Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Exploring the life of historical figures in American history
Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): First Grade

Content Standard Addressed:

SS1H1 The student will read about and describe the life of historical figures in American history.
Technology Standard Addressed:

Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments Teachers design, develop and evaluate
authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize
content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the ISTE Standards

Selected Technology Tool: Bubbl.us

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

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):

Bubbl.us is a tool that is web-based and can be accessed through internet. This tool supports learning for all
students because it can be accessed if there is internet access. This tool is a simple and free web application
that lets users brainstorm online. It can be color coded and shared online with other users. These mind-maps
can be emailed and printed. This benefits learners who are more hands on.
Lesson idea implementation:
This project will be introduced with pictures of the historical figures in American history, ie: Benjamin
Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Tubman, Theodore Roosevelt, etc. Each picture will be associated with the
contributions they have made to American history. This will be teacher-student discussion based. The
students will also have the opportunity to read about their chosen person. These articles will be given as a
hard copy and will be used as a research tool. After the information is shared with them, they will focus on a
specific person, the students will get to choose who they would like to do their project on. This project will
take two days, only 30 minutes each day to work on it. Student learning will be assessed with a rubric on how
well they know the person they chose. Specific things will vary between the people, each person will have a
unique list.

The students will use Bubbl.us to brainstorm and organize the information they learned from the teacher that
day. The assignment will also need pictures of the person OR one of their contributions to American history.
To extend the lesson for a higher level of learning using bubbl.us, the students will describe how everyday life
of these historical figures is similar to and different from everyday life in the present (food, clothing, homes,
transportation, communication, recreation). This information will also be given initially from the teacher. I will
conclude the lesson by printing off a hard copy of their bubbl.us concept maps. Their works will have
feedback along with the assigned rubric.

Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Reflective Practice:
The activities created will impact the students’ ability to brainstorm and read information from an article to
incorporate into a concept map. This will impact the students way of thinking when researching specific
information. This was an idea that introduced historical people in American history and can be further
extended by putting the events on a timeline. Another technology tool that can be used to further enhance
this project is Timeline on ReadWriteThink.org.

Spring 2018_SJB