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Tech Integration Project
Lesson Accelerator: Project Overview

The Main Event
Software Type: Graphic Organizer
The example project created in this Lesson Accelerator addresses NETS Performance Indicators for middle grades as used in a(n) English/Language Arts curriculum. It could also be used with older learners or adapted for lower grades. See the section on Extending and Adapting at the bottom of this page for ideas on how to use this same project for different subjects, grades, and skill levels.
Project Launchers
Lesson Accelerator Project Launcher pages contain video tutorials that show you, step-by-step, how to create this project using specific software applications, as well as a movie showing you what the finished project looks like. They also provide a download of all the example files used in the project, so you can recreate it.
When you've reviewed all the information on this page and would like to go to a Project Launcher, click the application name below that corresponds to the one you'd like to use for the project.
Go to: Kidspiration 2 (PC) - Project Launcher
Go to: Kidspiration 2 (Mac) - Project Launcher
Go to: Inspiration 7.6 (PC) - Project Launcher
Go to: Inspiration 7 (Mac) - Project Launcher
Description
Graphic organizing software will be used to assist students in analyzing and reporting about an event that has had a significant impact on their lives. Students will work individually to create a symbol diagram of their chosen event, reflecting on what this event meant to them at the time and how they view the event from the present moment. Linked symbols will be used to add detail and related information. Students will have the opportunity to share their diagrams with other members of their group or class.
Goals
To provide students with an organizing framework for writing in the first-person. To identify structural elements that will be included in a creative writing piece about a life-shaping event.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
  • Identify an event which has had a significant impact on their lives.
  • Identify important elements of their chosen event: 1) what led up to this event; 2) where and when did it happen; 3) what actually happened; 4) who else was involved; and 5) what were their feelings about this event at the time it was happening, compared to their feelings about the event at the present moment.
  • Use graphic organizing software to build a mind-map (diagram) about their chosen event.
Preparation and Skill Mastery
If students will be using an event, other than the example used in the tutorial movies, they will need to chose the event they will use for building their diagram and think about the 5 different elements given in the Objectives section above.
Materials
  • Access to a computer with graphic organizing software installed.
  • A copy of the graphic organizer template included in the downloadable resource packet for this project.
  • Printer (optional).
Task List
The tasks to be completed for this project include:
  • Choosing an event to build a diagram about, if other than the example event.
  • Using the template provided in the downloadable resource packet to record information about the event.
  • Sharing their diagram with other members of their class.
Assessment
Assessment can be based on the following:
  • Did the student provide information in each of the 5 template areas?
  • Did the student expand their diagram beyond the suggested areas?
  • Did the student present his or her diagram to the class, or other audiences, as requested by the instructor?
Extending or Adapting
Here are some possible ways that this lesson plan might be extended or adapted for different timeframes, grade levels, and skill/ability levels:
  • The student's diagram might be used as the basis for an exercise in first-person narrative writing. Students could be asked to write an essay or story about their chosen event, using the outline generated by their graphic organizer diagram.
  • Students might hyperlink elements of their diagrams to Internet resources that are related to their event.
  • Groups of students might share and compare individual events to find common elements and shared experiences among group members.
  • This project can be easily adapted for any subject or curricular area by choosing an appropriate event topic. For example: Math students might be asked to report on an event that required them to use their math skills.
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