Redefining Classroom Technology: Websites and Applications for Ipad’s and Laptops
Making the Most of Technologies in the Classroom
“What can I do with a website online?”
Websites Online (Laptop use) - are available to help improve student achievement through the use of technology in
elementary and secondary schools. Additional goals include helping all students become technologically literate.
• Integrating technology into classroom instruction means more than teaching basic computer skills and software
programs in a separate computer class.
• Effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the
learning process.
• In particular, it must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent
interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.
• Effective technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent and when
technology supports curricular goals.
What can I do with “Apps” on a iPad or Laptop?
iPad (iPad use)- is transforming the way we teach and learn. Powerful creative tools, interactive textbooks, and a universe
of apps and content make for endless learning possibilities. All on a device many teachers and students already love to
use.
• Take advantage of what they have to offer as well in order to provide students with well-rounded lessons that nurture
them both inside and outside the classroom.
• Everyone learns differently. With just a few taps, you can customize your students’ iPad with materials that fit their
level and learning style.
• The wide range of content across subjects and grades also makes it easy to tailor iPad for students at a variety of
learning levels. With iPad, you can teach all your students the same lesson — in different ways.
Finally, technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators effective ways to reach different types of
learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It also enhances the relationship between teacher and
student. When technology is effectively integrated into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert,
and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.
Lesson Plan
Each Day of the Pumpkins, Apples, and Fall – Science Mini Unit – The lessons will focus on using the
Bloom's Taxonomy Strategies for helping students learn through different activities and skill sets.
This lesson includes each skill (Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and
Creating) on a poster each day. Under the skill is a question to help give the teacher and the students
a big-picture idea of that level, then you can go further with the bullet point.
Many people believe that technology-enabled project learning is the new plus ultra of classroom
instruction. Learning through projects while equipped with technology tools allows students to be
intellectually challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the modern office
looks like. Through projects, students acquire and refine their analysis and problem-solving skills as
they work individually and in teams to find, process, and synthesize information they've found
online.
Using Bloom's Taxonomy Strategies in Lesson Plans
• Bloom's taxonomy was created by a group
of psychologists in 1956, with Benjamin
Bloom at the helm. A mechanism for the
classification and categorization of
different levels of learning, teachers can
apply the six-staged diagram's principles
to intellectual learning in the typical
classroom environment. So, what are
these six stages, and how can teachers
address them all within their lessons? The
six levels of bloom's taxonomy, in order
(lowest to highest), are knowledge,
comprehension, application, analysis,
synthesis and evaluation. All of these
stages slot into the cognitive domain,
which relates to how the brain processes
information and thoughts. Bloom’s
Taxonomy can be used across grade levels
and content areas. By using Bloom’s
Taxonomy in the classroom, teachers can
assess students on multiple learning
outcomes that are aligned to local, state,
and national standards and objectives.
Within each level of the taxonomy, there
are various tasks that move students
through the thought process. The
illustration to the right demonstrates how
all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy can be
achieved with one image.
A Visual Prompt for Pumpkin, Apples, Fall - Science Mini Lessons
5 Day – Science/Literacy Lesson Plans
Pumpkin, Apples, and Fall – Mini Unit
Monday – Virtual Visit to the Pumpkin Patch
and Apple Orchard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwIsqWKnnY
Monday – Read
The Littlest Pumpkin!
by R.A. Herman and Illustrated by Betina Ogden.
The book is read aloud on You Tube.
Websites and Apps:
Pumpkins:
http://www.abcya.com/p
umpkin_carving.htm
http://www.teachpresch
ool.org/2012/10/explori
ng-life-cycle-pumpkins/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRd_cS_ZI10
http://more.starfall.com/i
nfo/apps/pumpkin.php
Monday – Day One
Pumpkin
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fun Facts About Pumpkins:
Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white,
green or red.
The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning
‘large melon’.
Pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds.
Scientifically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit (they contain seeds) but
when it comes to cooking, they are often referred to as vegetables.
Pumpkins are usually shaped like a sphere (ball).
They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh
around 13 pounds (6 kilograms).
Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing
over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). In 2010, the world record was
1810 pounds! That’s huge!!
Pumpkin plants feature both male and female flowers, with bees
typically being involved in pollination (the transfer of pollen).
Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in
the US every year.
As a food, pumpkin can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled.
Pumpkin soup is popular, as are roasted pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin pie is a sweet dessert that originates in North America and
is traditionally eaten during harvest time and holidays such as
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pumpkins are popular decorations during Halloween. A carved
pumpkin illuminated by candles is known as a ‘jack-o-lantern’. The
tradition is believed to have come from Ireland, where they used to
carve faces into turnips, beet and other root vegetables as part of the
Gaelic festival of Samhain.
The Students will use and complete a KWL Chart to see what the student
knows (K), wants to know (W), and has learned (L) about pumpkins.
An example of a KWL Chart – completed about pumpkins.
The Students will learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin.
Also complete and color the life cycle of a pumpkin.
An example of a completed life cycle of a pumpkin.
Tuesday – Read
Apple Trouble!
by Ragnhild Scamell and Illustrated by Michael Tracy.
The book is read aloud on You Tube.
Websites and Apps
Apples:
http://extension.illinois.edu/
apples/edu-projects_4B.cfm
http://extension.illinois.edu/ap
ples/facts.cfm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVD_g2wuI0g
https://play.google.com/stor
e/apps/details?id=com.luont
oportti
Tuesday – Day Two
Apples
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fun Facts About Apples:
Apples are the fruit of apple trees and are one of the most
widely grown tree fruit.
Millions of tonnes of apples are grown every year.
There are thousands of different varieties of apples including
Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady and
Granny Smith.
Granny Smith apples originated in Australia in 1868
accidentally after a chance seedling by a woman named
Maria Ann Smith.
While most apples are eaten fresh, they have other uses
including juice making and cooking.
The apple tree originated in Central Asia.
China is the leading producer of apples.
Apples were taken to North America by European settlers.
Apple trees can be vulnerable to a number of different
diseases and pests. Chemical sprays are often used to limit the
damage but organic methods are also popular.
Honey bees are commonly used to pollinate apple trees.
Apple trees typically blossom in spring with fruit maturing in
autumn.
Apple seeds contain a cyanide compound. Our body can
handle small doses of this naturally occurring poison so you'd
have to eat a huge number of seeds for it to have an effect,
and even then the seeds are covered in a protective coating
which keeps the cyanide compound safe inside.
An average apple contains around 130 calories.
The Students will learn about the life cycle of a apple.
An example of a completed life cycle of an apple.
An example of a completed Autumn Word Search Worksheet
Wednesday – Read
A Leaf Can Be……
by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrations by
Violet Dabija.
The book is read aloud on You Tube.
Websites and Apps:
Leaves:
http://www.sciencemadesim
ple.com/leaves.html
http://www.kidsplayandcre
ate.com/what-happens-inautumn-fall-for-kids-fallautumn-facts-for-kids/
https://itunes.apple.com/u
s/app/pumpkins/id292179
578?mt=8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udvzG_5yTi8
Wednesday – Day Three – Apples and Pumpkins
• Apples – Students will participate
in a variety of activities to learn
about apples. Students will graph
apples, learn about apples uses
and taste apples.
• Pumpkins - Students will examine
three pumpkins to compare and
contrast
their
weight
and
circumference as an introduction to
this lesson on the characteristics of
pumpkins.
The Students will compare and contrast – Pumpkins
and Apples using a Venn Diagram
An example of a completed Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting – Pumpkins and Apples.
The Students will complete a work sheet about Pumpkins and Apples.
An example of the completed work sheet about Pumpkins and Apples.
Thursday – Read
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!
by Lucille Colandro and illustrated by Jared Lee.
The book is read aloud on You Tube.
Websites and Apps:
Leaves:
http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/pubs
/leaves/leaves.shtm
http://www.highlightskids.co
m/science-questions/howand-why-do-leaves-fall-trees
http://leafsnap.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVD_g2wuI0g
Thursday – Day Four
Fall Leaves
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fun Facts About Leaves:
Trees are tall plants made of wood.
Plants that aren't quite tall enough to be considered trees
are often called shrubs.
Trees can live for thousands of years.
Some trees can grow to around 100 metres (328 feet) in
height!
The tallest species of trees in the world include the Coast
Redwood, Giant Sequoia, Coast Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce
and Australian Mountain Ash.
Trees produce oxygen and reduce the amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
The roots of a tree usually grow underground, helping
keep it stable and providing it with water and important
nutrients.
Water and nutrients travel up the tree trunk, through the
branches and all the way out to the leaves.
The trunk of a tree is protected by an outside layer of
bark.
The way a tree grows through different seasons can be
seen by growth rings in the wood, they can even be used
to determine the age of a tree.
Planting trees can help prevent erosion.
Wood from trees can be used in a number of different
ways including as a building material and energy source
(such as a campfire).
The Students will complete a reading comprehension activity after reading
the book “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves.
An example of the completed reading comprehension activity for the book
“There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves.
The Students will complete a sequencing activity after reading the
book “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves.
An example of a completed sequencing activity for the book “There Was
An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!”.
Friday – Day Five
Scarecrows
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fun Facts About Scarecrows:
Scarecrows are a big hit in decorating during the fall, and
are associated with harvest scenes. But, scarecrows are built
to stand out in the garden to scare crows and other birds
away. The crops are out growing in the field during the
summer months. So, if you're going to build a scarecrow for
your garden, the time is now. Hence, a July date.
That which frightens or is intended to frighten without doing
physical harm. Literally that which - scares away crows, hence
the name scarecrow.
Scarecrows first started out as a means for farmers to protect
their crops and gardens from the harm that birds such and the
crow, could do. Birds could do a lot of damage by eating up
the fruits, vegetables and grains that the farmers had planted
therefore a means had to be invented to help the crops. So
the Scarecrow was invented!
The scarecrow had a purpose and an important one back in
the old days. In this day and time the scarecrow is not only
used in our gardens for a practical purpose but it is put there
for the whimsical and fun look that it gives our gardens.
The scarecrows rough and ragged appearance can be fun
and funny or it can be scary in hopes of protecting our food
that's growing in our gardens.
The Scarecrow is one of the most familiar figures not only in
the United States but throughout Europe and many other
countries of the world.
The scarecrow has worldwide popularity.
Friday – Read
Fall Mixed Up
by Bob Raczaka and illustrations by Chad Cameron.
The book is read aloud on You Tube.
Websites and Apps:
Fall:
http://home.comcast.net
/~minelson/history_of_sc
arecrows.htm
http://www.highlightskid
s.com/flash/buildscarecrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVD_g2wuI0g
https://itunes.apple.com
/us/app/pumpkinmasters-officialcarving/id554188527?m
t=8
Students will complete the worksheet entitled “In the Fall.”
An example of the worksheet entitled “In the Fall” completed.
The Students will create a scarecrow about the
book – Fall Mixed Up.