Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Name: Creative Writing

Content Area: English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 2nd
Content Standard Addressed: ELAGSE2W1: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book
they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g.,
because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

Technology Standard Addressed: 3 – knowledge constructor

Selected Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: KidPub

URL(s) to support the lesson:

Describe how you would incorporate an Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom: Students will be working on the English Language arts unit in which they creatively write opinion
pieces, pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply
reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons,
and provide a concluding statement or section. Students will be given the opportunity to choose something
they find interesting or care about, and will research this topic thoroughly, provide an opinion related to the
topic, and then write a brief opinion piece including their creative opinion and research on the Online
Publishing Opportunity site: KidPub.
When choosing a topic, children will be guided with prompts such as: what is the best season, what is the best
holiday, etc. Students can write their piece guided by their opinion, or they can simply do research and
include their opinions in the work supported by the research. Since the topic choices are broad, each topic
will be approved by the teacher and the teacher will briefly meet with each student to discuss a game plan
and how they plan to implement the project. Students will be able to research the topic, using computers
(carefully monitored) or library books. They will then write a paper draft that the teacher will review with
them before they are published.

What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a classroom?
The required technologies would be computers for all of the students to access KidPub and do research.

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 getting the opportunity to publish their original work and collaborate with other
students beyond their classroom and outside of their school.

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (creating original data and or producing original
products as a result of engaging in a project): Since students are writing opinion pieces, they are
producing original products as a result of engaging in the class project. The original product is their
opinion piece that they will publish to the website.

c. Higher-order thinking: This lesson implements higher-order thinking because students are creating
original work based on research and opinions that they connected, and they are getting the
opportunity to collaborate and discuss writing with people beyond their school.

d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product: Students
will be able to publish their work to KidPub, as well as collaborate with other students on the site.

Spring 2018_SJB
 Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

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): This technology tool will help me support all students in the classroom
because they have opportunities for multiple means of expression. Students will get to choose what their
opinion piece and write it on what they choose to write about, providing them with voice and choice. They
also can research their work in a variety of ways, providing them with multiple means of comprehension
(library book, online research, etc.)
Lesson idea implementation and Internet Safety Policies: When implementing this lesson, I will be sure to
carefully monitor student internet usage and check any websites before they are allowed on. Students will
publish their work under a pseudonym, ensuring that they do not give out any personal information. I will
make sure that the websites have age-appropriate content and I will get parental consent before allowing
them to publish their work.

Reflective Practice:
I think this lesson would impact student learning because it is giving them an opportunity to be creative and
original, and is encouraging them as emerging authors to be proud of their work and to discuss writing with
other students. I feel that this lesson could be extended by having students illustrate their works, or by having
them present them to the class, or create a physical copy of their books.

Spring 2018_SJB