Online

Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Name: Taking a Journey!
Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 5th grade

Content Standard Addressed: S5L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to group
organisms using scientific classification procedures.

a. Develop a model that illustrates how animals are sorted into groups (vertebrate and
invertebrate) and how vertebrates are sorted into groups (fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and
mammal) using data from multiple sources.

Technology Standard Addressed: 7 - Global Collaborator

Selected Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Journey North

URL(s) to support the lesson: https://journeynorth.org

Describe how you would incorporate an Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom
Journey North is an Online Learning Project that can be used in the classroom throughout the year. I would
use this in my classroom when teaching students about different species of plants and animals, about
migration of animals, and so much more. This website could be used as a teacher directed lesson or
completely student directed. This site can also be used for multiple grade levels, but I find that it is best for
older students (4th-5th grade).
I would use this site to have students report any sightings of species that we may see throughout the year.
I would also use this site for students to learn more about certain species. For example- If students were
learning about frogs, using this website, they can learn facts, the annual cycle, and even view sightings of
frogs. Lastly, this site could be used on an Interactive White Board as a student and teacher directed lesson.

What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a classroom?

Computers or iPads with internet access.

Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience:
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often beyond their
school: Students are collaborating with those inside and outside of their classroom, and most definitely
far beyond their school, because this Online Learning Project is used all around the world. Anyone can
post sightings of a species and post comments to other people’s sightings as well. I will encourage
students to reply to several people with an appropriate comment on their sightings. I will also
encourage students to post any sightings they may have (ex: a hummingbird).

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (creating original data and or producing original
products as a result of engaging in a project): Students will be exploring this website on their own and
learning as much as they can from it. Students will also be creating their own posts if they are able to
sight any of the species on the website.

c. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product: If students
do post a picture of their sightings, it will be their own original picture and this sight is specifically for
people who are interested in learning more about the species that are available on the site so it will be
posted for people who will care about their project.
Spring 2018_SJB
 Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities
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):
• Accessible from home
• Topics for all areas of interest

Lesson idea implementation and Internet Safety Policies:
…. I could implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with my district’s Internet Safety and
Student Privacy Policies by double checking with my school and district that it is okay to use this website and
by getting permission from parents for their kids to use the site. This website does not ask for any personal
information and does not include a place to chat with people, so students would not be sharing information
with anyone. This website does however allow you to post pictures of sightings, therefore, if any of my
students were in the picture I would need to have parental permission before posting it to Journey North.
Lastly, I would keep a close eye on my students while they are on the website to make sure they are staying
on the website they are supposed to be on.

Reflective Practice:
…. After creating this lesson, I feel that the activities I have created could impact student learning because
there are so many different ways for students to use this website. They have the ability to learn so much from
one website that can be used throughout the whole year. In order to reach a higher LoTi level, I think this
website would be best if students were working with it on their own and posting some of their own sightings
and comments to other sightings since this website is used all over the world. Another way students could
reach a higher LoTi level using this website would be to do a research project on a species from the website
and publish it somewhere afterwards.

Spring 2018_SJB