Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: The Food Chain

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4th

Content Standard Addressed: S4L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the roles of
organisms and the flow of energy within an ecosystem.

Technology Standard Addressed: 3. Knowledge Constructor Students critically curate a variety of resources
using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning
experiences for themselves and others

Selected Technology Tool: Brainpop

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

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): This represents engagement since it allows self-regulation as the
students take the quiz, if they get the answer wrong they are able to try again until they figure out the
correct answer and it also allows them collaboration with other students as they discuss and present their
final results. It reflects representation since the children are using Microsoft word and will be able to
arrange their food chain in any way they like as long as they include all the information required. It also
identifies action and expression by letting students use multiple tools to finish out their project. It first
allows them to use BrainPop to use the information and then further allows them to use Microsoft to
finalize their work.

Lesson idea implementation: At the beginning of the lesson students will watch the brain pop on the food
chain learning about producers, consumers, and decomposers. Afterwards we will go through the quiz on
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BrainPop as a class to review the information we learned. Students will be given the names of a producer,
consumer, and decomposer and will have to go online and find a picture of each one. They will then put them
in order on Microsoft word and type a short description of each one. The teacher will be pausing the video to
give more information on each level of the food chain as they are introduced and will be answering questions
that the students have. If a student is unable to use a computer due to some restrictions, they will be able to
just write about the different levels under printed pictures that the teacher gives them.
In order to extend the learning to a higher level, students will be able to present their projects to the
class on the interactive whiteboard and teach their fellow classmates about the different levels. If the
students have any questions about the chain they are being shown the presenter will act as the teacher and
answer them. However, if the teacher needs to step in to help answer them they will do so. To conclude the
lesson, we will retake the BrainPop quiz and see if the class score improved. The students work will be graded
during their presentations and feedback will be given on how well they presented their knowledge on the
subject.

Reflective Practice: After designing this lesson I feel that the students got a better understanding of this
topic and how to use BrainPop to further their skills of other topics. They also got a small insight on another
way to use Microsoft Word other than just using it to write papers. To further extend this lesson we could
watch the lesson on the energy pyramid and discuss how the two relate to each other.

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