Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Living Things Infographic

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science
Science

Grade(s)

3

Overview

Students will use Google Drawings to create an infographic describing why an organism is classified as a living thing. 

This learning activity was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science University, GEMS-U Project.

    Science (2015) Grade(s): 3

    SC15.3.5

    Obtain and combine information to describe that organisms are classified as living things, rather than nonliving things, based on their ability to obtain and use resources, grow, reproduce, and maintain stable internal conditions while living in a constantly changing external environment.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:SC15.3.5

    Vocabulary

    • Organisms
    • Living things
    • Nonliving things
    • Growth
    • Resources
    • Reproduce
    • Stable conditions
    • Internal conditions
    • External environment

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Resources obtained and used by living things.
    • Organisms can be classified as living things based on the following: their ability to obtain and use resources, grow, reproduce, and maintain stable internal conditions while living in a constantly changing external environment.
    • The life cycles of different organisms can look different, but all follow a pattern.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Obtain information from a variety of resources to describe organisms that are classified as living things, rather than nonliving things.
    • Combine information to describe that organisms are classified as living things, rather than nonliving things.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Patterns can be used when determining that organisms are living things.

    Scientific and Engineering Practices

    Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

    Crosscutting Concepts

    Patterns
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

    DLCS18.3.R6

    Produce, review, and revise authentic artifacts that include multimedia using appropriate digital tools.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.3.R6

    Vocabulary

    • multimedia
    • artifacts
    • Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • a variety of digital tools in which they can create or revise authentic artifacts to share their knowledge.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • design and create authentic artifacts using approved digital tools that meet COPPA guidelines.
    • review an authentic artifact to revise with new or additional information.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • everyone can be an author, producer, director, etc.
    • , using digital tools.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

    DLCS18.3.13

    Communicate key ideas and details collaboratively in a way that informs, persuades, and/or entertains, using digital tools.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.3.13

    Vocabulary

    • key ideas
    • informs
    • persuades
    • entertains
    • communicate
    • digital tools
    • collaborate
    • online environment
    • tutorial
    • artifact

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • that digital tools are available that enable them to inform others.
    • that digital tools are available that enable them to persuade others.
    • that digital tools are available that enable them to entertain others.
    • how to locate directions or tutorials for working in digitial tools.
    • that communication has a specific purpose and audience.
    • that collaboration in digital tools can occur 24/7 in various locations.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • design communications using various digital tools that informs, persuades, and/or entertains.
    • locate and follow directions or tutorials for working with digital tools.
    • explain the purpose of an artifact they create.
    • collaborate with peers in an online environment.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • various digital tools are available to communicate key ideas and details.
    • directions or tutorials can be located online to assist with creation.
    • all communication has a purpose.

    Phase

    After/Explain/Elaborate
    Learning Objectives

    Learning Objectives

    Students will prove an organism is a living thing through the creation of an infographic. 

    Students will develop 21st Century skills as they work with a peer in creating the infographic. 

    Activity Details

    Students will construct an infographic providing evidence that an organism is a living thing based on their ability to obtain and use resources, grow, reproduce, and maintain stable internal conditions while living in a constantly changing external environment.

    1. The teacher will introduce infographics to students and share examples. 

    2. Teacher asks students what they notice about the infographics. Pictures, icons, facts, etc...

    3. Students will work with a partner and choose an organism to focus on while creating their living thing infographic. The teacher could provide a list of possible organisms for students.

    4. Students will use what they learned about living things to prove the organism is a living thing by including 4-5 facts about the organism and describing why it is considered living.

    5. Students will take facts and create an infographic using Google Drawings.  

    6. Students will share the infographic with the class. 

    Assessment Strategies

    Assessment Strategies

    Students will turn in infographics as a summative assessment. The infographics are evaluated based on if students used information from multiple sources to describe that organisms are classified as living things rather than nonliving things.

    Variation Tips

    Students can complete the activity with a partner or with a group. It is recommended that groups include three to four students each. With Google Drawings sharing capabilities, all students can be working and editing the same document at the same time. 

    Background and Preparation

    Background / Preparation

    Teachers will need to collect a sample of infographics to share with students and be able to share with students why infographics are created. 

    Google Drawings is a Google tool for education that allows students to create work using text boxes, images, word art, etc. It is similar to Microsoft Publisher but with more freedom. Students can add text boxes and images anywhere on the paper and create one-of-a-kind drawings. Click on the link for a How-To of using Google Drawings: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/179740?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

    Students should understand that infographics are created to inform readers about a certain topic or subject. 

    Google Drawing will require a Google/Gmail account. 

    Digital Tools / Resources

    ALSDE LOGO