UDL ANIMAL RESEARCH

Universal Design For Learning is a teaching approach to help all learners be successful. UDL plays to the students learning strengths and supports their weaknesses. Basically it is adapting our teaching so every student improves.

UDL allows students and teachers to use visual, tactile, auditory, and kinesthetic ways of learning and teaching.

Representation: google search, books, videos, audio books, interactive digital clips, partner/group activities, field trips, and guided teacher/Internet prompted learning.

Expression: oral presentation, diorama, video, group project, poster board, student handouts, talk to text, text to speech, or something that lets the student express what they have learned and still stay within the Teachers boundaries of the designated project.

Engagement: I have yet to work with a kid that doesn’t like animals or isn’t curious about finding interesting facts on animals. Learning about animals, specific facts about animals, and their habitats is a common core standard for multiple grade levels. We want our students to be inspired by learning and taking a genuine interest.

CONSIDERATIONS

Enlarge print materials font size and contrast. Provide captions for videos with sound present. Check for understanding; allow extra time. Seating/positioning options for high-level access.

Provide materials ahead if possible (flipped curriculum)
Provide materials in more than one learning or communication mode
Think flexibly when presenting science lessons to students with IEPs. Presenting Common Core curriculum adapted to students with special needs is fun and engaging, gives you a chance to use technology in the classroom, and encourages students to work collaboratively on goals and transitions. Form relationships to the constructs of scientific thinking and process, rather than an expected outcome.

We want the students to learn about animals and habitats. What a better idea then have the students do a research project on an animal they are interested in and give them parameters on facts they need to present to the class.

The assignment is to research an animal you are interested in learning about and present it to the class. You need to answer these questions. How you present it is up to you.

ANIMAL RESEARCH PRESENTATION

• Does your animal have fur, skin, feathers, scales, shells?
• Where does it live?
• What does it eat?
• One fun fact you learned.
• Is it a predator or prey?
• How big/small is it?
• How long does it live?

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

The graphic organizer can be adjusted depending on students strengths. We can make them fill in and have teacher highlight the answers so student can copy over them, we can have check boxes, minimal writing ones (drawing), likewise they have graphic organizers on iPads that walk students through them with speak to text.

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There are graphic organizer apps that walk you through the information on iPads.

In conclusion, there are other options or alternatives to teach and learn. If we can play to our students interests, learning strengths and increase their knowledge and skills in a way that’s non traditional, yet the data and success prove otherwise then why not think outside the box?