Bethpage Senior High School Teacher: Tracey Zito Co-Teacher: Megan Keane
Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, Expanding | Stand-Alone | HS-LS2-7, 9-10SL1, 9-10SL4 | Nearpod, Flipgrid
Embedded assessments within the Nearpod Lesson
Teacher created rubrics for poster project and Flipgrid video
Scholastic Action quiz
The project addresses the critical issue of deforestation. Students will begin by engaging in an interactive Nearpod lesson that provides them with foundational knowledge about deforestation, its causes, and its impact on the environment. Students will read an article from Scholastic Action magazine, which offers real-world examples and perspectives on deforestation. To conclude their learning, students will channel their creativity by creating posters and Flip videos to emphasize the importance of saving trees and promoting forest conservation.
I can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of preserving forests for future generations.
I can create visually engaging posters to raise awareness about the need to save trees and protect our environment.
I can collaborate with peers to share ideas and work towards a common goal of advocating for forest conservation.
I can explain the causes and consequences of deforestation.
I can analyze the impact of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
I can communicate my understanding of deforestation and the importance of forest conservation by creating a Flipgrid video to share with my peers.
Step 1: Students will be introduced to the topic of the UN Sustainable Goals and Goal # 15 Life on Land through a Flocabulary video and watching an informative video from Youtube.
Step 2: Students will participate in an interactive Nearpod lesson to learn about the causes and consequences of deforestation. (2 days)
Step 3: Students will read a Scholastic Action Magazine Article, “Rescue in the Rainforest” that provides real-world examples and perspectives on deforestation. (2 days)
Step 4: Students will participate in a group discussion to reflect on the information learned from the Nearpod lesson and the magazine article.
Step 5: Students will brainstorm ideas for their posters on saving trees and promoting forest conservation and work to create a visually engaging poster that highlights the importance of protecting forests.
Step 6: Students will record a short video using Flipgrid to tell why trees are important. They will also share their posters with peers, provide feedback, and engage in discussions about the messages conveyed in their artwork and videos.
For this project, I worked with my stand-alone class and co-taught some of the lessons with an English Teaching Assistant from our building’s Academic Center. The class was composed of eighteen students from ranging proficiency levels of entering - expanding. Overall, I felt that the project went very well. The students seemed to be engaged and interested in the topic and enjoyed using Nearpod. They also enjoyed being able to express their creativity when designing their poster projects and each had different designs and plans for what to include. The project was completed by the students at the end of April so we also discussed Earth Day and ways to protect our Earth. I enjoyed teaching this mini unit and hope to teach it again next year.