Online&Projects,&Collaboration&Sites&and&Publishing&Opportunities&

Lesson&Idea&Name:'''The'Study'of'Earthworms''
Content&Area:''Science'
Grade&Level(s):'''2nd'grade&
Content&Standard&Addressed:''S2L1.'Obtain,'evaluate,'and'communicate'information'about'the'life'cycles'of'
different'living'organisms.&'
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Technology&Standard&Addressed:''3.'Knowledge'Constructor'
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Selected&Online&Project/Collaboration&Site/Publishing&Opportunity:'''Journey'North'
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URL(s)&to&support&the&lesson:'''http://www.learner.org/jnorth/'
'
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Describe&how&you&would&incorporate&an&Online&Project/Collaboration&Site/Publishing&Opportunity&in&your&
classroom&:&Using'Journey'North,'the'class'will'obtain,'evaluate'and'communicate'information'about'the'life'
cycles'of'Earthworms.''The'project'to'be'used'on'Journey'North'is'specifically'geared'towards'the'migration'of'
Earthworms.'As'Earthworms'travel'vertically'and'upwards'through'the'ground,'as'it'grows'warmer'outside,'it'
is'said'that'the'appearance'of'these'Earthworms'is'a'welcome'sign'of'spring.'I'would'have'my'students'track'
and'report'any'sightings'of'Earthworms'that'they'see'over'the'course'of'the'project.'As'students'track'these'
reports'on'a'migration'map'through'Journey'North,'I'would'also'have'a'side'project'going'for'them'to'work'
on.''
'
This'side'project'would'include'the'research'of'the'life'cycle'of'Earthworms.'Students'can'create'a'
presentation'and'show'their'work'on'a'triPfold'presentation'cardboard,'which'they'will'present'to'the'class'
after'the'project'has'been'finished.'Students'can'also'present'information'on'the'Earthworm'migration'and'
annual'cycle'of'earthworms'that'they'learned'about'in'the'Journey'North'project.'The'teacher'could'further'
educate'students'on'Earthworms'and'provide'a'handsPon'activity'through'finding'Earthworms'together'as'a'
class.'If'the'school'as'a'school'garden,'or'if'the'students'could'take'a'field'trip'somewhere'where'the'teacher'
would'have'the'availability'to'dig'up'Earthworms'and'show'them'to'the'class,'the'students'would'know'better'
what'Earthworms'looked'like,'and'the'different'parts'of'Earthworms'could'be'studied'more'closely.'This'
would'allow'students'to'remember'the'material'better,'and'understand'the'life'cycles'of'Earthworms'better.'
'
What&technologies&would&be&required&to&implement&this&proposed&learning&activity&in&a&classroom?'''
Technologies'such'as'computer'with'internet'access'would'be'needed'to'complete'this'lesson.''
'
Describe&how&the&following&features&are&addressed&in&this&learning&experience&(note:&all&of&them&may&not&be&
addressed&in&the&project,&but&most&should&be&if&you&are&reaching&a&high&LoTi&Level).&
a. Collaboration&with&peers,&nearOpeers,&mentors&outside&their&classroom&and&often&beyond&their&
school:&Students'would'be'using'Journey'North'where'they'can'track'the'sightings'and'first'
appearances'of'Earthworms'in'their'area,'and'compare'it'to'peers'and'other'students'around'the'
world.'Students'would'be'able'to'look'at'other'peers’'data'from'around'the'world'and'compare'it'to'
the'data'that'they'found.&
&
b. StudentOcentered&learning&and&knowledge&creation&(creating&original&data&and&or&producing&original&
products&as&a&result&of&engaging&in&a&project):'Students'would'be'creating'original'data'by'tracking'the'
first'appearances'of'Earthworms'in'their'area,'and'reporting'it'to'the'Journey'North'website.'Students'
would'also'be'using'this'data'in'their'presentations,'after'they'have'researched'the'life'cycles'of'
Earthworms'more.'&
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 Online&Projects,&Collaboration&Sites&and&Publishing&Opportunities&
c. HigherOorder&thinking:''Students'are'asked'to'track'and'report'their'own'data'using'the'Journey'North'
area,'compare'it'to'peers’'data'from'around'the'world'and'analyze'the'meaning'of'these'comparisons,'
research'the'life'cycles,'migration'and'annual'cycles'of'Earthworms'and'create'a'presentation'out'of'
this'research.'Students'could'also'be'given'a'more'handsPon'experience'through'the'findings'of'
Earthworms'and'evaluating'them'in'person,'which'allows'for'higher'thinking'and'a'deeper'
understanding'of'the'concept'being'taught.&
&
d. Students&publishing&their&original&work&to&others&who&will&use/care&about&their&product:''Students'
will'track'their'data'and'findings'through'the'Journey'North'project'and'website,'so'that'others'around'
the'world'are'able'to'see'their'data'as'well'and'use'it'for'their'own'education.'&
&
&
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'lesson'could'be'used'to'address'the'Universal'Design'for'Learning'
Principles'and'extend'and'support'the'learning'experiences'for'all'students'because'it'offers'a'variety'of'aids'
to'cater'to'different'kinds'of'learning.'Visual'learners'are'given'visual'aids'through'the'migration'map'used'on'
Journey'North,'the'triPfold'presentation'cardboard,'which'students'are'asked'to'create'themselves,'and'the'
digging'up'of'real'live'Earthworms.'Kinesthetic'learners'are'given'handsPon'experiences'through'the'creating'
and'reporting'of'their'own'personal'data,'the'creating'of'their'presentation'triPfold'board,'and'the'digging'up'
of'real'live'Earthworms.'&
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Lesson&idea&implementation&and&Internet&Safety&Policies:'Journey'North'is'a'webPbased'activity'that'allows'
safe'communication'with'peers,'nearPpeers,'teachers,'and'mentors'outside'the'classroom.'As'a'teacher,'I'
would'still'instruct'my'students'to'be'as'safe'as'possible,'and'not'give'out'real'names'or'any'personal'
information'while'using'this'site.'I'would'even'instruct'my'students'on'Internet'safety'and'student'privacy'so'
that'they'understand'how'to'use'this'site'safely.'
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Reflective&Practice:&To'further'extend'this'lesson,'I'could'ask'my'students'to'study'the'life'cycle'of'any'living'
organism'of'their'choosing,'instead'of'having'all'of'my'students'research'the'life'cycle'of'Earthworms'for'their'
presentation'projects.'Journey'North'would'still'be'used'for'the'study'of'Earthworms,'but'the'individual'
student'presentation'and'creating'of'the'triPfold'boards'could'be'done'with'any'living'organism.''
'
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