Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Important Figures

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 1st grade

Content Standard Addressed:

SS1H1 Read about and describe the life of historical figures in American history.
a. Identify the contributions made by these figures: Benjamin Franklin (inventor/author/ statesman), Thomas
Jefferson (Declaration of Independence), Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with Sacagawea (exploration),
Theodore Roosevelt (National Parks and the environment), George Washington Carver (science), and Ruby
Bridges (civil rights)

Technology Standard Addressed:

3- Knowledge Construction
Selected Technology Tool: Timeline Maker

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

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):

 ELLs
 Visual Learners
Students that are struggling are able to view the timeline I created as well as their peers timelines over again.
They can use this as a reference and resource during this activity and future lessons.

Lesson idea implementation:

During this activity, the students will be creating their own timeline. We will use my timeline as a resource in
which the students will be introduced to all of the different important figures. We will then have a class
discussion over all of the different figures and talk about what they did that was so important. After our
discussion, I will split the students up into groups in which they will be assigned to one of the important
figures. Over the course of a few days, the students will be researching their assigned figure. Using the
computer lab, while abiding with all of our school’s internet safety rules, the students will be learning as much
information about their figure as they can. They will then use the timeline maker to create their own timeline
over important parts of that figures life.
To extend the students learning to a higher level, I will have them go to the library and rent out books over
that character which they will take home and study. The students will then present each of their groups
projects to the class. The class will be able to ask questions and give feedback over the different
presentations.

Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Reflective Practice:
Since the students have never been introduced to these important figures, I feel like they are gaining
important knowledge from this activity. They are using technology when creating their own individual
timelines as well as when they are researching their figures. To further this lesson, I will have the students
write a paragraph describing their figure. Since their timeline will only include important information like
when they were born and what they accomplished, I will also ask them to add in one other detail to their
narrative that was not in their timeline.

Spring 2018_SJB