Basic Produc,vity Tools (BPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Obituary

Content Area: ELA

Grade Level(s): 7th Grade
Content Standard Addressed:
ELAGSE7W2: Write informa7ve/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and
informa7on through the selec7on, organiza7on, and analysis of relevant content.

Technology Standard Addressed:

1.3.c: Students curate informa7on from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create
collec7ons of ar7facts that demonstrate meaningful connec7ons or conclusions.

Selected Technology Tool: MicrosoE Word

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☐ Remembering ☐ Understanding X Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evalua7ng ☐ Crea7ng

Levels of Technology Integra,on (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Explora7on ☐ Level 3: Infusion X Level 4: Integra7on
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

AEer reading The Diary of a Young Girl, I will ask students to create an obituary over a character in the book.
Students can choose from a variety of characters: Anne Frank, Margot Frank, OUo Frank, Edith Frank, Miep
Giles, Peter van Daan, etc. In order to create an obituary, I will ask students to gather informa7on from the text
or other credible online sources. Students will use MicrosoE Word to create their obituary.

Example: Using MicrosoE Word, I created an obituary over Anne Frank. I used the text to gather informa7on
on Anne such as her birthday, hobbies, family members, and death date. I also used MicrosoE Word to insert a
picture of Anne Frank to add affect.

MicrosoE Word is a basic produc7vity tool that can be used by anyone with an account. Instead of pencil and
paper, Word uses online documen7ng. It offers several resources such as: edi7ng, formaYng, interac7ve
features, and templates. MicrosoE Word is a helpful tool to both teachers and students. It allows teachers to
conveniently create lesson plans, resumes, brochures, and assignments for students. It also engages students
by using differen7a7on for projects, brainstorming, wri7ng, and edi7ng.

Spring 2018_SJB
 Basic Produc,vity Tools (BPT)
Lesson idea implementa,on:
I will create a Power Point to introduce informa7ve/explanatory texts. AEer presen7ng the Power Point to
students, I will ask them to start reading The Diary of a Young Girl over the next week. I chose The Diary of a
Young Girl because it is an informa7ve text. This par7cular text stands out with middle school students
because Anne Frank was around their age when she wrote it. AEer reading the book, I will ask students to
create an obituary using MicrosoE Word over one of the characters. An obituary is a crea7ve, informa7ve text
that differen7ates students wri7ng.

This assignment should take one to two class periods to complete. I will assess students learning by their
ability to use MicrosoE Word to create an informa7ve text. In order to extend student learning to a higher
learning level, students will use technology to gather facts to support their obituary. Once students complete
the assignment, I will allow them to work in groups to give and receive peer feedback.

Reflec,ve Prac,ce:
Instead of having students assert factual informa7on, I asked them to create an obituary. An obituary is an
informa7ve text that requires students to express condolences. I find this ac7vity meaningful and crea7ve. It
allows students to see how wri7ng is used outside of the classroom. To further extend this lesson, I could ask
students to come up with another crea7ve informa7ve text such as: a diary entry, leUer, poem, television
script, song, or speech.

Spring 2018_SJB