Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Exploring the New World

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3rd Grade
Content Standard Addressed: SS3H2 a.Describe the accomplishments of: John Cabot (England),
Vasco Nez de Balboa (Spain), Hernando de Soto (Spain), Christopher Columbus (Spain), Henry
Hudson (The Netherlands), and Jacques Cartier (France).

Technology Standard Addressed: ISTE Standard 3a. Plan and employ effective research strategies
to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits

Selected Technology Tool: ReadThinkWrite Timeline

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): ReadThinkWrite.org

Blooms Taxonomy Level(s):

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating x Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

Level 1: Awareness Level 2: Exploration Level 3: Infusion X Level 4: Integration
Level 5: Expansion Level 6: Refinement

Lesson idea implementation: This is a Social Studies assignment that will allow students to explore and
become experts on key people in the exploration of the Americas. I will show them the timeline as an intro
to the topic. The teacher will introduce the project by reading the timeline. When I get to the section on
Columbus, you can click on the box (not shown in PDF), you will be redirected in a new tab to a BrainPop
video. This will keep children engaged and show them that they are expected to teach more than basic
facts.This presentation is the model for the final project the students will create. The students will then be
placed into groups where they will be given the chance to choose an explore from my timeline they wish to
become an expert on. The students will then have 3 days of science to come with 8 points on the explorers
life. They will then have 2 days of Social Studies to create their own timeline of their explorer. Students must
include 8 points including 2 fun facts, 1 video, and 3 images.
Once they have completed, the students will have ten minute to present their timeline Students will be
assessed by the information in their presentation and their ability to deliver that information in a way the
class can understand. I would use a rubric, given to students before they begin, to grade from. By providing a
rubric, the students know exactly what I am looking for. This project could be brought to a higher level by
uploading the students work to the classroom blog and allowing other students to add information that they
find to the projects.

Works Cited
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/christophercolumbus/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cabot
http://www.smplanet.com/teaching/colonialamerica/colonies/jamestown
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1230058.stm
http://www.explorationmuseum.com/timeline/

Summer 2017_SJB