Summary
Students were presented with the task that “A new zoo is being built in our area. Our class has been asked to create informational displays for the woodland animal exhibits.” In order to accomplish this task, students worked as partners to select a woodland animal and research their animals using a variety of resources, including www.pebblego.com and “early reader” research books. Information was collected in five targeted areas for each animal using a graphic organizer as a guide. Once information was gathered, partners then chose Pixie or Story Kit to create informational projects that could be displayed at a new area zoo to better inform zoo visitors of woodland animals.
TIPC Ratings
This lesson falls in the Ideal/Target range for Research & Information Fluency. Students were presented with an authentic task. The teacher used a KWL chart to start the research process and have students generate questions for research. Students were free to select a woodland animal of their choice to research. Students used a variety of age appropriate digital and print resources and graphic organizers to research their selected animal. Students used Story Kit to powerfully display and interact with the information they found.
This lesson falls in the Approaching range for Communication & Collaboration. Students collaborated to select a woodland animal to research. They worked as a team throughout the research and creation portions of this lesson. Students used Story Kit to type, draw, and record their voice to share the information they gathered during research. Students collaborated by taking turns adding pages to the book until they had a complete story for the animal they researched. Students reflected on how well they worked with their team on a self-evaluation at the end of the activity. The student’s stories were posted on the blog for other’s to view and make comments.
This lesson falls in the Approaching range for Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Students generated their own questions and had to search through a variety of resources in order to find information on their animal. They had to determine their roles within the group in order to successfully complete this activity. Students reflected on their product and process through a self-evaluation.
This lesson falls in the Approaching range for Creativity & Innovation.
Students were able to choose between a couple of digital tools that they are familiar with using at this time in the year (Pixie and Story Kit). Though all groups selected Story Kit on the iPads, the final products were all very unique. Students were very creative with their drawings and text on each page. They created meaningful, original products that could be used at an exhibit to inform other’s about their animal.
Download Files
- Lesson Plan
- Photos
- Research Graphic Organizer
- Student Self-Reflection Sheet
- Teacher Blog with Student Work Samples
