Basic Productivity Presentation Tool

Lesson Idea

Lesson Idea Name: Water Cycle Digital Story

Grade Level/Content Area: 4th grade science
Content Standard Addressed: S4E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to
demonstrate the water cycle.
ISTE Technology Standard Addressed:  What would you like students to know and
Creative Communicator- Element 1.6.c be able to do by the end of this lesson:
Students communicate complex ideas clearly I would like my students to be able to
and effectively by creating or using a variety describe the events of the water cycle and
of digital objects such as visualizations, understand the order in which they occur.
models, or simulations.

What is the student learning goal for this lesson idea?

The goal of this lesson is to use PowerPoint to create an entertaining and informative digital
story about the water cycle.

Selected Basic Productivity Tool: PowerPoint

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

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 begin the lesson by introducing PowerPoint and
presenting my digital story. Then, I will tell the students that they will be creating a digital
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Lesson Idea

story in small groups of four students. They will use PowerPoint to make a digital story with
graphics, text, and audio like my example. I will state the learning goal and provide each
group with one desktop or laptop. I will say that the students will alternate between who is
operating the technology and who is creating the storyboard in each group. I will be walking
around to each group to ensure they understand the assignment and features of PowerPoint.
I will then announce the learning goal again to the class. At the end of class, the students will
save their story to their student ID number. The next day, each group will present their story
to the class.

Managing the technology/engagement: Describe a way to use this technology in a way that
gets students actively involved in authentic tasks and contexts? How will you manage the
classroom behaviors on the technology:
The students will be using PowerPoint to create a digital story in groups of four. The group
will complete a story board prior to opening PowerPoint. Students are active in their learning
because they get to create a product that they are proud of.
I will manage the technology by allowing the students to work collaboratively within their
groups. Students will also alternate between who is operating the computer and who is
contributing ideas. I will be walking around to ensure students are on task throughout the
activity. Students will be able to exchange ideas within their groups and each of them will be
able to explore PowerPoint during the lesson, ensuring that they will stay engaged and not
have to ask me many questions.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): PowerPoint is an easily accessible software that has
features that accommodate all students and their learning needs. In both the story I created
and the one the students will create, there is audio that accommodates visually impaired
students. If the student has a hearing impairment, they can look at the graphics and read the
text on the slides. The information included in the story is presented orally and visually.
Additionally, the Web version of Office 365 PowerPoint allows students to record audio and
have closed captions in multiple languages for ELL students.

Reflecting on enhanced learning:

I believe that this lesson will inspire students to use BPTs (Basic Productivity Tools) like
PowerPoint to present information. I look forward to coaching the students through the fun
and helpful features of PowerPoint.
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Lesson Idea