MULTI-MEDIA AUTHORING TEMPLATE

Name: Samantha Whitehead

PART A: Students in this lesson will have to use their imagination to create their own biome. Each biome must include different
abiotic and biotic factors, as well as showcase the interdependence of organisms. Students are reaching higher levels of thinking
because they are taking what they have already learned about ecosystems and creating their own to showcase the material in a
different way. The use of technology is also helping them reach these higher levels as they create and edit their videos.

Grade Level: 7th grade

Content Area: Life Science
Technology Used (check all that apply): Movie Audio Podcast Vodcast Other: (list)

S7L4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

Content Area/Grade/Standards/Topics Addressed:
to examine the interdependence of organisms with one another and their environments.

Brief Description of Learning Experience:

The teacher will begin the lesson by playing the introductory video on biomes. Once the video is complete, the teacher
will ask students to describe the ecosystem that we live in. Students are prompted to reflect on this question during the
video clip. Once the video is complete, the teacher will go more into depth on the different types of biomes.

For this lesson, students will be creating their own biomes. In each biome, students must discuss the different abiotic and
biotic factors in their ecosystem, and well as how they work together. They should highlight different food chains and be
sure to talk about the climate and plant life that makes up their ecosystem. Each student will create a 2-3 minute movie
that includes their own voice describing the ecosystem, images of examples that would be included in their ecosystem,
and background music. Their biome must not directly reflect one that is already in existence, and students may use
fictional creatures and made-up factors to allow them to be as creative as possible.

Students will be assessed primarily on successful completion of the video project.

Student Engagement/Higher-Order Thinking: This lesson will reach the highest levels of LoTI, SAMR and Bloom’s
taxonomy because the students are creating a final product that is of their own imagination.

Importance of technology: While this project could be completed without technology (e.g. a written paper or poster
board presentation), it would seriously be lacking in the visual aids that the pictures would provide. Students will be able
to showcase their created ecosystem in the most detailed way, and it gives them time to develop a well-written script. Not
only that, but the movie making portion allows students to have more fun and learn new skills in the classroom.

Inspiration (optional): Discovery Education and National Geographic Kids provided me with the videos and images
used in this lesson. I took inspiration from a biomes project that I did in school, but rather than recreating an already
existing biome, I decided to allow the students to be more creative and make up their own.

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: I would warn students to make sure they use all copyright-free material and to
make sure all material is properly cited. I would provide students with links to websites they may find useful for the
project. No student should have a recording of any other student in their video. All videos will be used in the classroom
only for grading purposes. Students shall not list any personal information in their videos besides their name (again, for
grading purposes).
Other comments about your proposed student multimedia authoring activity: Encourage students to have fun and
really stretch their imagination.