Rebecca Thomas

http://mrsrebthomas.weebly.com/
EDU-225
April 5, 2015

Raft Card 1:

Row 1

ROLE (student)
A journalist reporting

AUDIENCE
Readers of a local

FORMAT
A newspaper

TOPIC
You have been

on a new fossil

newspaper.

article.

called out to report

discovery.

on a new dinosaur
fossil.

Objective: (S3E2) Students will learn to investigate fossils as evidence of organisms that lived
long ago.
Student Role: A journalist reporting on a new fossil discovery.
Audience: Readers of a local newspaper.
Format: Article format.
Topic: Have you ever wondered how a paleontologist finds dinosaurs bones?

Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

First you will need to gather information on fossils from Fossils for Kids.
Next you will need to write a rough draft article in a two column format.
You will need to take a picture of a fake fossil to use in your article.
Next, using Microsoft Word, write your article in a two column format. Make sure to

include your Picture at the top of your article.

5. Using spell check make sure your article has correct spelling and grammar.
6. Print your article.
Resources:
Websites to visit:

Fossils for Kids

www.fossilsforkids.com/
Fossils-Facts-And-Finds Site Map - Fossil Facts and Finds
www.fossils-facts-and-finds.com/site_map.html
What Are Fossils - KidsDinos.com - Dinosaurs For Kids
www.kidsdinos.com/palaeontology-what-are-fossils.php
Make a newspaper with ARTHR - Newspaper Club
www.newspaperclub.com/make-a-newspaper-online

Assessment:
Prepare a two column newspaper article with a photo, on how a scientist discovers fossils. Make
it look like a newspaper by printing on grey paper copy paper.
You will receive up to 30 points for each of the following: written article, photo, and structure of
newspaper.
Raft Card 2:

Row 2

ROLE (student)
A plastic bottle on a

AUDIENCE
People who visit

FORMAT
A one person play.

TOPIC
Have you ever

beach.

and eat on the

wondered what

beach.

happens to a
plastic bottle left
on a beach?

Objective: (S3L2) Students will recognize the effects of pollution and humans on the
environment.
Student Role: Play a plastic bottle as it travels around the beach and into the ocean.
Audience: People who visit and eat on the beach.
Format: A one person play.
Topic: Have you ever wondered what happens to a plastic bottle left on a beach?

Directions:
1. First take a look at a few websites on waste and recycling.
2. Then begin piece together information to add to a script about what would happen to a
lonely bottle left on a beach.
3. Begin to write a script as a lonely bottle left on a beach. Be sure to include facts about
recycling.
4. Begin to build a costume for yourself. Try to make it out of recycled material.
5. Also use PowerPoint to create backgrounds for your play. Make sure you have at least 5
to 8 slides. Be sure to include background audio.

Resources:
EekoWorld | PBS KIDS GO!
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/
Recycling Facts - Science for Kids
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/recycling.html
Kids Planet

www.kidsplanet.org
Effects of Plastic and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/great-pacificgarbage-patch2.htm
Children's Theatre Company
http://www.childrenstheatre.org/

Assessment: Prepare a 3 minute play that has at least 5 to 8 slides with audio on what would
happen to a bottle left on a beach.
You will receive up to 40 points for each of the following: script, slides, audio and costume.
Raft Card 3:

Row 3

ROLE (student)
Perfume Scientist

AUDIENCE
People who buy

FORMAT
Ingredients for a

TOPIC
Have you ever

perfume.

new perfume.

wondered what
they use to make
perfume smell so
good?

Objective: (S3CS3) Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and
manipulating objects in scientific activities utilizing safe laboratory procedures.
Student Role: Perfume scientist for a perfume laboratory.
Audience: People who love to wear perfume.
Format: Content of ingredients for a new perfume.
Topic: Have you ever wondered what they use to make perfume smell so good?

Directions:
1. Take a look at some websites listed on perfume and measurements to learn more about
perfume and measurements.
2. Take a survey from classmates on what types of perfume that like to smell like or types of
smell that enjoy smelling.
3. Create a name for your perfume
4. Start planning the amount and what types of ingredients you want to put in your perfume.
5. Create a Content of Ingredients label for your perfume using Microsoft Word. You
must use home (font), insert (text). Play around with color and design also for your label.
Be sure to include measurements for each ingredient.
Resources:
Homemade Perfume for Kids (5 Steps)
http://www.ehow.com/how_7237078_homemade-perfume-kids.html
Top 10 Baby Perfumes & Fragrances For Children
http://www.childmode.com/2010/06/01/top-10-baby-perfumes-and-fragrances-for-children/
Measurement Games
http://pbskids.org/games/measurement/
Neo K12
http://www.neok12.com/Measurements.htm
Assessment: Prepare a Content of Ingredients for a perfume that you have created based on a
survey completed by your classmates.

You will receive 40 points for each of the following: survey, ingredients and measurement, also
design.

Entry 3: Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Introduction (4-6 sentences)
Including lesson that involve technology is very important for K-5. RAFT cards allow you to
assign assignments that will introduce students to different types of technology while making
sure that students are getting lesson done that are a part of the common core standards. There are
many tools that can be used in the classroom like YouTube, Mirosoft Word software and LCD
projectors, but with all technology tools there are pros and cons that teachers and students both
will have to deal with.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction (300-400 words)
YouTube: YouTube is website that contains millions of videos on a wide verity of subjects. You
can find many video that contain information that relates to lesson that you want to teach in your
classroom. That great thing about the site is that the video are free if you have internet. Teachers

can use YouTube to give their students a visual aspect to something that they might be learning
about in class. It can also be used to provide examples or instruction form many topics. Students
will enjoy YouTube because sometimes there will be multiple videos on the same subjects that
my answer a question in better way that helps the student to understand. Journal Of Science
Education & Technology is reporting, Today, more than ever, students use a great variety of
channels to retrieve information from non-mainstream media and use easily-accessed technology
to produce information. (p.506). YouTube is student centered because any student can type in a
subject and connect to a wide verity of videos. This connects to ISTE, Research and information
fluency, because YouTube can be used for research.
Microsoft Word software: Microsoft Word can be used to create many different types for
documents, from resumes to brochures. Microsoft can be used in the classroom to help students
to create many different word formats that they may need to complete a lesson or complete a
project in any subject. Teacher Discovering Computers helps to explain why technology is
important, Motivating students to learn is one area that all educators constantly are trying to
achieve. (p. 215). Microsoft can give students other ways besides writing on paper, ways to
complete assignments. This tool is student centered because any student can learn how to
navigate their way on Microsoft software. This connects to ISTE, Communication and
collaboration, because Microsoft provides many way to express a project or assignment..
LCD Projector: LCD Projector can be used to display video, powerpoints, or even upload an
assignment on a larger format. This allows the teacher to show the class as a whole a video or
lesson so the whole class can see no matter where their seated. So instead of printing out 30
sheets you can just upload one sheet to have a class discussion on a lesson. This is student
centered because students will be able to get views from other classmates on subjects because

they can be discussed as a whole class. This connects to ISTE, Critical thinking, problem
solving,and decision making, because projector can allow students to discuss as a class on
difficult subjects.
Technology to differentiate instruction allow students to be more hands on in their
learning. Technology needs to be a part of lesson in classrooms because most jobs in students
future will involve technology. Not only that, students will need to get a jump start on using
technology because it will play a large role on students advancing to college and important part
of college. Technology will just play a major part of life in general. The part of differentiate
instruction that will become difficult my will involve some teachers and students. Out text book
explains the difficulty for teachers, When students play a more active role in learning process,
the teachers role must change. (p.216). Some teachers my find this difficult to do at first. Most
teachers love to stand in front of the class and teach then test. Adding technology will allow
students to learn some things on their own. With students, not all students will catch on with
technology because some students wont get that extra practice at home, while some will. Which
will cause them to struggle for a little while. (Explain the pros and cons of using technology to
differentiate instruction. Be sure to justify rationale with research.)
Concluding Paragraph (4-6 sentences)
(A solid academic paper always ends with a conclusion to summarize what was discussed in
the paper and why it is important. This should be in your own words with no citations.)

References:

Campbell, T., Shaing Kwei, W., Hui-Yin, H., Duffy, A. M., & Wolf, P. G. (2010). Learning with
Web Tools, Simulations, and Other Technologies in Science Classrooms. Journal Of Science
Education & Technology, 19(5), 505-511. doi:10.1007/s10956-010-9217-8
Classroom Technology That Every Teacher Needs, (2015), Retrieved from,
http://teaching.about.com/od/tech/a/Technology-In-The-Classroom.htm
Gunter, G. A., Gunter, R. E., (2015) Teachers Discovering Computers Eighth Edition, Eighth
Edition. (p.215-216)
ISTE Standards Students, (2015), Retrieved from, https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/2014_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf