My lesson plan was on Classification of Organisms, the second unit in 5th grade science. Students learned about classification of animals and plants though PowerPoint presentations, podcasts, reading comprehension articles, and videos. In this unit, there were three objectives or learning targets measured through formative and summative assessments.
Please click on each image below to see a video of some of the digital tools my students used in action.
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Concept and Mind Mapping Tools and Podcast Tool Experiences
As Johnes (2022) reminds us, critical thinking is important beyond the school years and educators must do their role in preparing students to think and evaluate different options in order to make decisions. Concept and mind mapping tools are a great way to get students to think critically and make sense of their learning. According to Lucidchart, a concept map is a diagram that visually shows relationships between concepts and ideas. In contrast, a mind map works best for brainstorming and creative thinking as it is centered around a central topic (Concept Map Vs. Mind Map - What’s the Difference?, 2023). I have created both a concept map and a mind map in the past, using Miro (see Module 3 blog post for more information). However, for this module, I decided to use MindMeister and create a mind map to use with my fifth graders in our science unit on Animal Classification. The tool provides an array of templates to choose from and it was easy to use. The main concept gets built upon by branching out using the concept of "New Child Topic" and sub details can be branched out using the same connection or a "New Sibling Topic." The creation of the map was easy and public templates are available to copy and edit as needed. Podcasting is another great tool to use with students to increase their critical thinking skills. When students get the opportunity to podcast, the 4C's: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking are easily achieved (Bradbury, 2019). The idea of making a podcast felt a bit daunting at first since I had no experience with it. After exploring the different tools from the module, I settled for the Spotify for Podcasters. The tool was easy to use. Under the advanced features, there were options to edit and trim the audio, add smart background music that changed the volume based on the recording, and an option to describe the podcast in detail during the publishing part. To keep in theme with the current science unit, I created the podcast with my students as the audience. The podcast is titled 5th Grade INFO and the episode is titled S5L1, aptly named after the Science Georgia Standards of Excellence for the unit. As discussed above, I would highly recommend both of these tools to my colleagues as their benefits for student learning are easily evident. Incorporating both into the classroom allows teachers to accommodate various learning preferences, encourages active engagement, and helps students retain information more effectively. Resources that teachers can use to learn more about these tools are listed below:
Ideas for Implementing the Tools in the Classroom
Mind mapping has been shown to greatly boost productivity, creativity, memory and comprehension (Ayoa, 2015) In addition, some of the essential skills for critical thinking include communication and information skills (Joseph, 2019). Podcasting as a result, is an excellent tool for getting students to practice the listening and speaking standards, amplify their voices, be engaged and community build (Kary & Kary, 2022). Please see below for ideas for implementing concept and mind mapping tools and podcast tool in the classroom to support critical thinking:
Concept and Mind Mapping Tools and Podcast Tool Evaluation Tools
Digital Tool Evaluation - MindMeister Digital Tool Evaluation - Spotify for Podcasters Animal Classification Mind Map - MindMeister5th Grade INFO, Episode S5L1 - Spotify for Podcasters![]()
References
Ayoa. (2015, January 26). How to Mind Map with Tony Buzan [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Y4pIsXTV0 Bradbury, J. (2019, June 3). What is the Educational Value of Podcasting with Students? The TeacherCast Educational Network. https://www.teachercast.net/podcasting-with-students-samr-blooms/# Brandner, R. (2017, July 14). Mind Mapping for Children with ASD: Uses and Benefits - Focus. Focus. https://www.mindmeister.com/blog/mind-mapping-for-children-with-asd/ Concept Map vs. Mind Map - What’s The Difference? (2023, June 10). https://whenyouwrite.com/concept-map-vs-mind-map/ Johnes, S. (2022, September 13). Critical Thinking Strategies for Elementary Students: 7 Exercises and 5 Activities to Help. Tips for Teachers. https://scienceandliteracy.org/critical-thinking-strategies-for-elementary-students/ Joseph, M. (2019, November 19). Strategies to Increase Critical Thinking Skills in students. Teach Better - Created by Teachers. Fueled by Passion. https://teachbetter.com/blog/strategies-to-increase-critical-thinking-skills-in-students/ Kary, S., & Kary, S. (2022, June 18). How to Start a Student Podcast with Soundtrap | New EdTech Classroom. The New EdTech Classroom. https://newedtechclassroom.com/student-podcast-soundtrap/ What is a Concept Map. (n.d.). Lucidchart. https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/concept-map |
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