Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: A New Fossil Discovery

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 3rd grade

Content Standard Addressed: S3E2: Students will investigate fossils as evidence of organisms that lived long
ago
a. Investigate fossils by observing authentic fossils or models of fossils or view information resources about
fossils as evidence of organisms that lived long ago.
b. Describe how a fossil is formed.

Technology Standard Addressed: 3- Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: BrainPop.com

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://jr.brainpop.com/science/land/fossils/

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): The library of videos on BrainPop could tremendously help and
encourage students in their academic success by 1) tending to ELL students’ needs by providing videos in
multiple languages and 2) providing a much-needed service to students with an auditory impairment. Closed
captioning is offered on each BrainPop video and will offer services to them that will overall help with their
academic success. Headphones are offered in the classroom and allow all students to listen to each video.
Students can also rewind and pause the video in order to catch important information. These opportunities
will allow students to gain better understanding of the content being taught and introduced in the classroom.
Lesson idea implementation: State Fossil- The BrainPop video will be used to help introduce the study of
fossils. The teacher will start out the lesson with a discussion about extinct animals that lived a very long time
ago. Students will be encouraged to help list any species that they know have been extinct for a long period of

Spring 2018_SJB
 Instructional Software
time. After watching the video, students will divide into groups and begin research on finding specific
information on a state’s fossil. Nearly every state has a state fossil. Students will be encouraged to include
information such as: where can the state fossil be found and when was it selected? Students will be given
poster board and will have the opportunity to get creative by drawing an image of the state fossil of their
choice and adding the information they found onto the board. Once done with the presentations of each
group’s state fossil, we, as a class, make a map of the United States using pictures of the fossils.

This task is estimated to take about two class periods out of the week. The first day would include the
introduction and the group work, and the final day would consist of collectively making the map of the United
States. I will provide students feedback on their work during presentation time. By encouraging my students
to research collaboratively and allow them to include information they feel is necessary to include, student
learning will reach a higher level.
Reflective Practice: To further extend this lesson, students could be asked as a ticket-out-the-door to write
down three new things they learned from another group’s presentation of their state’s fossil. These activities
will impact student learning by allowing students to recall information that they previously learned and by
giving them the opportunity to be creative with their work and showcase their talents.

Spring 2018_SJB