Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: Water Droplet Adventure

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4th grade

Content Standard Addressed:

S4E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to demonstrate the water cycle.
a. Plan and carry out investigations to observe the flow of energy in water as it changes states from solid
(ice) to liquid (water) to gas (water vapor) and changes from gas to liquid to solid.

Technology Standard Addressed: 1 – Empowered Learner

Selected Technology Tool: Gizmos – explorelearning.com

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspStandardCorrelation&id=3971

Type of Instructional Software:

☒ Drill and Practice ☐ Tutorial ☒ Simulation ☒ Instructional Game ☐ e-books/e-references

Features of this software (check all that apply):

☒ Assessment Monitoring/Reporting
☐ Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
☐ Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in the class
☐ Multi-user or collaborative with others outside the class
☐ Accessible to students beyond the school day
☒ Accessible via mobile devices
☐ Multiple languages
☒ Safety, security and/or privacy features

Bloom’s 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

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

To support the learning of the students, activities are student lead and allow students to explore and discover
on their own in their own ways. Students are able to access and utilize the software at home or on a mobile
device. The simulations allow the students to control many real world examples, which makes is adaptable for
all students. There is more than one solution presented, which encourages differentiation in student learning
levels.
Lesson idea implementation:
As the teacher introduces the topic of what the water cycle is and defining each part of the water cycle, the
students will transition into a more student-directed activity through the water cycle simulation provided on

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 Instructional Software
Gizmos. The simulation allows the students to “control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the
water cycle.” At each stage, many alternatives to where the water will go next and what will happen to it next
encourages students to interact with the content and improve their critical thinking skills through making
predictions and learning how water moves and how water resources are distributed at each location their
water drop travels. Students learning will be assessed through their own stories where their water droplets
travel. Each student will be given a storyboard to illustrate the journey of their water droplet. Students will be
able to learn from the water cycle simulation by taking a water droplet through the water cycle and learning
about all the different ways that water is used and the continuous cycle that it goes through.

Reflective Practice:
Every student will most likely have a different story to tell about what their water droplet went through. To
extend the lesson, student could use a productivity tool to bring their storyboards to life and create a story
and a finished product to share with classmates and outside classroom as well. Students will be provided with
a rubric to explain what each story should include. For example, every water droplet story should obtain a
beginning and an end.

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