Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Template

Name: Lavondria Jones

Grade Level: 5th
Content Area: Science
Standards Addressed:

S5L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to group organisms using scientific
classification procedures.

1. Develop a model that illustrates how animals are sorted into groups (vertebrate and
invertebrate) and how vertebrates are sorted into groups (fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and
mammal) using data from multiple sources.

Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Journey North

URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
https://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Describe how you would use the Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in
your classroom: We will have an expert come into the classroom to explain to the students about
different species and how they group organisms by classification. After researching a Journey
North species, invite students to use facts collected to write Synthesis Poems. Provide a template or
text frame that guides students through each line of the poem: Name of Species; Describe It, Rename
It; Tell Where It Can Be Found; Give More Descriptive Details/Add Facts; Use Emotion Words to
Describe How You Feel About It; Explain Why You Used the Emotion Words; Name of Species. The
students will have voice and choice about what species they will research to write about. Using
notetaking pages or a concept map of facts, students create List Poems that include facts, thoughts,
feelings, questions, and connections. Students can create poems individually, or in small groups of 2-3.
We will go to the computer lab 2 times in one week to collect data on the species they want to do.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a
classroom? Students will need to be able to conduct research, so a computer or tablet is
necessary to complete the activity. We will go to the library twice in one week to give them class
time to research on the computer/tablet.
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 will be able to collaborate with students in the
classroom if they want to, and they will also speak with an expert on the species
class they have decided to research. While we will have class time and the teacher
will be available always to help, the students will also have the opportunity to
work together to complete their synthesis poem.
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 use Journey North to research a species to write their synthesis poem on. They
will be able to send their poem to the expert after we are done so they can publish
them on their site as well.

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 c. Higher-order thinking: We are covering all levels of Blooms Taxonomy and hitting
a high level of LoTi.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their
product: Students will be publishing their work on Journey North and also on the
classroom blog.

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
activity hits a LoTi level 4-5 because students are given voice and choice. They are also given the
opportunity to create their own authentic synthesis poem on a species they have chosen.
Students will submit their work on Journey North and the classroom blog.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with your districts
Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? Students can use a pseudonym or not put their
name at all when submitting their work to any online source to the public. I will make sure to
double check any work before being submitted to make sure all students are complying with the
procedures.