Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: The Many Roles of Benjamin Franklin

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 1st

Content Standard Addressed: SS1H1 The student will read about and describe the life of historical figures in
American history.
a. Identify the contributions made by these figures: Benjamin Franklin (inventor/author/statesman),
Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence), Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with
Sacagawea (exploration), Harriet Tubman (Underground Railroad), Theodore Roosevelt (National
Parks and the environment), George Washington Carver (science).

Technology Standard Addressed: 3 – Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: BrainPOP

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

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): The three principles of Universal Design for Learning are providing
multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement. As a tutorial site, BrainPOP
provides content in multiple languages, which makes it more accessible for English Language Learners. Them,
and struggling readers, can listen to the videos on BrainPOP as many times as needed to process what they
are hearing and seeing. Watching and listening to the content being presented in the videos supports both
auditory and visual learners.

Lesson idea implementation:

Spring 2018_SJB
 Instructional Software
The teacher will introduce students to the historical figure they will be learning about, which is Benjamin
Franklin. As a pre-assessment activity, the teacher will ask students to recall any information they already
know about this famous American and will record students’ contributions on a KWL chart in the “K” section,
which stands for what students already know. After, the teacher will ask students to brainstorm questions
they would like answered about him and will record those in the “W” section of the chart, which stands for
what students want to know. The teacher will inform students that they will be responsible for remembering
one fact they learn about him in the video they watch on BrainPOP, which will then be added to the “L”
section of the KWL Chart, which stands for what they learned. Then, the teacher will play the video about
Benjamin Franklin on BrainPOP, which discusses the ways in which he was an author/writer, an inventor, and
a statesman.
After students have listened to the video and provided the one fact they learned about him in the video,
the teacher will have students return to their tables. The teacher will inform students that they will be
creating a PowerPoint about the roles of Benjamin Franklin. They will collaborate with their peers to create
one final product that includes images of him and the contributions he made during his time. The roles he
portrayed as author, statesman, and inventor must be included in their presentation. Each student will be
responsible for narrating at least one slide that is included in their PowerPoint that discusses the image or
images displayed on the slide. Once each group has created and finalized their PowerPoint, the teacher will
upload their presentations to the classroom website, which can be viewed by their parents. With the
administration’s permission, the teacher will try to publish their presentations on the school’s website to be
viewed by a larger audience.

Reflective Practice: To extend the lesson to promote voice and choice amongst students, the teacher would
allow students to choose a different, appropriate productivity tool to create a presentation that analyzes the
life and contributions of another famous American included in the standard.

Spring 2018_SJB