Lesson Summary: Students pair up and use a resource to locate the answer to a record-breaker question. Students devise their own research question and use two resources to answer their question. Advanced students select a topic of local interest and compare the pros and cons of two types of resources. Struggling students go on a research quest to locate a recipe.
Lesson Objectives:
The students will know…
· that print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, and computer networks are useful research resources.
The students will be able to…
· identify resources to locate information about various topics.
Learning Styles Targeted:
Visual / Auditory / Kinesthetic/Tactile
Pre-Assessment:
1) Ask students to share what types of resources they have utilized to locate information. List each resource on the board in a column.
2) Have students brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of using each resource, and list these in the column beneath the resource.
Whole-Class Instruction
Materials Needed: images of a variety of resources to project, resources (reference books, nonfiction books, magazines, newspapers, the Internet), paper, and pencil
Procedure:
Presentation
1) Project a variety of resources, including reference books, nonfiction books, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, people, and libraries.
2) Ask students which of these resources they would be most likely to use for writing a school report about birds native to their region. How would speaking with local bird expert differ from using a field guide to birds or a Web site?
3) Then ask students to consider this research question: Should zoos breed endangered animals in captivity? Ask students which resource(s) would be the best for locating information to answer this question.
Guided Practice
4) Pair up students and ask them to identify two resources where they could find the answer to a Guinness World Record breaker-type question, such as: What is the fastest 0–60 mph acceleration by an electric kart? Then have students use one resource to locate the answer. Ask them to explain why they selected this resource and how quickly were they able to locate the answer.
Independent Practice
5) Ask students to devise their own research question about dinosaurs. They should identify and use two resources to answer their question, and then write a paragraph and orally share the information with the class.
Closing Activity
6) Have students share which Internet search engines are their favorite and explain why.
Advanced Learner
Materials Needed: paper and pencil
Procedure:
1) Tell students to select a topic of local interest, such as the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing organic produce at the farmers market. Students should research their topic using two different types of resources, and then write a paragraph about what they discovered. Then students should use a graphic organizer, such as a T-chart, to compare the pros and cons of both resources they used.
2) Ask students to share their topics along with their graphic organizers.
Struggling Learner
Materials Needed: copy machine
Procedure:
1) Tell students they are going on a research quest to find the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Arrange for a visit to the school library. Model using two different types of sources to locate similar information. Then help students locate a recipe using a magazine, cookbook, or Internet source.
2) Copy all of the recipes and distribute copies to each student. What were the advantages and disadvantages of using each type of resource?
*see supplemental resources
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