection to the words that corresponded. Such as asking
the students what the scales were and what their purpose was, and having
the students verbally respond.

I believe I organized the lesson very well, doing my best to make it as

hands-on as possible and being sure to let every student have their fair
share of time. I also think I did a good job at asking the students to use their
words to explain their thoughts and use their resources to back up their
answers. Throughout the lesson, the children did an amazing job at using
their words and new found vocabulary to answer and respond to questions,
and use context clues to create a response. The students also excelled at
sharing with their peers and helping respond and formulate answers.

If I were to teach this lesson again, I would purchase more than one
fish to have the students split into groups. Overseeing the groups, I would
cut up one of the fish and allow for them to explore the internal parts of the
fish more thoroughly if they wanted to. I also would create a few different
types of worksheets for the students to complete, having them vary for the
more advanced students and those that may struggle. From teaching this
lesson, I learned that it is beneficial to incorporate lessons that are hands-on
for the students. Providing opportunities for them to make the connections
between the physical object and feeling and the word that corresponds.