Basic Productivity Presentation Tool

Lesson Idea
Paige Bena

Lesson Idea Name: Exploring Our Solar System

Grade Level/Content Area: 4th Grade/Science
Content Standard Addressed: S4E1. Explain the limitations and strengths of models in the
solar system when looking at the order, composition, size, and appearance of the planets and the
Sun (Georgia Department of Education, 2016).
ISTE Technology Standard Addressed:  What would you like students to know and
be able to do by the end of this lesson:
Creative Communicator-1.6a. “Students choose
the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting Students will research planets and the Sun to
the desired objectives of their creation or create an Office 365 PowerPoint explaining
communication” (ISTE, n.d.). the features of the planets and/or Sun and the
strengths/weaknesses of our current model.

What is the student learning goal for this lesson idea?

Students will learn about the order, composition, size, and appearance of the planets and explain
the strengths and challenges of our current Solar System model.
Selected Instructional Software Tool: Office365’s PowerPoint (web-based).

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): May vary based on user
https://www.office.com/launch/powerpoint?auth=2

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating

☒Creating

How will this lesson be implemented? Check all that apply.

☐ Teacher-directed: There is no student voice and choice in the activities. Students are guided
by the teacher's direction and expectations.

☒ Student-Led: Students are given voice and choice in the activities. They may select the topic
for presentation and/or determine the tool they will use to meet the learning goal. Products of
learning will be uniquely designed. Teacher simply facilitates the learning in a lesson like this.

☐ Project-based and/or Publishable: Students are completing projects to demonstrate their

learning and the projects can be shared outside of the classroom. This objective could be
reached by displaying the project on the school’s morning newscast, posting the project to the
 Basic Productivity Presentation Tool
Lesson Idea
Paige Bena

classroom blog, presenting it to another class, or publishing it via an outside source.

Lesson idea implementation:

Students will create a digital story about the different planets explaining their features and the
strengths and challenges of our current Solar System model. For example, why don't we model
the Solar System based on size or appearance? I will open the lesson by sharing my digital eBook
about why Earth is in its current position in our solar system model. Students will be introduced
to facts about the planets, including their composition and appearance. Students will research the
Solar System and create a story based on the information they find. I will preview some of
PowerPoint's tools students can use and have them complete a storyboard before creating their
story. I'll provide feedback based on the students' work and offer any suggestions for students to
consider. Students can choose to create their stories individually or in a group. I'll walk around
the room answering any questions and looking over students' work. I'll conclude the lesson by
having students share their stories.
Managing engagement: Describe a way to use this technology in a way that gets students
actively involved in authentic tasks and contexts?
Students will engage in co-use/co-engagement when creating their eBook in a group or
individually. They will have 30 minutes to work as a group or individually before sharing with
the class what they learned during their session. These ideas may include the composition of
planets or why they believe they can't model the Solar System based on size. By doing this,
students will have to explain what they learned and have limited time to be off task on the
computer.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
Students have the choice of how they'd like to represent their information. When looking at
engagement, they can choose to draw images and include audio, videos, or captions. If students
choose to add subtitles in a different language, they can share their work with a family member
who speaks that language. An immersive reader helps students by reading the text aloud to
students and allows them to proofread their work. My eBook has multiple means of
representation through text, audio, and subtitles in Spanish, which allows students to read/listen
to the story.
Reflecting on enhanced learning:
I believe students will be engaged in the lesson because they can choose what to include in their
stories, such as hand-drawn images, videos, and audio. I look forward to seeing students' stories
because I get to see what they've learned while researching and how they chose to create their
stories.
 Basic Productivity Presentation Tool
Lesson Idea
Paige Bena

References
Georgia Department of Education. (2016a, March 31). Science: Fourth Grade: Georgia

Standards of Excellence. Georgia Standards. https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-

Standards/Documents/Science-Fourth-Grade-Georgia-Standards.pdf

ISTE. (n.d.). ISTE Standards: Students. https://iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-students