Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 4th grade

Content Standard Addressed: SS4H6 Analyze the effects of Reconstruction on American life. A. Describe the
purpose of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

Technology Standard Addressed: 2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Selected Technology Tool: Discovery Education

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://www.discoveryeducation.com/

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):

This assignment allows students to do their own research, with tools they are given, to create a product they
understand. Discovery Education opens up a world of discoveries for students to find and learn from,
providing them representation from the website itself. For expression, students have a wide variety of
formats in board making in Discovery Education. They have complete control over what they want their
product to look like within the parameters of what the teacher gives them. They can also have access to
videos and other sources of information, helping them figure out why the topic they are covering matters.

Lesson idea implementation:

The teacher will provide students access to Discovery Education boards. With this, they will be given a topic to
research and find information on with videos and anything else they come across on the website and think is
important. The project will be introduced by the teacher showing the students a video of the amendments on
Discovery Education. The teacher will also give them a tutorial on how to use the Boards on Discovery
Education. The students will have at least three time slots to complete this activity and will be granted more
time if needed.
Once the students have completed their boards, they will present them to the teacher. While they are
presenting their information, the teacher will be grading them and give them their completed rubrics once all
students are finished presenting. Because the students are creating their own products, they have the ability
to make it how they want. If they want to incorporate videos in their language, they can. They have the ability
to express themselves how they please while creating their boards. To extend to higher level thinking, the
students will be asked how they think these amendments are understood today. See where the amendments
come in to place. To conclude the lesson, the students will be asked what they thought about using Discovery
Education and whether or not it was a useful tool for them.
Reflective Practice:
I believe giving students new resources to use, opens up a whole world of new information for them to learn.
They may even find themselves going on Discovery Education for fun or to research a different topic. This
resource goes beyond a single topic. To further extend this lesson, students can be asked to create their own

Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
‘amendments’ for the classroom. They need to be able to stand by why their amendments should be used in
the classroom. Once all the amendments have been collected, there will be a class vote on each amendment
to see if they will be passed.

Spring 2018_SJB