Resource Based Learning
Insect Stations Grades 1 and 2
Curriculum Connections
- This unit focussed on the development of specific information skills.
- Grade 1 science unit on animals
- Grade 2 science unit on habitats
What the Teacher and Teacher-Librarian Did Prior to Research:
- We capitalized on students' interest in insects by encouraging them to find different kinds and building a temporary insect habitat in the classroom. This began the questioning process eg. Where do various insects live? What do they eat? How do they move? etc.
- Some direct instruction took place about insect body parts and helpful and harmful insects.
- Resources were pulled that were appropriate for student reading and interest levels.
- We decided mini-lessons were needed on using indexes, Table of Contents pages, captions, skimming and scanning to locate information. These occured prior to station work sessions and were very short.
- Specific station directions were developed to match the resources available. The stations required students to practice various information skills. Some stations are open-ended to accommodate a variety of resources. Other stations are set up to use with a particular book. Several stations were easily adapted to the higher or lower grade level by changing the resources used and the expectations placed on the students.
What Students Did:
- Students worked through the stations in pairs. In some cases a weaker student was paired with a stronger student.
- Students shared things they learned periodically at the end of work sessions.
Examples of Stations in pdf and html formats