Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: Explain America’s Involvement in WW2

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 5th

Content Standard Addressed: SS5H4 The student will describe U.S. involvement in World War I and post-
World War I America. a. Explain how German attacks on U.S. shipping during the war in Europe (1914-1917)
ultimately led the U.S. to join the fight against Germany; include the sinking of the Lusitania and concerns
over safety of U.S. ships

Technology Standard Addressed: Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: Brain Pop

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/worldwarii/

Type of Instructional Software:

☒ Drill and Practice ☐ Tutorial ☒ Simulation ☒ Instructional Game ☐ e-books/e-references

Features of this software (check all that apply):

☒ Assessment Monitoring/Reporting
☐ Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
☐ Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in the class
☐ Multi-user or collaborative with others outside the class
☒ Accessible to students beyond the school day
☒ Accessible via mobile devices
☒ Multiple languages
☒ Safety, security and/or privacy features

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): I will use Smartboard for all students to be able to see the video. I will
have a transcript of the video for the students who have hearing impairments and for the students who are
English learners. The English learners will also be provided the video in their home language if it is available. If
the students who are reading the transcripts are having difficult time reading it, they will be able to use an
audio pen that will transcribe the message and read it to them or we will read as a group to get the
information across. The students also might be able to use an Ipad/computer and headphones to listen to the
video to read along with the transcript. For students with disabilities (ADHD, anxiety) I will have bouncy balls
and different sitting areas for the students to accommodate for what they need. The students who get
anxious and can’t sit still will have fidget devices to stay focused. The students who require certain technology
to function will also have the required technology to be able to properly learn.
Lesson idea implementation:

Spring 2018_SJB
 Instructional Software
I will ask the students what they know about wars and what wars the U.S has been in. We will do a KWL chart
to begin our discussion after filling in the Know area with the answers the students give me to the question.
We will then go over the essential question and talk about what we are learning that day. We will watch a
Brain Pop video and discuss their family’s backgrounds and how they would feel if this was to happen in
today’s society. I will ask the students how they think people felt back then and how families were involved in
WW2. I will then allow the students to pick an event on their own (Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, D-day). The
students will research over a few days using their own resources and becomes an expert to present to their
classmates. I will have tasks chosen by numbers daily for all group members to complete. The students
explain why their event happened and what was the effect of that event. The students will use a presentation
of their choice to present to the class demonstrating they have become experts.

After the presentations we will come back as a whole and discuss the key involvements of the U.S in all heir
events. We will then discuss how/why we were involved in the way we were. The students will explain
specific details of the events and represent cause/effect relationships. The students not presenting will be
using an outline I created to take notes to review after the presentations. We will use the Brain Pop activity
that goes along the video along with the quiz to collect data to see what needs to be retaught.
Reflective Practice:
I feel the activities that I have created can help the students build background knowledge on this information
and take the end project into later levels as substantial information to review. I think the students will really
enjoy this because it involves a subject that most students are really interested in. I can further this lesson by
extending into the Allies and how their countries were involved and flip it into how did Germany affect the
U.S. I could use videos or virtual reality to bring the students into the lesson. I could make E-books and have
the students do more hands-on projects to build more knowledge.

Spring 2018_SJB