Basic Productivity Presentation Tool Lesson Idea

Aubrey Blair
Lesson Idea Name: Creating Digital Stories About Rocks and Soil
Grade Level/Content Area: 3rd grade Science
Content Standard Addressed: S3E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about
the physical attributes of rocks and soils
ISTE Technology Standard Addressed: What would you like students to know and
be able to do by the end of this lesson:
Empowered Learner – 1.1.a. Students articulate
and set personal learning goals, develop strategies Students should be able to classify rocks by
leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect physical attributes (color, texture, luster,
on the learning process itself to improve learning hardness, etc.) and/or soils by properties (color,
outcomes. texture, capacity to retain water, ability to
support plant growth, etc.) using a basic
Knowledge Constructor – 1.3.a. Students plan and productivity tool such as PowerPoint or Sway.
employ effective research strategies to
locate information and other resources for their
intellectual or creative pursuits.

Creative Communicator – 1.6.b. Students create

original works or responsibly repurpose or remix
digital resources into new creations.

What is the student learning goal for this lesson idea?

Using a digital tool such as PowerPoint to demonstrate their understanding, students will be
able to describe attributes of rocks and/or soil.
Selected Instructional Software Tool:
URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Level(s):

X Remembering X Understanding X Applying X Analyzing X Evaluating X Creating

How will this lesson be implemented? Check all that apply.

☐ Teacher-directed: There is no student voice and choice in the activities. Students are guided by the
teacher's direction and expectations.

X Student-Led: Students are given voice and choice in the activities. They may select the topic for
presentation and/or determine the tool they will use to meet the learning goal. Products of
learning will be uniquely designed. Teacher simply facilitates the learning in a lesson like this.

X Project-based and/or Publishable: Students are completing projects to demonstrate their learning
and the projects can be shared outside of the classroom. 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.
 Basic Productivity Presentation Tool Lesson Idea
Aubrey Blair
Lesson idea implementation:
The activity planned for this tool is student development of a digital story to demonstrate their
understanding of classifying rocks and/or soil. It will be introduced by showing the students a sample
digital story and giving a brief tutorial of how to use the tool to develop their own story. Written
instructions can also be provided to students who need them. The teacher will explain the student
objective prior to beginning the project and invite students to summarize what it means in their own
words. This will ensure the students understand their goals prior to starting their activity. Students
will utilize technology by using computers to produce a digital story on PowerPoint or Sway. The
teacher will be available to provide resources and feedback throughout the activity to students if they
need it, but this project is primarily student-led. Feedback will be provided to students based on their
creativity of the digital story as well as the content included, based on how effectively and thoroughly
the student described various ways to classify rocks and/or soil. The lesson will be concluded by
students sharing their finished stories with the teacher as well as one peer. After feedback has been
provided, the teacher will ask students in a whole-group discussion to explain some of the ways to
classify rocks and soil.

Managing engagement: Describe a way to use this technology in a way that gets students actively
involved in authentic tasks and contexts?
Students will be able to collaborate with a peer to create their digital story if they desire, which can
increase engagement. Students will also be engaged in an exploration activity to extend their learning
on a topic, because they will need to provide enough information to create an effective story. This
activity can be completed over multiple days, which allows students mote time-on-task with
continued focus on the learning goals each time they return to the project.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

This activity supports engagement and representation aspects of UDL because it allows students to
work with peers and demonstrate their understanding of the topic in a unique way from their peers. It
enhances the learning experience for students because they are more involved in the “background
research” aspect to include information in their stories. It also supports the action and expression
aspect of UDL because it provides a different method for students to communicate their
understanding on the topic.

Reflecting on enhanced learning:

I believe this activity will impact student learning because it is more meaningful and engaging than
just memorizing information and restating it. I look forward to implementing the digital story
development with students because I believe it is a creative way to demonstrate learning and
understanding and allows students to show their individuality through projects.