Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Template

Name: Chashaun Matthews
Grade Level: 9-12
Content Area: Biology/ Ecology
Standards Addressed: SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled
and multi-celled organisms
and the increasing complexity of systems.
a. Explain the cycling of energy through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
b. Compare how structures and function vary between the six kingdoms (archaebacteria,
eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals).
c. Examine the evolutionary basis of modern classification systems.
d. Compare and contrast viruses with living organisms.
SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of
energy and matter within their ecosystems.
a. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities,
ecosystems, and biomes.
b. Explain the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems by
Arranging components of a food chain according to energy flow.
Comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid.
Explaining the need for cycling of major nutrients (C, O, H, N, P).
c. Relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems.
d. Assess and explain human activities that influence and modify the environment such
as global warming, population growth, pesticide use, and water and power
consumption.
e. Relate plant adaptations, including tropisms, to the ability to survive stressful
environmental conditions.
f. Relate animal adaptations, including behaviors, to the ability to survive stressful
environmental conditions.
Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Planting Science
URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
www.plantingscience.org
Describe how you would Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity
in your classroom: Students will be paced into small groups and using the
PlantingScience.org will design a science experiment involving plant
growth and increased agricultural efficiency. The project will be
uploaded to the website and others groups will be able to evaluate the
project.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity
in a classroom? Computer tablets will be needed for each group; other materials
will be based on the experiment by the students with the instruction from Planting
science
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
1

and often beyond their school: Communication with scientist within

the plant field. Students will be able to publish their own work and
view their peers work.
b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting original
data and or producing original products as a result of engaging in the
project): Planting science mentors will help students perform and
analyze science experiments.
c. Higher-order thinking: Students will collaborate and develop an
authentic experiment and generate data that will be analyzed by
peers.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care
about their product: this project would be considered LoTi level 6
published works to experts in the field of science.
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? LoTi level 6; Students work will be published on the planting science
website, while working closely with an expert planting scientist.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with
your districts Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? All CIPA and FERA laws
are followed by plantscience.org. Teacher will monitor internet activity to enforce
internet safety guidelines.