The document outlines a 3-day lesson plan for 3rd-5th grade students to create biographical timelines using the website Dipity.com. Students will research major political events and leaders, then work in groups to develop a Dipity timeline on a topic of their choice. They will present their timelines to the class. The lesson aims to teach students timeline creation, research skills, and collaboration through technology.

1. Hannah Sutter, Danielle Frost, Caila Bishop
CI 405
Technology Lesson Plan
Back to the Future
Grade Level: 3-5
Subject: History
Prerequisite Knowledge: Students will need to know how to research events and people on
their own. They will also need a basic knowledge of the Internet and how to maneuver around a
new website. Students will need to know where to go for information like books, the internet,
newspapers, online databases, etc. Students will have recently learned about the 20th century
and will use this project as a final review.
Approximate Time: 3 days of 1 hour each and a presentation day.
Student Objectives: Students will learn how to use www.dipity.com to create a biographical
timeline about a specific political event or leader. The students will practice using various
mediums to research information on their topic. Students will develop a timeline and use it as a
presentation tool. The students will be able to present their information to the class.
Illinois Standards:
State Goal 16- Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of
Illinois, the United States, and other nations.
16.B.2d- Identify major political events and leaders within the United States historical eras since
the adoption of the Constitution, including the westward expansion, Louisiana Purchase, Civil
War and 20th century wars as well as the roles of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln,
Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
NETS:
1. Creativity and Innovation-Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge,
and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Research and Information Fluency-Students apply digital tools to gather,
evaluate, and use information.
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a
variety of sources and media.
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to
specific tasks.
d. Process data and report results.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
5. Digital Citizenship-Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to
technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning,
and productivity.
c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
6. Technology Operations and Concepts-Students demonstrate a sound understanding of
technology concepts, systems, and operations.
a. Understand and use technology systems.
b. Select and use applications effectively and productively.
c. Troubleshoot systems and applications.
d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

2. Materials/Resources/Technology:
· Computer (Laptops for classroom if possible)
· Projector (that connects with a computer)
· Library
· Pens/Pencils/Paper
· Accessibility to online databases and internet
Implementation/Procedure:
-Teacher will explain to students that timelines are a way of helping people keep track of events
and the dates on which they happened. In addition, timelines are a useful tool to visualize when
specific events occurred.
-The teacher will explain the project to the students. The teacher will use an example timeline
to model how a student should present their work.
-Show the students an example of a timeline created in Dipity. An example would be a timeline
on John F. Kennedy.
-Students will get into groups of 3
-Students will select their own timeline topic that is about a person being the first to do/invent
something eg. First person to walk on the moon, first person to invent the telephone etc…
-Students will work together to research their topic using a variety of different materials including
books and the internet.
-Once the students have researched and collected enough data to create a thorough
understanding of the person’s life, they will work together to develop a timeline using the web2.0
application Dipity from the website http://www.dipity.com/
-Have each group of students present their timeline to the class
-Discuss the differences among the timelines. Analyze how students used this web application
in different ways.
-Ask the students to write 3 things that they learned from hearing other groups’ presentations.
Assessment
Excellent (3 points) Good (2) Fair (2) 0
Information provided for Information provided Minimal information is Not done or
each of the events. The but the information is provided. Events are not not
events are depicted in the not in the accurate depicted and are not in the acceptable
appropriate places in the place on the timeline appropriate place on the
timeline. timeline
All group members Some of the Group One person created the Not done or
participated in creating members participated dipity timeline with no input not
the dipity timeline. in creating the dipity or help from other group acceptable
timeline. members.
The dipity web 2.0 The dipity web 2.0 The dipity web 2.0 Not done or
program was used program was used programs were used not
accurately for one major accurately it focused on inaccurately. It focused on acceptable
political event or leader. one event or leader numerous major political
Information is clear and in however there were events and leaders. The
chronological order minimal mistakes events were not in
chronological order nor
were they placed in the
proper places.

3. The timeline is completed. The timeline is The timeline is not Not done or
Students are ready to completed. Students completed. Students have not
present. Students present present the timeline but no knowledge of how to acceptable
the timeline showing struggle using the dipity use dipity. Group
knowledge of having used program. Some of the members are not able to
the program. Each group group members do not present their timeline.
member contributes to the contribute to the
presentation. presentation.