Grade Level: Fourth Grade
Subject: Science
Rationale: Students study plants as part of the science curriculum. Students enjoy growing plants in the classroom. The Internet will have a wealth of information about plants and where they can be found.
Current Curriculum: Students read about plants and learn to identify the parts of plants, the process of photosynthesis, the process of pollenization, classify types of plants, and the role the plants play in the energy and food cycles.
State Goals:
- Illinois State Goal 12: To understand the fundamental concepts, principles, and interconnections of the life, physical, and earth/space sciences.
Illinois Learning Standard 12.B: Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment.
- Illinois State Goal 13: Understand the relationships among science, technology, and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
- Illinois Learning Standard 13.B: Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology, and society.
Time Frame: 5 weeks
Authentic Student Task:
How does the environment of a particular habitat influence the types of plants found growing in the habitat? Research the types of plants found in a region and see how they have adapted so that they will thrive in that environment.
Best Use of Technology:
Conduct searches to locate information on plants, farming, greenhouses, environmental information and state and national preserves.
Grade Level: Eighth Grade
Subject: U.S. History
Rationale: Students must learn about the events leading up to and including the American Revolution. They also must become familiar with the ideas that fueled the revolutionaries. This information is needed to pass the state test.
Current Curriculum: Students read about the American Revolution and the important people of the time period. They study the major battles of the war. They read the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
State Goals:
- Illinois State Goal 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
Illinois Learning Standard 16.B: Understand the development of significant political events.
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Authentic Student Task:
Research the causes of the American Revolution paying close attention to the events leading up to the first battles. You will then be placed in a group to create a Web page that proves the American revolutionaries to be patriots, or create a page that proves them to be criminals and opportunists.
Best Use of Technology:
Visit the many sites that contain information on the American Revolution and create Web sites using PageMill or FrontPage. We will then share these pages for others to read.
Grade Level: Second Grade
Subject: Social Studies - Communities
Rationale: Students are naturally interested in the people and services found in their communities. They are interested in the jobs these people do and how they assist others.
Current Curriculum: Students are expected to learn about the major services provided in the community and how these services make living and working in a community safer and healthier.
State Goals:
- Illinois State Goal 14: Understand political systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
Illinois Learning Standard 14.D: Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups in the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
- Illinois State Goal 18: Understand social systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
Illinois Learning Standard 18.B: Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Authentic Student Task:
Students receive a letter asking them to review a plan for a new highway and industrial park to be built in their town. Students will work in teams to make recommendations for changes to improve this plan. Teams will look at the effects this plan will have on commuting, new jobs, population relocation, water pollution and air pollution. Then they will create a HyperStudio stack that points out the problems and link to cards that offer suggestions to improve the plan.
Best Use of Technology:
Use the HyperStudio software to create stacks to be shared with other second grade classrooms.