Basic Productivity Presentation Tool

Lesson Idea

Lesson Idea Name: The Life Cycle of a Flower

Grade Level/Content Area: 2nd grade science
Content Standard Addressed: S2L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about
the life cycles of different living organisms.
ISTE Technology Standard Addressed: What would you like students to know and
Knowledge Constructor – 1.3.c. Students be able to do by the end of this lesson:
curate information from digital resources I would like students to be able to explain
using a variety of tools and methods to what happens during each stage of a flower’s
create collections of artifacts that life cycle.
demonstrate meaningful connections or
conclusions.
What is the student learning goal for this lesson idea?
Add 1 to 2 sentences stating the learning outcome you would expect students to achieve
using the technology tool selected. (This goal will be shared with students so make it clear,
concise, and kid-friendly.)
Selected Instructional Software Tool: Google Slides
URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://www.google.com/slides/about/

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Level(s):

☐ Remembering ☐ Understanding ☐ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ 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.

☐ 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.

☐ 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.

Lesson idea implementation:

I will use Google Slides to create a short story going through a plant’s entire life cycle. I would
like to introduce the lesson the topic to my students in the Spring time and having them
unlock prior knowledge by asking them what changes they notice as we transition from
Winter to Spring. After talking as a class and getting to the point that many flowers begin to
bloom in the Spring, I will present my short story “Flora’s Life” it on the Smart Board so that
 Basic Productivity Presentation Tool
Lesson Idea

they can view it. After concluding the story, my students will then use Google Slides to create
their own short story about a certain stage of a plant’s life cycle. I will have students get in
partners and choose a certain stage of the plant’s life cycle that they want to focus on, and
create a story about what happens during that stage. They will then collaborate and make a
script, and then use their Chrome Books or iPads to create the presentations. I will be going
around to check in on their storyline before they start the technology aspect and see if they
have any questions. I will also be providing any technological assistance to my students as
they create their story slideshows. I will then have students use voice recording to narrate
their story. To conclude, I will have the groups share their stories with the class.

Managing engagement: Describe a way to use this technology in a way that gets students
actively involved in authentic tasks and contexts?
Co-use/Co-engagement: Students will work in pairs to create their story script and
collaborate on what visual aspects to include to illustrate their virtual story.
Exploration activities to extend their learning about a topic: Students will be able to explore
photos of plant’s life cycles online and decide which ones to include in their slideshow, which
gives them an illustration of the information they are learning.
Time-on-task with continued focus on the learning goal: I will walk students through what
tasks they need to work to complete before the end of the subject time. I can help pace
students by encouraging them when to start transitioning to the next step as well as walking
around and working with them so they stay on task. I will then have a few pairs of students
share their stories with the whole group at the end of the lesson.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): This activity and the technology that I selected
enhances the learning experience for my students because they are able to use their own
creative ideas as well as scientific knowledge to build a story. By cultivating their own short
piece of writing, the information they used about the plant’s life cycle will likely be more
memorable. This activity also weaves language arts in with science. Google Slides is a
relatively simple tool to use, so students who do not have much technological experience will
not struggle. This tool supports Representation in the Universal Design for Learning because
students can choose how to represent their story through illustrations.
Reflecting on enhanced learning: I feel that students would feel accomplished and confident
in their knowledge after completing this activity since they are creating their own story. They
may feel like they are positively impacting their classmates learning by sharing with the class
also. I look forward the most to seeing what ideas the 2nd grade students come up with as
well as how they want to visually represent what they know through media.