Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools

Lesson Idea Name: 9/11

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 5th
Content Standard Addressed: SS5H7 Trace important developments in America from 1975 to 2001. b.
Describe the events of September 11, 2001, and analyze their impact on American life.

Technology Standard Addressed: 3. Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool:

☒ Blog ☐ Wiki ☐ Other: Website Creation Tool (list):

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uOn7xLYPbc

http://jsmit759.edublogs.org/flipped-classroom/

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):

Engagement: There are many different opportunities for the students to be engaged throughout this lesson.
They will even be engaged outside of the classrooms as well. This will be by interviewing their parents about
where they were during 9/11. They will also talk with one another in the classroom about the various
information they are learning. Another opportunity will be when they present the information they have
gathered to the class.
Representation: The information regarding this lesson will be presented to the students in multiple ways.
They will be able to refer to their text books, the teacher will share a presentation, they will watch
educational videos, and they will record interviews at home with one or both of their parents. This
assignment as well as the presentation aspect will help in giving each of the students a voice and an
opportunity to share what they have worked on.
Action and Expression: Since the students will be working on this assignment partly at home. They are getting
multiple opportunities to expand their understanding and apply what they have been learning in the
classroom. They will each have their own personal interviews and will take action to gather information and
compile what they have collected into one final presentation.

Lesson idea implementation:

At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher will ask the students what they already know about the events
of 9/11. This will help activate the students’ prior background knowledge. The teacher will then share a brief
presentation that touches on important details from this event in history. Following this, the students will all
be shown an educational video that will allow them to see the planes hit the towers. They will be informed
that this event was serious and tragic and to be respectful as they watch and listen. After watching the video,
the students will participate in a think-pair-share. They will turn to a peer sitting close to them and share a
few pieces of information they have learned about 9/11. They can also ask questions if they are feeling
confused about something.

Summer 2017_SJB
 Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools
During the remainder of class, the students will work on gathering research in a graphic organizer about
the events of 9/11. They can use their text book or the internet to find information. The teacher will inform
the students that she will be posting an additional part to the assignment to the classroom blog later in the
day and remind them to check the blog to see what they need to do next. The teacher will then record audio
explaining that the students will need to record an interview with one or both of their parents about what
they remember about 9/11. There will also be a transcript included on the blog so that the students can have
the instructions presented in writing as well. During the next week the students will share their interviews
with the class as well as at least five pieces of information they gathered in their graphic organizers.
The students will be graded by the teaching based on the completion of their work. The teacher will have a
checklist for each student that covers areas such as a completed interview, adequate amounts of information,
and a clear and understandable presentation. Based on these checklists, the teacher will provide each student
with a feedback/ feedforward form. In order to extend this lesson, I would have the students conduct one
more interview with a member of the community and take the information they have gathered to write an
informational paper that will be turned into the teacher.

Importance of technology:
This was critical because the teacher did not have time to cover the entirety of the assignment in class. Also,
since the students needed to conduct their interviews at their homes, they needed an additional resource to
provide instructions to them. The teacher could also add this information after the first lesson on 9/11. They
can notice strengths and weaknesses and determine the next step from there. It also allows parents to stay
informed on why they are being interviewed and what their children ae doing in school. This project could not
be completed without technology since they have to record their interviews. They could write them, but then
the experience would not be as meaningful.

Inspiration (optional): N/A

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: The blog will only be visible to members of the class and their parents.
The public will not be able to view private information or pictures of the students. The teacher will refer to
FERPA and CIPA in order to be fully aware of student privacy rights and regulations. The teacher will also
require that the students use Kiddle when researching information online. This is a search engine made for
kids that filters search results to be kid-friendly.

Reflective Practice:
I feel like this lesson supports student learning because they are taking in information in multiple ways. This
will help them to stay engaged and focused on the various tasks presented to them. By using the blog, the
students can stay in the know and up to date on assignments and have a clear understanding of the teacher’s
expectations. To further extend this lesson, I would have the students conduct one more interview with a
member of the community and take the information they have gathered to write an informational paper that
will be turned into the teacher. Other technology that could enhance this lesson would be incorporating
student response tools as formative assessments throughout the lesson.

Summer 2017_SJB