Instructional

Software
Lesson Idea Name: Cloud Types
Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4th Grade

Content Standard Addressed:
S4E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to predict weather events and infer weather
patterns using weather charts/maps and collected weather data.
c. Ask questions and use observations of cloud types (cirrus, stratus, and cumulus) and data of
weather conditions to predict weather events.

Technology Standard Addressed:
Standard 6. Creative Communicator.
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the
platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

Selected Technology Tool:
BrainPOP

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):
https://www.brainpop.com/science/weather/clouds/

Type of Instructional Software:

☐ Drill and Practice ☒ Tutorial ☐ Simulation ☐ Instructional Game ☐ e-books/e-references

Features of this software (check all that apply):

☐ Assessment Monitoring/Reporting
☐ Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
☐ Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in the class
☐ Multi-user or collaborative with others outside the class
☒ Accessible to students beyond the school day
☒ Accessible via mobile devices
☒ Multiple languages
☒ Safety, security and/or privacy features

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

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

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):
☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☒ Level 4: Integration

☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
- BrainPop videos contain subtitles for subtitles for visual learners
- Students can see what the clouds look like because they are given visuals
- Students have the ability to replay the video as many times as they may need
- Spanish speaking students can view video in their native language

Spring 2018_SJB
 Instructional Software
Lesson idea implementation:
To start the lesson, I will have the students each take a scratch piece of paper and draw what they think
clouds look like. I will take those drawings and put them up on the board. I will then play the BrainPop video
for the students to watch. Once students have watched the video I will then have the students take three
paper plates, colored pencils, glue, and cotton balls, to create what they think three different skies (with the
three different types of clouds) look like. Once the students have created the different types of clouds, I will
have the students break up into groups of four to five students where they will create an imovie that talks
about the different types of clouds there are, and I will have the students use their art as visuals in the video.
To conclude, I will have the students share the movies they created with their classmates.

From start to finish, this lesson will take between an hour and a half, to two hours. The students learning will
be assessed based off the video they have created and if they talked about the different types of clouds and
what makes them each unique. There would be a rubric for each student stating what they needed to include
in their video to receive full credit. To differentiate this lesson, if students struggle with technology, they can
decide to make a comic strip instead where they explain the different types of clouds. To extend the students
to higher learning levels I would give the students ideas of extra topics they could add to their videos for extra
points. Students would have to research these facts about clouds on their own using books provided by the
teacher. I will provide feedback to the students by using the rubric and writing what the students did well,
and what they need to work on.
Reflective Practice:
I feel that a lesson like this that has the ability to help students learn a lot about clouds because of the way
that students can replay the video, students can visually see the video and read the subtitles, students can
hear the audio from the video, and students can play the video in multiple languages if English is not their
first language. To further extend this lesson, students can really look into the different types of clouds and
how each type effects weather patterns.

Spring 2018_SJB