My mini lesson I am submitting to my peer reviewer is a 1st grade lesson relating to understanding the needs of plants.
The main inquiry element being focused on within this lesson is the appropriate use of technology. Students will be using a virtual simulator to experiment with giving tomato plants different amounts of water, sunlight, and fertilizer and seeing how the changes affect how they grow. Then, students will be using Flipgrid to record their findings.
As far as Bloom’s Taxonomy goes, students will both be evaluating as they test the effects of the various elements on their plants and creating as they create a digital video discussing their findings. The technology integrated into this lesson allows students to enhance their learning because doing this experiment without technology would not be feasible. In the classroom we could grow our own plants, but the length of time it would take to complete the experiment would be more than the unit allows. It would also be difficult to provide students with a way to carry out their own experiments with the plants, cutting down on the inquiry component. By using the virtual simulator, we are able to see the effects quickly, which leaves more time for discussion and reflection.
While I gave students combinations of water, sunlight, and fertilizer that they should use on their virtual plants, I also asked them to come up with their own combinations, encouraging deeper learning and inquiry. Students can slide the water scales up and down, turn lights on and off, and add or take away fertilizer to see how it affects their plants
Ms. Brand's IT Learning Portfolio 
I love this lesson. You not only incorporate so much of what we’ve been learning, but you have managed to make it fun at the same time! Your students will be engaged and will learn so much from the activities you’ve planned. 🙂
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I love this! I think it really goes well with the standard and gives students the ability to see how what they do affect their plants. I think this is a great idea to do in place of growing your own plants since there are time constraints.
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I find it fascinating that you will be able to do this with elementary aged students. Based on all the different elements you have them doing both hands on and with technology I know your students are going to love this and will defiantly remember the activity. I like that you have them doing this as well rather than expecting their parents to “help them” grow their own plants at home.
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Your lesson sounds so fun! I have heard of Gizmos before but haven’t had the chance to use it in the classroom. Students get to see and compare plant growth it a way they might not have with actual plants. This is interactive, engaging and most definitely can extend their learning beyond the classroom.
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