INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE

Choose one Instructional Software title. Complete all fields in the following template to describe the
software and how you would use this product in your future classroom to help students achieve required
learning standards.
Note: This template uses the forms feature in MS Word. Select the highlighted text boxes and type over
the sample text. Simply click on the boxes to check them.
Name: Ashley Jordan
Software Title: Brain Pop
URL:
https://www.brainpop.com/science/natureoftheuniverse/moonphases/
Function(s) of Instructional Software (check all that apply):
Drill and Practice

Tutorial

Simulation

Instructional Game

e-books/e-references

Features of the Software (check all that apply):

Assessment Monitoring/Reporting (Keeps track of student data and/or generates reports for
the teacher)
Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
Multi-user or
collaborative functions with others in class
Multi-user or collaborative functions with others
beyond local class
Accessible to students beyond the school day
Accessible via mobile
devices
Multiple languages
Safety, security, and/or privacy features
Strengths of the Software: This type of software is very fun and friendly for the students to use
and stay engaged in their school subjects. This technique allows the students to be an active
member of their own learning. Examples: assessing their knowledge with a quiz and visuals,
challenges the student, and participating in games. This website is also very age appropriate for 4th
grade and has many different graphics and videos to help them learn in a variety of ways.
Suggestions for Improvement: This technology tool is not free for students. That is an
improvement I would suggest to try to make in the future! If this tool was free students could
really benefit from this at home!
Standards Addressed:
S4E2. Students will model the position and motion of the earth in the solar system and will explain
the role of relative position and motion in determining sequence of the phases of the moon.
b. Explain the sequence of the phases of the moon.
Grade Level/Content Area(s): Grade level 4: Science: the moon phases
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
Description of how to implement in the class:
This lesson activity will be very fun and engaging for the students. Brain Pop will be used for the
whole extended time for science. This lesson will include some whole group sessions (video, and
discussion) and some small group sessions (activity and quiz). There will be a lot of
communicating and interaction with others through this science lesson. The only equipment need
are the computers and tablets in the classroom so they can get on the website Brain Pop. The
students will first be introduced to the moon phases by watching a short movie with great visuals
and information. This will strike some background knowledge (remembering) we have already
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discussed in class and it will provide new information for them as well. The students will then get
to discuss with me and others in the classroom on the video (make sure they are understanding
the concepts). After the discussion, the students will get into groups and use Brain Pop to match
the visual pictures of each moon to the correct phase in sequence. This activity will allow them to
use their (understanding) and (apply) their knowledge. At the end of the lesson, the students will
then take a quick quiz in a group of 2 to assess their knowledge of the information from the video,
discussion, and activity of matching the phases. This lesson idea will integrate to the level of
technology - Loti 2: Exploration because the students are focusing on understanding the main
content at hand. This will mainly be teacher directed because I will be introducing new topics and
guiding them through the different activities. The students will also work together and on their
own within their groups and pairs. This will be a very fun, easy-going lesson for the students.
* Examples of common instructional models include whole group, teacher-led, student self-paced, small
group, or individual learning activities. Use as many of these descriptors or other descriptors as apply.