Beyond-the-Basic

Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Deep Space Exploration
Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4

Content Standard Addressed: S4E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare and
contrast the physical attributes of stars and planets.

c. Construct an explanation of the differences between stars and planets.

d. Evaluate strengths and limitations of models of our solar system in describing relative size,
order, appearance and composition of planets and the sun.
(Clarification statement: Composition of planets is limited to rocky vs. gaseous.)

Technology Standard Addressed:

Selected Technology Tool: Discovery Education

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):
https://app.discoveryeducation.com/builders/boards/?assetGuid=D7F5B19B-3A56-47A9-AB66-
9B10E87DB316 - mode=edit&queryAssetsLoaded=true
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): Overall, the students are being engaged in a worthwhile task that is
creative, hands on, visual and auditory. The activity will be through a website on the internet that is easily
accessible and has multiple components that are helpful towards differentiation and to engage the student.
Engagement: The specific module that the student will explore is about outer space. This website has multiple
videos and animations that are geared towards hooking a student so they will explore all that the website has
to offer.
Representation: Each video has a title and a clean and well-organized default cover. There are visually
pleasing fonts, colors and links throughout the website. There are endless options of tabs to explore
throughout the website.
Action and Expression: The students are asked to create their own “board” much like one seen in a classroom
with current standards, student work, and class supports. However, they are given the creative freedom to
design it how they want as long as it has meaningful information regarding the activity.


Lesson idea implementation:
The teacher will begin by showing the students to the Discovery Education website. The teacher will
direct the students to the Explore the Universe with Discovery's TELESCOPE page
(http://www.discoveryeducation.com/discoverynow/telescope.cfm) and the students will be
instructed to explore the videos on the planets, solar system and stars. The students will have their
Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
choice of information that they will take notes on. They will be asked to construct an explanation of
the differences between stars and planets. They will also be asked to evaluate strengths and
limitations of models of our solar system in describing relative size, order, appearance and
composition of planets and the sun. (Clarification statement: Composition of planets is limited to
rocky vs. gaseous.) After the student has collected information, they will build a board through the
Discovery Education website and organize their notes, site their resources and create a display of
information.

This activity will take the full class period. The students have had prior experience creating boards
and exploring on Discovery Education. Once the students are done with the project, they will post a
link to their board through Padlet and from there the board will be graded for accuracy,
presentation and participation. This project integrates differentiation, because it is allowing students
a choice to build something using their personal learning preferences. They are being provided with
visual, hands on, auditory and standard resources for learning. Once the students have submitted
their boards the students will be assigned a classmate’s board and they will be asked to peer review
the board and provide feedback during next class meeting. The students will be given a Ticket out
the Door and instructed to write down one thing they learned that they had never heard or seen
before.

Reflective Practice:
This activity is a fun way to have students create notes without it feeling like a traditional pen and
paper method. The students will be able to organize their information in a creative way that is their
own. The objective is to ensure the student is learning about space, planets and stars. They are given
freedom as to what they can tell me or identify through their findings. After this activity, the class
could take their peer review and share with the person they reviewed. Then the students can
partner up and create a graphic organizer showing the difference between stars and planets. Then
the whole class could combine their differences and create a communal graphic organizer to
reference that could be added to. The students could use the website Bubbl.us to create the graphic
organizer.

Spring 2018_SJB