Create Digital Learning Journeys with DE Science and Thinglink

One of my personal goals this year is to become proficient in the use and navigation of Discovery Education content. I am very fortunate to work in a district that provides this wonderful resource for all students and teachers. My absolute favorite component of this service is Discovery Education Science. Students can read ebooks, view videos, interact with animations, and even participate in virtual lab experiments.

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Our 5th grade students at El Dorado Elementary are currently studying Earth Science. I thought this would be a great opportunity for them to combine Discovery Education Science content with a Thinglink interactive image. Here is the lesson in a nutshell:

TEKS: 5.7 Earth and space. The student knows Earth’s surface is constantly changing and consists of useful resources. The student is expected to:

  • 5.7 (A) explore the processes that led to the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels
  • 5.7 (B) recognize how landforms such as deltas, canyons, and sand dunes are the result of changes to Earth’s surface by wind, water, and ice

Objective: Students will gather resources from Discovery Education to help them create a Google Doc Presentation explaining how forces change the shape of the Earth’s surface. They will use Thinglink as a presentation tool to document their learning.

Task

  1. Upload the Earth’s Forces image to your Thinglink account.
  2. Login to Discovery Education and go to Science Elementary 
  3. Under Earth Science, click on Earth’s Features.
  4. Click on Earth’s Changing Features and explore the content.
  5. Copy the URL of any animation, glossary term, ebook, or video that helps you understand the concept. Paste the URL in a media tag in your Thinglink interactive image.
  6. Create a Google Presentation that explains how these forces change the surface of the Earth.
  7. Publish your presentation and copy the link. Add a media tag in the center of your image linking to your Google Presentation.

*Note- Users must be logged into their Discovery Education account to see the content linked from within the Thinglink interactive image.

Differentiation Options:

  • Students can create their own original image to upload to their Thinglink account using Canva or Pic Collage
  • Students can create their own multi-media content using various iPad apps.
  • Students can work in small groups to complete the interactive image
  • Students can choose 3 out of the 6 areas to explore

It is quite evident that students appreciate the interactive nature of this research project and prefer this method over reading text out of a traditional Science textbook. They are eager to share the different resources they have found with their peers and often generate their own discussions in order to understand concepts. 

*UPDATE: Checkout more authentic student examples from Mrs. Neuman’s 5th grade class at Bulverde Creek.

One thought on “Create Digital Learning Journeys with DE Science and Thinglink

  1. this appeals to me for a standard V project. Any tips for bringing it down to first! Probably would do something with our animal unit coming up….

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