Teacher(s) Name: Ms. Rivara
School: Holladay ES
Grade Level(s): Grade 4
Content Area(s): Life Science, Language Arts
Lesson Summary
Fourth graders reviewed animal ecosystems in Science (SOL4.5) and measuring length in Math (SOL4.6) by researching an animal and creating a website about it. First, the class brainstormed a variety of animals from different habitats, and each student chose an animal of interest to research. Next, the instructor provided guidelines for their research: find the animal’s (1) habitat, (2) predators, (3) prey or diet, (4) length, and (5) an interesting fact. The students could use print or online resources to gather information. To create the websites, students used the new Google sites, accessed from their Google Drive (New > More > Google Sites). Students typde a title for their website and found a suitable background header image. Then they added a text box and typed the facts they discovered from their research in their own words. For images, the students utilized the built-in Google image search to find copyright-free pictures of their animals. They could add captions to their images by double clicking next to a picture and chose the text box option from the pop-up menu. Students who finished early could be encouraged to add extra features like maps and/or videos. Finally, students published their websites and shared the links in Schoology or another platform, such as Google classroom.
TIPC Ratings
Research & Information Fluency
Rating:Approaching – Explanation: Students could choose which animal they wanted to research. They could choose to use print or digital resources. They were provided with some topics to research (habitat, length, predator/prey), but they could also add additional information that they found interesting. They displayed their information in their own words on a website.
Communication & Collaboration
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: Students could work with partners, groups, or individually on this project. They shared their finished websites online with a question for their classmates to answer. Classmates responded to the questions in the comments.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: Students had to find the essential information on a page of text with nonessential information. They had to solve problems relating to the format and layout of their website. They generated questions for their classmates, who then responded to those questions, using information from their websites.
Creativity & Innovation
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: Students created a unique website about their animal that helps their classmates review ecosystems and measurement. They chose their animal and how to design their website. Students were given the option to add additional features to their websites.
Student Artifact
Lesson Materials
