Elizabeth Yorey

12/1/15
EDUC 344

Reflection on SIOP Model Lesson

The objectives for this 5th grade science lesson were that the students will be able to label
the parts of the Earth and show their knowledge by answering questions from the Smartboard.
Students will also be able to explain phenomena in terms of concepts by conducting a volcano
experiment and applying their new knowledge. Jack definitely achieved these objectives
because he was correct with almost every answer that he had said. One of the more challenging
objectives from the DOK was to explain phenomena and he did that very well. I felt that the
vocabulary that we used was challenging for a fifth grade student. Although going into this
lesson, we were nervous that it would be passed Jacks level of comprehension, we shortly found
out that it wasnt challenging enough for Jack. He knew all of the terms, especially the ones with
nature such as tectonic plates, volcanos, fault lines and continent. We started challenging Jack
more as the lesson went on by asking if he knew what Pangea was or what the ring of fire was.
Although he was not familiar with the terms he picked it up easily and later used it as academic
language throughout our lesson.
Although we discovered that this lesson was too easy, we were quick on our feet to
challenge him with different questions and have him explain things such as why a volcano
explodes. We also challenged Jack to create the volcano by himself and add all of the
substances to make it explode. This truly worked because it allowed him to work harder and feel
more accomplished after. As we challenged him more he seemed to be more excited. If this

lesson was presented again and needed to be more challenging, we would have had the students
explain the vocabulary themselves and create new vocabulary that was more challenging.
To make this lesson an ELL friendly lesson, I would need to simplify the vocabulary. I
would also possibly write some of the words in their native language to promote a deeper
understanding. I would also probably have amounts of the materials for the volcano already
measured out so the student would just have to pour it in. I would also try to make it a very
verbal lesson so that the students can practice the terms out loud. There was a lot of matching
and visuals which would be extremely helpful to an ELL student.
Overall, I think the lesson went very well because it was exciting and included many
different styles of learning such as visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Jack remained very focused
throughout the lesson and seemed to be very engaged. It could have been a little more
challenging, but overall I think the lesson was interesting and educational.