Kelcey Miller

Dr. Monsour
5 November 2015

Fourth Grade Science Lesson: StoryBots App

First, I will tell the students that we are going to learn about the solar system. I will
explain that the Pennsylvania standard that corresponds with this lesson is Standard 3.3.4.B1:
Identify planets in our solar system and their basic characteristics. Describe the earths place in
the solar system that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons. Recognize that the
universe contains many billions of galaxies and that each galaxy contains many billions of stars.
I will inform the students of the objective: By the end of the lesson, all fourth grade students will
understand the planets of the solar system by making a poster with one planet and ten basic
characteristics. Then, I will ask them what the solar system is and what it contains. When they
answer that a sun and planets make up the solar system, I will introduce them to a video. They
will follow the directions below to access the video.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Turn on your iPad.

Go to the App Store.
Type StoryBots into the search bar in the top right corner.
Click the Get button beside the app that says Learning Videos by StoryBots and enter

your password for the Apple App Store. This will download the app.
5. Exit out of the App Store by clicking the circular button at the bottom of the iPad.
6. Find the app that says StoryBots on your iPad screen and click on it.
7. Scroll down to the Outer Space section and click the first video (We Are the Planets) to
watch it.
The We Are the Planets video is a song that teaches students the characteristics of the
eight planets that orbit the sun. After they watch the video, I will ask the students what they

learned. I will then explain that galaxies are another component of the solar system. I will tell
them that galaxies are large groups of stars that are held together by gravity. The earth has a lot
of galaxies, and each galaxy might have a million or a trillion stars. After this, students will
choose one of the planets and use the Internet to find information about the planet. They will
make a poster when they are done researching. The poster must contain a colored drawing of the
planet and ten basic characteristics. The students will present their poster, allowing the rest of the
class to learn facts that were not present in the video. During the presentations, students will
write down a few characteristics of each planet in their notebooks.
The StoryBots app is good because it can be used for a variety of grade levels. There are
videos about topics like letters and numbers that could be used for students in preschool and
kindergarten. There are also videos that are appropriate for higher grade levels because they have
more complex topics like time and outer space. The particular song I chose is very catchy, which
will cause students to remember it. Additionally, the song is informative and interesting at the
same time. Students are more likely to learn from something that they find interesting. If
something is boring for students, they will lose interest and stop paying attention. They do not
learn when they are bored.
This app would be beneficial to students who are visually impaired. They do not need to
see the video to receive the information. However, the app is not useful for students who are
hearing impaired. A student with a severe hearing impairment would not be able to hear the
video at all. I would include these students in this lesson by giving them a copy of the song lyrics
(see below). These students could read the lyrics instead of watching the video. A student with a
less severe hearing impairment might be able to listen to the video if I provided him or her with
headphones. Even though a student with cerebral palsy may not have hand motion, they could

still use the app. They could use Siri to open the app by saying Launch StoryBots. The app
would also be useful for students with autism since many of these students have difficulty
remembering the steps involved in completing a task. The directions for using the app are very
simple and only have a few steps. Lastly, the app appeals to students with autism because they
like watching videos.

We Are the Planets Lyrics

Astronauts:
We can see the whole solar system from here.
I think we can hear it from here too.
All the planets:
We are the planets of the solar system, different sizes for every one.

The music never ends.

We are such good friends.
And we all orbit the sun.
Sun:
Here comes the sun rappin first on this track from the beginning.
Im the center of the solar system, planets be spinnin
Around me, so hot, Im roastin, ya see?
Now I pass the mic to the planet closest to me.
Mercury:
Mercury! The smallest planet, small as Eaths moon.
I get super hot and cold, and I spin very slow.
Venus:
Im Venus! Ive got mountains and volcanoes that spray.
Im the same size as Earth, but spin the opposite way.
Earth:
Yeah, Im Earth. Im the home to every boy and girl.
(Sung by stars) Such a beautiful, beautiful world.
Mars:
Im Mars, the red planet. Ive got deserts and ice.
And Ive got two moons nice thats like one moon twice!
Jupiter:
Im Jupiter! The biggest planet, Im humongous, gargantuan.
I spin the fastest, rap the fastest, plus Im handsome, BAM SON!
Saturn:
Oh please, Im Saturn. Check out my beautiful rings
Made up of billions of rocks, dust, and other things.
Uranus:
Im Uranus. I say that with pride. Okay, I lied.
Im embarrassed cause Im the only planet lying on its side.
Neptune:
Im Neptune, Im cold, dark, windy, and mysterious.
Im very stormy, so bring an umbrella. Im serious.
All the planets:
We are the planets of the solar system, different sizes for every one.
The music never ends
We are such good friends.

And we all orbit the sun.

Astronauts:
Well, we are done exploring the solar system.
I am thirsty. Lets explore the rest of the Milky Way Galaxy.