TPACK Template

Subject Science, enhanced scope and sequence.

Grade Level Grade 4 Virginia SOL 4.1 and 4.5

Type of Online Class asynchronous

Virginia SOL
Learning Objective 4.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature of
science by planning and conducting investigations in which.
a) distinctions are made among observations, conclusions, inferences, and predictions;
e) Predictions and inferences are made, and conclusions are drawn based on data from a variety of
sources;
m) Current applications are used to reinforce science concepts.
Content

4.5 The student will investigate and understand how plants and animals, including humans, in an
ecosystem interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key concepts
include.
b) Organization of populations, communities, and ecosystems and how they interrelate;
d) Habitats and niches;
Complete the following sentences:

1. The online course I’m teaching in for this activity is asynchronous

Pedagogy Planning

2. In this online activity, my online students will use a simulation of the forest ecosystem
to have an individual experience based upon their unique choices. Each child’s end result
will be different, and I will grade them online by submitted worksheet on our class’s
blackboard site.

Online Activity Describe

what the learning activity will be
as the students meet with the
teacher online. What will the
students and the teacher be
doing? (This includes what they
are doing with the technology).
Pedagogy
This assignment will be an asynchronous and student will work alone at their own pace to
complete a forest ecosystem work sheet. I will provide the worksheet online at our
blackboard page for download. Students will use the simulation by following the provided
web link to complete the forest ecosystem worksheet.
Students will simulate several ecosystem variables and log the results on the forest
ecosystem worksheet. Students will change variables like time in years, forest tree density,
available food sources, and animal population. The student will be able to allow hunting of
animals and logging of trees. Although each student will follow the provided worksheet I
encourage them to explore the possibilities of the simulation and to explore outside the
worksheet and make changes the variables and personally evaluate the results. This
simulation will allow students to grow their knowledge of the forest ecosystem, but it will
enforce scientific theory and the use of hypothesis to preform scientific studies. This

comprehensive learning experience will help support and reinforce the Virginia SOL studies
in 4th grade Science, areas 4.1 and 4.5. The teacher will grade all students work after it has
been submitted to blackboard.
 Technology Students will utilize simulation to learn how changing different aspects of the forest
ecosystem has an impact on the forest ecosystem.
Web Site info:
www.explorelearning.com, simulation software.

Simulation
https://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspView&ResourceID=639
Technology

Students will utilize desktop or laptop devices to complete the simulation assignment and
the companion worksheet because they must be completed in Microsoft word and
submitted on line to our class blackboard page for grading.