Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: The Properties of Soil

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): Third Grade

Content Standard Addressed:

S3E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the physical attributes of rocks and soils.
b. Plan and carry out investigations to describe properties (color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability
to support growth of plants) of soils and soil types (sand, clay, loam).
Technology Standard Addressed:
6. Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the
platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.
Selected Technology Tool:
Popplet
URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

X Remembering X Understanding X Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating X Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion X Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

 Supports ELL students (popplet has a feature where students can include photos)
 Supports visual learners
 Helps students with attention disorders
Lesson idea implementation:
The teacher will start the lesson by stating: “Now that we have gone over the properties of soils and soil
types, it is your turn to make a popplet on one of the following types of soil and their types. This will be done
individually, but you will be able to collaborate with one another and express your ideas. Your Popplet must
include the name of the soil you selected, pictures, and its properties. You will also locate information via
internet, texts, and previous classwork. After you have completed this task, you will present your Popplet to
the class, but first, let’s do a quick review on what we learned so far about these soils.”

This project should be done at the end of a lesson and can take only a day or two to complete. After going
over directions, the teacher will allow students to choose their soil. Students will research their soil and its
properties using the resources listed (internet, class text/work) and present their finds in popplet format.
Presenting their information with popplet allows students to see and hear information which is beneficial to
students with varying abilities.
Reflective Practice:
To move this activity to LoTi five, the teacher could publish the students’ Popplet to the classroom blog or
website. The final projects could also be shared during the school’s morning announcements or even on the
school website. Another thing we could do is print the student work and post it in the hallways of the school.

Spring 2018_SJB