Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Space Race

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 5th

Content Standard Addressed:

SS5H6 Describe the importance of key people, events, and developments between 1950-1975.
d. Discuss the significance of the technologies of television and space exploration.

Technology Standard Addressed:

3) Knowledge Constructor- Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct
knowledge, produce creative artifacts, and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

Selected Technology Tool: Timeline

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

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/

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):

 I would provide the students with a checklist as they do their research to make sure that they took
note of the event, date, who was in charge, and the importance.
 Students are given the option to watch videos about the Space Race or read articles to conduct their
research.
 I would have closed captioning on if students wanted to read the words instead of listening. This is
also applicable to deaf students.
 Having students perform their research on the Space Race allows the students active participation,
exploration, and experimentation.

Lesson idea implementation:

This lesson would be used during the section on the period of 1950-1975. Students would have already
gained an understanding of significant events that took place during that time. I would introduce this lesson
by showing them a short video about the Space Race. I then would have the students go on the computers or
iPads and conduct their research about the different events that happened during the Space Race. I would
make sure that the students only use the various websites that I provide for them, to make sure that the
students are going on reliable and safe sites. Students would be required to find ten different events that
took place during the Space Race and make a note of each event. They would be required to write down
when the incident took place, who was in charge of the event Soviet or the United States, what happened and
why it is significant. Then the students would have to find a picture on Google that goes with each event that
they found.
After finding the ten events, the students would have to put them in chronological order onto the Timeline
website. They would also upload pictures of each event that they found on google onto the Timeline site as
well. Then they would print out their Timeline and have it ready to share with the class. The next day, I would
Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
have a class discussion on the Timelines that the students created. I would have the students share their
timeline with the class, and as the student discusses each event, I would ask the other students, “who also
put this event on their timeline?” The students who added that event to their timeline would raise their
hands. As the students share their timelines with their classmates, we would be making a class timeline
together. As each event is being mentioned, I would add it to the overall class timeline. I would have students
determine where to place each event.

Reflective Practice:
This lesson not only addresses the events of the Space Race, but it also helps students understand
timelines and how to place things in chronological order. It is an excellent practice for the students because
they can apply the use of putting things in order in multiple other subjects such as applying the proper steps
to solve a math problem or writing about an event in sequential order.
To further this lesson, I would have the students use Microsoft Word and write a two-page paper on the
importance of the Space Race and the reason why it happened. They would include the ten events that they
found in their writing and discuss the importance of each event.

Spring 2018_SJB