EDTL 6360: Internet in the Educational Community

Module 5 - Essential Question & Inquiry-Based Lesson Plan Template

Title

Preserving Our National Parks

Grade Level/Subject
Overview of Lesson

5th Grade Social Studies/Science/Technology

Students will choose a National Park, explore different aspects of the
National Park using Web 2.0 resources, and create a Popplet to share with
others why this National Park should be preserved.
(Students should have prior knowledge of evaluating effective web
resources, creating professional projects using the Web 2.0 resource
Popplett, and writing 5 sentence paragraphs with introduction, summary,
and conclusion.)

Web Address for Activity

Information
(Where can students find
guidance for inquiry activity?
This would be Blog, Google
docs, WIKI , WebQuest, URL)

http://popplet.com/app/#/3179217

Essential Questions

Why should we preserve our National Parks?

(What are the essential/main

question/s that students will
be answering in this activity?)

Suggested
Foundation/Subsidiary
Questions
(What are some guided
questions that should be
answered to help with
answering essential question?)

Ohio Content Standards

Addressed

What is the history of our National Parks?

What do our National Parks offer us?
What is preservation and why is it important?
What Web 2.0 resources can help you defend the preservation of our
National Parks?
Geography: Places and Regions: (6): Regions can be determined using
various criteria (e.g., landform, climate, population, cultural or economic).
Geography: Human Systems: (7): Variations among physical
environments within the Western Hemisphere influence human activities.
Human activities also alter the physical environment.
Economics: Economic Decision Making and Skills: (14): The choices
people make have both present and future consequences.
Earth and Space Science: Earth's Surface: Earth's surface has specific
characteristics and landforms that can be identified.
Technology: Productivity Applications: Standard 3: Benchmark C: Use
productivity tools to produce creative works and prepare publications.
Technology: Information Literacy: Standard 5: Benchmark B:
Determine the best sources to use for the assigned topic or personal
information need.

EDTL 6360: Internet in the Educational Community

Module 5 - Essential Question & Inquiry-Based Lesson Plan Template
Activities/Tasks
Introduction: Students will take an online quiz from National Geographic
Kids called 'What National Park Fits You Best' and share their results.
Procedures of activities http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/games/quizzes/national-parkspersonality-quiz/
Include a full explanation of
how technology be utilized.

Inquiry Lesson: Students will access the Popplett 'Preserving Our

National Parks' and use this as a guide in their inquiry-based project to:
http://popplet.com/app/#/3179217
1) read 'The History of Our National Parks' by National Geographic
Kids http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/historyof-the-national-parks/#park-yellowston
2) watch 'America's National Parks: Celebrating 100 Years'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS3aO9Hv6DU
3) understand 'Preserving the United States National Parks' by Hunter
Fedorchuk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIoHhP15kI0
4) use reliable resources to help define 'Preservation' in their own
words
5) choose a National Park to explore on their own
http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/search/#keywords=timeline&
count=30&sort=title&media=video
6) access these websites to search and retrieve unique characteristics
about the National Park they choose, including history, location,
climate, wildlife, plants/trees, natural features, and activities
National Park Service:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial/index.htm
The National Parks: America's Best Idea:
http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/
National Park Foundation:
http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks
7) validate three other reliable Web 2.0 resources about their National
Park, including sites, videos, blogs, etc.
8) write a 5-sentence summary defending why their National Park
should be preserved
9) create and publish a Popplett about their National Park including
their personal definition of preservation, a detailed explanation of
the 7 unique characteristics with at least 10 images, 3 other reliable
Web 2.0 resources, and a 5-sentence defense of why their National
Park should be preserved
Closure: Students will share their Poppletts with the class.

EDTL 6360: Internet in the Educational Community

Module 5 - Essential Question & Inquiry-Based Lesson Plan Template
Resources
Laptops with Internet Access
The Final Product
Students will create a Popplett
What will students produce
that represents their answers
to the essential questions?

Evaluation Procedure

Rubric

How will student work be

assessed?

Attach Rubric
Teacher Reflection

What problems do you anticipate with this lesson?

How will this lesson fit into your overall curriculum planning?
Problems with this lesson could include computers not working, students
having problems with publishing a Popplett, and/or students not staying on
task.
This lesson will bring together students knowledge and application of the Web
2.0 resource Popplett to outline and share what they have learned about
National Parks and the importance of preservation.

Extension ideas: https://www.nps.gov/webrangers/

EDTL 6360: Internet in the Educational Community

Module 5 - Essential Question & Inquiry-Based Lesson Plan Template

EDTL 6360: Internet in the Educational Community

Module 5 - Essential Question & Inquiry-Based Lesson Plan Template