Basic Productivity Tools (BPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Astounding Atmosphere

Content Area: Earth Science
Grade Level(s): 6th Grade Earth Science
Content Standard Addressed: S6E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how the sun,
land, and water affect climate and weather.
a. Analyze and interpret data to compare and contrast the composition of Earths atmospheric layers
(including the ozone layer) and greenhouse gases. (Clarification statement: Earths atmospheric layers include
the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.)
b. Plan and carry out an investigation to demonstrate how energy from the sun transfers heat to air, land and
water at different rates. (Clarification statement: Heat transfer should include the processes of conduction,
convection, and radiation.)
c. Develop a model demonstrating the interaction between unequal heating and the rotation of the Earth that
causes local and global wind systems.
d. Construct an explanation of the relationship between air pressure, weather fronts, and air masses and
meteorological events such as tornados and thunderstorms.
e. Analyze and interpret weather data to explain the effects of moisture evaporating from the ocean on
weather patterns and weather events such as hurricanes

Technology Standard Addressed: Creative Communicator Students communicate clearly and express
themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media
appropriate to their goals. Students:
a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or
communication.
b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
c. communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as
visualizations, models or simulations.
d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

Selected Technology Tool: Microsoft PowerPoint and Office 365

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://scied.ucar.edu/atmosphere-layers ,

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/science/atmosphere-layers2.html ,
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmos/layers.html , or any other source to be cited outside of Wikipedia.

Blooms Taxonomy Level(s):

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

Level 1: Awareness Level 2: Exploration Level 3: Infusion Level 4: Integration
Level 5: Expansion Level 6: Refinement

Lesson idea implementation:

Teacher will begin the class lesson by allowing students to log in to their Office 365 account provided through
the school website. Once logged on, students will be instructed to watch the instructional PowerPoint created
by teacher, attached in the Office 365 classroom shared documents. The project will be introduced, including
the Georgia Standards, through the uploaded PowerPoint. The project will take three-four days with a fifth
day being presentation day. Students will be provided with a detailed rubric and guided notes on how to
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 Basic Productivity Tools (BPT)
create a PowerPoint and turn it into a movie to complete the project. Students will be required to build a
PowerPoint using Microsoft Office on the school desktops. Students will research the levels of the
atmosphere using the provided links, or links they find on their own outside of Wikipedia using a search
engine such as Google. Students will be required to properly cite all information using APA format. Assuming
a professional role, students will act as the teacher when creating their PowerPoint. Students will be required
to add voice recordings and turn their final PowerPoint product into a movie. Students will then upload their
final product to the classroom Office 365 shared documents folder. On the fifth day, teacher will place
students in groups of 4-5 to present their movie. Students will have to properly navigate Office 365 and play
their movie to their peers. Student learning will be assessed through the graded rubric and a ticket-out-the-
door activity. The lesson will be differentiated based off of student technology abilities. Students that struggle
with technology will be placed next to a higher level student for extra guidance. Teacher will be accessible to
walk around the room and guide students that are confused or need extra help. The final presentation day
will be differentiated based off of technology skills. Students with proficient learning skills will be placed
together, students that are distinguished learners will be placed together, and so on. This ensures that no
student feels embarrassed in a group based off of technology skills.

Students will have the opportunity to extend their final product beyond a Level 4 LoTi for extra credit. The
opportunity is for students to share their product with science teachers in the Cobb County District. The goal
is for students to find a teacher (using a list of approved teachers by the instructor) that will share the
students PowerPoint with their middle school class when teaching the layers of the atmosphere. The
PowerPoints will be extremely technology rich through the inclusion of citations, PowerPoint designs, voice
recordings, and understanding Office 365. Through the project, students will become highly skilled in multiple
technology products such as search engine, Office 365, and PowerPoint. Feedback will be provided to the
students through their graded rubric once their project has been uploaded to the class Office 365 folder. The
lesson will be concluded with a short vocabulary quiz as a ticket-out-the-door on the layers of the atmosphere
to ensure understanding of the content was learned.

Summer 2017_SJB