Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools

Lesson Idea Name: Exploring the Class Blog and Civil Rights Diary
Content Area: Social Studies/ELA Writing
Grade Level(s): 5th Grade
Content Standard Addressed: SS5H6: Describe the importance of key people, events, and developments
between 1950-1975.
ELAGSE5W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information
clearly.

Technology Standard Addressed: ISTE.2b: Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when
using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.

ISTE.3a: Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for
their intellectual or creative pursuits.

Selected Technology Tool:

☒ Blog ☐ Wiki ☐ Other: Website Creation Tool (list):

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level): (Level determined by the specific lesson idea)
☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☒ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): This activity will touch on the Expression and Engagement principles of
Universal Design for Learning. The option of presenting multimedia presentations or written expression is a
part of the reason why this will fall under the “how” of learning. The storytelling component to the project
directly touches on the engagement or “why” of learning.

Lesson idea implementation: Students will be creating a diary of a famous influencer/activist of the Civil
Rights Movement. Students will have the responsibility of collaborating with a group to develop a diary with a
minimum 6 pages, on the life of the chosen famous person of the Civil rights movement. They ould need to
speak as if they are that person and I should be able to tell where that person is from and where they are
currently residing, how they feel about the current civil rights situation, and any other facts like their friends
or family around them at this time. The teacher will introduce this project by posting the directions on the
blog. Students will use the provided tablets or personal smart phones to log into the class blog.
They will then be instructed to look for the directions for this project under the respective tab. Once
instructed hey will begin to either make a computer presentation or paper presentation (As long as all of the
directions were followed). This activity should take 20-30 minutes for two class periods. Students will present
their work and will turn it in to be graded by the teacher. The final product can further enhance their learning
by allowing them implement other multimedia outlets to their electronic projects. I will conclude this lesson
by showing a video of some of the famous civil rights activist they have chosen, then do a mini review. The
teacher can also add a “poll” where the students rate how much they enjoyed this project.

Summer 2017_SJB
 Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools
Importance of technology: Using a web-site creation tool will allow the students to easily see and put
together their diaries. Though this project can be done without technology, students have more ways to be
creative with it being online. Using a hardcopy of the diary will ensure that the project will not be deleted or
lost on the computer. Clickers will be used as another source of technology for this project, in order to get
feedback and add to data of how much the students enjoyed the activity.

Inspiration (optional): N/A

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: Because this project will be presented to the students on the classroom
blog, there are not many risks that will put the students in danger, as it pertains to internet safety. The only
way there would be a risk is if the teacher did not set the viewing to only the class and their parents.

Reflective Practice: I believe this project will allow students to further understand the life of the average
person during the times of segregation. I believe this project is just enough of content compared too
technology. I didn’t want to over use the technology because students may go into content/brain over load,
and I wanted them to be able to critically think and be creative.

Summer 2017_SJB