Social Bookmarking – 4-4

When looking at my units for my health classes, the one I felt could be most adapted would be the human body project. The original lesson had students work in groups of four creating a poster about a specific body system. Students were able to select their system but each group selected numbers and had to pick a topic that was left. Students then had to present their poster to the rest of the class. I felt that with the help of Symbaloo, my students could use this resource in bookmarking their research findings and share with others. This lesson could be a replacement or lead up lesson to a final project.  Symbaloo will provide students with a great way to share information with one another as well as keeping their research organized and in one place.  I also added the use of blogging as well, which could allow students to share and connect with others inside our classroom. 

The advantages with Symbaloo include opportunities for students to research on their own, a way to organize their materials, make connections with other student findings, and collaborative grouping based of specific topics selected. 

Disadvantages might be off task behavior, little effort as they may just pick the first 3 sites looked at and potential copying just to get assignment done.  Students today use technology often to share their work and this is an ongoing issue even without using tools discussed in class. 

Overall I believe bring tools like this to our classroom initially will help engage students interest in learning but overtime I’m fearful that students will begin to lack interest and find ways to get work done but learn nothing from the experience.  

Lesson: 

The Human Body

Objectives:

1. Student will evaluate the different human body systems.
2. Student will create a Symbaloo resource page about the human body systems
3. Students will share their Symbaloo resource page with the class.
4. Using WordPress blog site, student will choose one specific body system and explain the how it works and its importance. 

Materials:

Video: Human Body Systems Functions

1 laptop per student

Headphones for each student

Teacher Laptop

Projector

Layout:

• Welcome students as they arrive to class. 
• Explain that today we will change our typical way of finding resources and learn how to organize them for easy use.  
• Explain that we will also be learning about the human body systems and are going to become experts on one specific body system of their choosing. 
• Using projector, show video on the Human body to students.
• Discuss the different systems they observed when watching video.  
• If students remember reproductive system, explain to students that one system we cannot discuss today is the reproductive system, as students will learn that in another grade. 
• Write website for Symbaloo on board.  Show site on board and discuss how students will be using it today.  Show students how to create account.
• Have students log into laptops, go to Symbaloo site and create their own account. Once all students are logged on, provide students examples on how to use the Google search bar to research sites for resources about the human body. 
• Explain that now students will need to select one body system that interests them and find at least 3 sources that can help the rest of the class become experts on that specific system. Students will be reminded to use caution as we’ve learned that some sites might not be always true and to use what was taught prior to decide if source is reliable.
• Students will then be given time to use Symbaloo to find resources about the body system they choose. Explain that students can add videos, web links, and any other tools they feel can help others learn about that system. 
• After students complete their research, students will be asked to share their Symbaloo page as a hyperlink on our WordPress blog. Students will also be asked to write a paragraph on their blog about the body system they researched helping others understand how it works and why its important. 

Closure

Have students save and log off laptops. Remind students if not finished they must finish it for homework. Explain that their blog post must be done by tomorrow for review otherwise it will reflect a difference in final grade.