Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Template

Name: Maci Hooper

Grade Level: 4th Grade
Content Area: ELA
Standards Addressed: ELAGSE4W1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,
supporting a point of view with reasons.
a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational
structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writers purpose.
b. Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
c. Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases(e.g., for instance, in order to,
in addition).
d. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Kids.com Write
Me a Story page
URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
http://www.kidscom.com/create/write/write.html
Describe how you would use the Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing
Opportunity in your classroom: I would use kids.com throughout the year as mini
assessments for writing. Some times when we use this sites students will be able
to write about whatever they want and other times I could give students a topic to
write about. Then they could rate their peers work and I could grade their work as
well as see how they are grading each other. Then by the end of the year the
students will be able to see improvement in their writing based on how others
scored each of their writings.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity
in a classroom? Students would definitely need to have a computer or tablet in
order to type their papers. They will be published on the sites for others to read
and rate based on how well they did.
Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience
(note: all of them may not be addressed in the project, but most should be if you
are reaching a high LoTi Level.):
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom
and often beyond their school: Students are able to view, read, and
rate other students writings in their classroom and also students
outside of their classroom.
b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting original
data and or producing original products as a result of engaging in the
project): The students will have prior knowledge on how to write a
paper before starting on this site.
c. Higher-order thinking: When I assign topics, I may assign something
that requires students to actually do research on and then come up
with a writing on the topic.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care
about their product: The students will post their papers to the site and

1
 their classmates, parents, teachers, and other students around the
world can see what they have written.

Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):

See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating
Creating
What Level of Technology Implementation best describes this learning activity and
Why? This is a LoTi level 5 because the students will be creating their own papers
for the topics assigned in class.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with
your districts Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? Kids.com is a safe
website; however, the teacher can make sure that the students do not post
anything too personal. Only have students submit their first name. They are
required to submit their age just because there are categories for students to win:
11 and under as well as 12 and older