Instructional Software Lesson Idea

Lesson Idea Name: Heredity and Parenthood – Introduction to Genetics

Grade Level/Content Area: 9-12
Content Standard Addressed:

SB1: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to analyze the nature of the relationships
between structures and functions in living cells.
SB1.a: Construct an explanation of how cell structures and organelles (including nucleus,
cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, chloroplasts, lysosome, Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles,
ribosomes, and mitochondria) interact as a system to maintain homeostasis.
ISTE Technology Standard Addressed:  What would you like students to know and be
1. Empowered Learner able to do by the end of this lesson:
3. Knowledge Constructor Students will be able to describe the structure
5. Computational Thinker and function of cells and their organelles.
6. Creative Communicator

What is the student learning goal for this lesson idea? Students will gather information on cells and
their structure and function, and they will complete a brief assessment of their knowledge. Then,
using the BrainPOP software, students will create a representation of organelles and their functions
using their choice of BrainPOP creative tools.

Selected Instructional Software Tool: BrainPOP

Description of Software: BrainPOP is a highly-interactive educational software that allows students

to gather information from videos, graphics, and readings, and then allows for students to express
and apply their knowledge using a variety of tools, many of which allow for a high degree of
autonomy and creativity.

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

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):

SBooker, 2022
 Instructional Software Lesson Idea
☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating ☒ Creating

How do you plan to implement this lesson and integrate the technology? Check all that apply:

☐ Teacher-led: There is no student voice and choice in the activities. Students are guided by the teacher's
direction and expectations. Learning activities are assigned to the student and mostly practice based.

☒ Student-Led: Students are given voice and choice in the activities. They may select the topic of learning
and/or determine the tool they will use to meet the learning goal. The teacher facilitates the learning as
the students direct their own learning processes.

☒ Problem-based and/or Publishable: Students are solving problems and completing projects to
demonstrate their learning. Additionally, the projects can be shared outside of the classroom. (Note: This
objective could be reached by displaying the project on the school’s morning newscast, posting the project
to the classroom blog, presenting it to another class, or publishing it via an outside source.)
How will you connect this topic to students’ prior knowledge as you teach?

Before beginning the lesson, I verbally pre-assess students on their prior knowledge with cells and
cell structure. I will ask if they know any specific cells (students may say “red blood cells”, for
example) and if they know anything about the function of specific cells. I will review Cell Theory,
which will have been covered in a prior lesson. Finally, I will ask students if they have any personal
experience with cells, possibly in a medical context or due to a family member’s career. I will use
students’ answers to these questions to connect the BrainPOP content to students’ prior knowledge
as the lesson progresses.

If students have extra time after completing their lesson, they will have additional readings to extend
their learning and keep them engaged.
Lesson idea implementation:

BrainPOP features both information and activities, and will be used for the entirety of this lesson.
The lesson plan and goals will be displayed at the front of the room for all students to see. To gather
information at the start of the lesson, students will watch a short interactive video covering cells,
and will then be able to choose one out of three available passages to read for additional
information. We will combine this knowledge with a short class-wide discussion. Students will then
use BrainPOP to complete a multiple-choice formative assessment on BrainPOP – this data will be
sent immediately to the teacher, who can promptly identify misconceptions and provide feedback.

Students will complete an activity to show the functions of cell structures. They will have a choice of
activities they can complete through BrainPOP: they can make a movie by creating a storyboard,
adding animated clips or images or providing their own art, and recording their voice; they can make
a detailed concept-map using BrainPOP’s concept-mapping tool; or they can analyze electron
microscope images of cells, identify the visible organelles, and provide a written description, using
BrainPOP’s Primary Source tool. The teacher will provide feedback in real time, and will be able to
view the students’ products and provide digital feedback as well. The lesson will conclude with
volunteer students presenting their creations to the class.

SBooker, 2022
 Instructional Software Lesson Idea
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Reflection:

This lesson features a high degree of student autonomy, thanks to BrainPOP’s wide variety of
activities and resources. Students will receive information both from video and readings (of their
choice), allowing for multiple means of representation. There are also multiple means by which
students can express their learning, since students have a choice of which activity to complete
through BrainPOP.

I feel that students will be highly engaged with this lesson and these activities, which I believe will
impact their learning. Students feeling that they have autonomy over their work and the progression
of the lesson leads to higher student engagement. I would love to see student products from these
activities – especially the student-made movies on cell structure!

SBooker, 2022