Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Classification of Animals

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 5th Grade

Content Standard Addressed: S5L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to group organisms
using scientific classification procedures. (a. Develop a model that illustrates how animals are sorted into
groups (vertebrate and invertebrate) and how vertebrates are sorted into groups (fish, amphibian, reptile,
bird, and mammal) using data from multiple sources)

Technology Standard Addressed: 3. Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: Bubbl.us

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://bubbl.us

https://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/vertebrates/
https://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/invertebrates/
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):

Bubbl.us is a tool provided to students that can help them organize their thoughts in any subject they may be
studying. This is a way for students to either map out categories and subcategories, organize their writing by
first making a concept map to write down their thoughts, or to just create an outline for steps in a process
they are wanting to explain. This visual can help students see and make the connections they need to
understand a topic. Bubbl.us also allows you to color the bubbles and text, which is helpful for students that
may have trouble seeing certain colors. This allows students to tailor their maps to their individual needs.
The access to different colors can also help students keep interest in what they are doing.
Lesson idea implementation:
The lesson will begin by introducing the students to vertebrates and invertebrates. We will start by having
students tell me what they know about what a vertebrate and invertebrate is, brainstorming some ideas as a
class. I will then have my students watch two BrainPop videos, one for vertebrates and one for invertebrates.
After watching the videos, I will present to my students the Bubbl.us I have created about classifying animals
into two separate categories, vertebrates and invertebrates. I will then open up discussion with my students
to talk about classification and these two categories animals can be classified under. After talking with my
students about the Bubbl.us I have made, I will ask them to make their own bubbl.us about vertebrates and
invertebrates. I will give students a rubric that I will use to grade their Bubbl.us and also it will give them
instructions on what it should look like.

I will then explain to my students that their Bubbl.us should look like mine, however, it should go more into
detail and give specific examples of animals that are vertebrates and invertebrates. I will then give my
students access to specific websites to research their animals as well as the school library. To provide
feedback to my students, I will have them print out their bubble maps and grade them using the rubric I
provided them with. I will give my students 30 minutes of class time to complete this assignment, as well as

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 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
laptops to utilize Bubbl.us. In order to extend my student learning to a higher level, I will have my students
pick out one of the animals they put on their Bubble.us (either a vertebrate or invertebrate), and do a
PowerPoint Presentation on that animal.
Reflective Practice:
This lesson is effective for students learning not only about the classification of animals, but also how to use a
website such as Bubbl.us to portray their understanding and learning of classifying animals. I feel like my
students will learn a new skill and website they can utilize to organize their thoughts for many different
subjects. To further extend the lesson, I would have my students pick out one of the vertebrates or
invertebrates they wrote on their bubble map, and create a PowerPoint project about it. This would give
students the opportunity to use a basic productivity tool they may or may not have used before.

Spring 2018_SJB