Teacher(s) Name: Ms. Siegel
School: Shady Grove ES
Grade Level(s): Grade 4
Content Area(s): Science, Earth Science
Lesson Summary
Utilizing online research resources, periodicals, and the Discovery Science website, students researched a celestial body in our Solar System and designed a multimedia presentation using Board Builder, using basic citations. The created board was shared within the Discovery Education global community as well as featured on a class blog.
TIPC Ratings
Research & Information Fluency
Rating:Approaching – Explanation: Most students selected the most appropriate digital tools and information sources. Through using Board Builder, they assembled and organized information to address authentic tasks. Their boards were meant to be a working resource for other students and educators. Students who branched off into their own research outside of the typical eight planets are in the Ideal/Target range as the guiding questions may not pertain to them. Those students needed to construct their own questions, assemble and synthesize their information, and use the online tools to display and interact with their knowledge. These students often could not find resources on Discovery Education and needed to create their own graphics in other programs to upload into their board.
Communication & Collaboration
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: Student teams were formed based upon similar selected celestial bodies and organized roles to address their research. Students decided how the work was broken up, with teacher facilitating only if necessary. If students were able to communicate and collaborate through a shared GoogleDoc, definitely go for it! If not, having students come back to together physically to share ideas worked just fine. The boards were shared within the class blog, which allows for families to see our work. The boards are also shared within the whole Discovery Education community, which allows for peers and teachers to share, copy, and use our student boards, too!
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Rating: Developing – Explanation: Student respond to the essential questions and higher order questions to think about why we need to even explore space. Students elaborate on critical thinking or problem solving practices when prompted by the teacher as they identify proper research materials and collaborate with peers. Students apply digital tools with Board Builder to think critically and solve problems in class assignments.
Creativity & Innovation
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: Although all students are using Board Builder, the permissions allowed within the program are limitless. Students may create graphics in other programs, Word documents, PowerPoints, and other personally crafted items to upload into their board. The only parameter that students need to follow is to use the board to target the essential questions and find out more about their researched celestial body.
Student Artifact
Lesson Materials
