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Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Template
Name: Sara Dobbins
Grade Level: 1st
Content Area: Science
Standards Addressed:
Content:
S1E1. Students will observe, measure, and communicate weather data to see patterns in
weather and climate.
Approved July 12, 2004
S1E2.
a. Identify different types of weather and the characteristics of each type.
b. Investigate weather by observing, measuring with simple weather instruments
(thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge), and recording weather data (temperature, precipitation,
sky conditions, and weather events) in a periodic journal or on a calendar seasonally.
c. Correlate weather data (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, and weather events) to
seasonal changes.
S1L1. Students will investigate the characteristics and basic needs of plants and animals.
b. Identify the basic needs of an animal.
1. Air
2. Water
3. Food
4. Shelter

Technology:
2. Communication and collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively,
including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of
digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of
media and formats
3. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other
cultures
4. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and information fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of
sources and media
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to
specific tasks
d. Process data and report results

Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Journey North
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URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
https://www.learner.org/jnorth/weather/aborn/News.html
Describe how you would Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom:
This project would be incorporated into the classroom during our study of animals, and would
integrate concepts that students learned during the weather unit. Students will make
observations and report them. Students will make reports once per week. They will write their
reports in class and then submit them to the teacher for review. On Friday each week, students
will submit their reports on the Journey North site. After students have had the opportunity to
submit their reports, the class will look at the data map and discuss what affect the weather had
on the migration patterns of the songbirds.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a
classroom?
Students can use cameras, word processing or just the website by itself during the online project.
Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of them
may not be addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high LoTi Level.):
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often
beyond their school: Students from across the United States make reports, and a
scientist will post information on a weekly basis just like students. The data from
all reports is used to create the weekly reports that originate from Chattanooga, TN
North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy.
b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting original data and or
producing original products as a result of engaging in the project): Students will
collect data related to weather patterns and the migration of the birds that they
see.
c. Higher-order thinking: Students will analyze how the weather has affected the
migration of birds.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their
product: Students will report their findings, which will be used as a piece for the
larger United States report.

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
What Level of Technology Implementation best describes this learning activity and Why? This
project is a LoTi level 5-6. Students are assuming adult roles and engaging with experts in the
field. Students use higher order thinking to prepare reports and analyze data. The teacher learns
along with the students, and there is a strong emphasis on real world application.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with your districts
Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? Students will only post reports with parent
permission and will use only first names or nicknames. Students will only be allowed to post
under direct teacher supervision.