Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Star Classification

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

Content Standard Addressed:

S4E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare and contrast the physical attributes of
stars and planets.
b. Construct an argument on why some stars (including the Earth’s sun) appear to be larger or brighter than
others.
(Clarification statement: Differences are limited to distance and size, not age or stage of evolution.)
Technology Standard Addressed: 2: Digital Citizen

Selected Technology Tool: EdPuzzle

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuAPFMXcYM

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

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

Levels of Technology Integration:

☒ Infusion Level: Students may work at a higher Bloom’s Level, but they do not have any “Voice or Choice”
during the activity and most of the decisions are made by the teacher.

☐ Integration Level: We would like to see ALL lessons/activities reach this level. The project is student-
driven. Students have “Voice and Choice” in the activities, selecting the topic of study and determining the
technology tool to demonstrate mastery of the standard. The teacher becomes more of a facilitator.
☐ Expansion Level: The projects created are shared outside of the classroom, publishing student work and
promoting authorship. This could be reached by showcasing the project on the school’s morning
newscast, posting the project to the classroom blog, or publishing via an outside source.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

Although EdPuzzle only provides one or two types of representation, this lesson idea could be extended to
provide multiple means of representation. So far in this lesson idea, students have the representation of
knowledge through the video and again by their participation in answering the questions provided by the
teacher. The extension could present content and information in multiple media and provide varied supports.
Additionally, an extension on this lesson idea could use graphics and animations, highlight the critical
features, activate background knowledge, and support vocabulary so that students can acquire the
knowledge being taught through multiple means of representation.
Lesson idea implementation:
The students will watch a Peekaboo Kids YouTube video (URL provided above) that teaches about the
different classification of stars. The teacher will provide questions that highlight important ideas around the
concept of classification of stars during interactive stopping points throughout the video and then review the
students’ responses for accuracy. It will take students about 5 minutes to complete. Student learning will be
assessed for accuracy from their responses to the EdPuzzle video questions. The final product will be used to
inform/differentiate learning by providing the students with work they can complete at home, as well as have
the option to give an audio response instead of a typed response. The lesson will be concluded at the end of
the video when the students are asked “What was the most interesting fact you learned from this video? Is
there anything about stars you are still wondering about?” Feedback to the students will be provided on
EdPuzzle.
TF, 2021
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
Reflective Practice:
I think that this activity could impact student learning best on days where they are unable to go to school by
providing them with a structured, easy to use activity to complete at home. This activity could be used as an
introduction to the classification of stars. Technological tools that could further enhance this activity would be
a simulation of different types of stars in our universe for students to explore.

TF, 2021