Basic Productivity Presentation Tool

Lesson Idea
Ashlea Vaughan

Lesson Idea Name: Animal Ebooks

Grade Level/Content Area: 2nd grade Science (life science)

Content Standard Addressed: LS2. A → animals depend on their surroundings to get what
they need, including food, water, and shelter
ISTE Technology Standard Addressed:  What would you like students to know and
be able to do by the end of this lesson:
Empowered Learner - 1.1 c. Students use
technology to seek feedback that informs and The students should be able to know that
improves their practice and to demonstrate animals depend on their surroundings to get
their learning in a variety of ways what they need.

What is the student learning goal for this lesson idea?

The students will be able to use the online version of PowerPoint to make an ebook that
demonstrates their understanding of the standard. Students should use this ebook to come up
with a creative way of showing that animals depend on their environment to get what they
need.

Selected Instructional Software Tool: online version of PowerPoint through Office365

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-
365/powerpoint?ms.officeurl=powerpoint&rtc=1
Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Level(s):

☐ Remembering ☐ Understanding ☐ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating X 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.

X 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
 Basic Productivity Presentation Tool
Lesson Idea
Ashlea Vaughan

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

Lesson idea implementation: I will introduce this lesson by sharing my ebook and then
having a discussion about what kinds of things animals get from their surroundings that help
them live. After that, I will go in depth on how to use the online version of PowerPoint to
create an ebook. I will make students aware of their goals by having them written somewhere
in the classroom for them to see as well as verbally going over them throughout the lesson.
Students will utilize PowerPoint to create their own ebook on a topic of their choice within the
content area (animals and their environments). As the teacher, I will assist them with any
troubles they have using the software as well as acting as a sounding board for any of their
creative ideas they have. Feedback will be given to students as they are creating their ebooks,
as well as at the end; this feedback will be both written and verbally given. I will conclude this
lesson by allowing the students to present their ebooks and discussing why they chose that
specific topic. After that, if possible, I will have them presented on the school’s morning news
or in the library.

Managing engagement: Describe a way to use this technology in a way that gets students
actively involved in authentic tasks and contexts. For this lesson, the students will be
working in pairs and co-use the technology to create an ebook together. To first start, the
class will go to the library to check out a book on their desired topic to extend their learning.
In class each day the students will have a set amount of time to collaborate and work on their
ebook (roughly 30 minutes each day). At this time, I will be traveling around and giving each
pair feedback and reminding them of their learning goals as necessary.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

Office365 and PowerPoint are extremely user friendly, and have a small learning curve. This
activity supports the learning experience of the students by allowing them to go in depth in
researching a specific topic of their choice, and allowing them to find a creative way to share
their learning with their peers. The use of this technology enhances their learning experience
by putting them in the “driver’s seat” so to say and giving them the freedom to choose what
topic they want to cover and how they want to convey that information. This activity
promotes engagement by allowing them to work with a partner, as well as actively create a
 Basic Productivity Presentation Tool
Lesson Idea
Ashlea Vaughan

product that expresses their learning by giving them something to be proud to show off.

Reflecting on enhanced learning:

I feel that the activity that I have created will impact student learning positively by having
them be hands-on and play an active role in their own learning. Too often are students
expected to sit quietly and learn by simply taking in a boat load of information, and this
changes that narrative by putting them in control. This also gives students the opportunity to
be self directed learners by choosing which topic they want to cover. The part of the lesson I
look most forward to is having all of the students share their final products with their peers as
well as myself at the end because it’s invigorating to see students be so excited and proud to
show off what they have learned through something they created themselves.