Amazon+River+Dolphins


 * Topic**: Amazon River Dolphins

Students will generate questions about the Amazon River Dolphin. Students will predict why these dolphin populations are decreasing.
 * Objective**: Students will use their background knowledge and video to draw conclusions about the Amazon River Dolphin.

NARA Motion Picture Analysis worksheet Computer Link- http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/mammals-animals/dolphins-and-porpoises/dolphin-pink-river.html Smartboard Pencils KWL Chart- on smartboard
 * Materials**:

1. Create a concept web on the board and ask students to share their background knowledge on dolphins. 2. Discuss what the class knows about dolphins. 3. Create KWL chart on the smartboard. 4. Ask students what they know about Amazon River Dolphins and add ideas to the K column. Discuss as a class. 5. Ask students what they want to learn about Amazon River Dolphins. Record students’ questions in the W column of the chart. 6. Pass out NARA Motion Picture Analysis worksheet. 7. Have students fill out the Pre-viewing part of sheet before showing the video clip. 8. Pull up video on smartboard for students to watch. 9. Have students fill out viewing part of NARA sheet and play the video a second time for students to look for details. 10. Students will finish the NARA sheet and teacher will place students into groups of four to share their thoughts and ideas with peers. 11. After meeting with groups, as a class discuss what students thought the message of the video was. Ask students what they thought the strengths and weaknesses of the video were. Did the video answer some of their questions? Do they have new questions to add to the KWL chart? What did they learn from the video that they would not have by just reading about the dolphins? 12. Ask students to predict why the populations are decreasing. Tell them to think about their habitat. Remind them to cite evidence for their predictions. Share thoughts with the class. 13. Ask students to use their knowledge from the lesson to draw conclusions about Amazon River Dolphins. 14. Record students’ conclusions in the L column of the chart.
 * Procedure:**

- I would do this lesson the day before the class would read Encantado: Amazon River Dolphin. This is a story in our anthology book that I am required to teach. By doing the lesson first on these dolphins it will help students understand and make connections as they read the story. I think it will be valuable because the story in the book has very few graphic sources so students have a hard time visualizing an Amazon River Dolphin.

Tina, This video clip is excellent! It is short, gives great basic information about pink river dolphins, and will be engaging for your students. Also, your lesson resources (KWL and NARA WS) will definitely help your students understand the content thoroughly. I'm just curious, what grade level is this for? ~Sarah

Sarah- This is for fourth graders. Thanks! -Tina

I really like how you ask the students to make a prediction about why the dolphin population is decreasing but yet they have to "prove" their answer with evidence. I think this really helps students to become critical thinkers. They can't just choose and answer, they have to really think about why they think what they do. **
 * Tina,
 * Jeanine **