Lesson Name: Biographical Research (Person in the news in past 50 years)

Audience7th grade students (in the classroom)

Objectives

1.  To select a person who was newsworthy during the past 50 years and research
his or her life
2.  To locate and use authoritative sources
3.  To organize and take notes
4.  To give credit for other people’s work

Relation to PA Academic Standards

1.8 - Research

Content Standards:
·  / 1.8. A. Select and refine a topic for research.
·  / 1.8. B. Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.
·  Evaluate the importance and quality of the sources.
·  Select appropriate sources (e.g., dictionaries, encyclopedias, other
reference material, observations, interviews, and computer
·  Use table of contents, indices, keywords, cross-references and
appendices
·  Use traditional and electronic search tools.
·  / 1.8. C. Organize, summarize and present the main ideas from the research.
·  Identify the steps necessary to carry out a research project.
·  Take notes from sources.
·  Give precise, formal credit for others’ ideas, images or information using a standard method of documentation.

Relation to Library Curriculum

Unit: Inquiry
Concept: Evaluate and Act on Information (1.1.5, 1.1.7, 2.4.1)
LEQ’s:What do I do when I find conflicting information?
How do I know what information to use?
Concept: Personal Traits of an Information Literate Learner (1.2.2., 1.2.5, 1.2.6, 1.2.7)
LEQ’s: Am I demonstrating that I have made good research choices?
Do I handle challenges and problems appropriately?
Am I adapting to achieve success?
Am I displaying persistence in my inquiry?
Relation to ELA Curriculum
LEQ’s: How do I determine the best sources of information for a given research topic?
How do I assure the validity and reliability of my sources?

Background Knowledge

Students were introduced to POWER Library’s Student Research Center and to Grolier Online databases in 6th grade.

Instructional Roles

The librarian will give an overview of print reference resources and authoritative Web resources and how to use them most effectively. She will include how to evaluate a Web site. The ELA teacher will work with the students to monitor their progress in their research and give feedback to them.

Unit Content

1)  Current Biography Yearbook
2)  Biography Today
3)  Biographical Dictionaries
4)  Specialized encyclopedic sets (The Grolier Library of North American Biographies, The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions)
5)  General encyclopedias
6)  Biography Reference Bank (POWER Library database)
7)  Student Research Center (POWER Library database)
8)  Grolier Online (Subscription database)

Teaching Activity

·  The librarian will discuss using print resources to find newsworthy people the students may want to research. She will lead a discussion of the importance of finding authoritative sources and provide a demonstration of the Biography Reference Bank database. She will remind students of the Biography section of POWER Library’s Student Research Center and the availability of Grolier Online.

·  The librarian will also stress that more print materials may be available in the library.

Materials and/or Equipment

In-Focus projector or Sympodium with Internet connection for instructor; laptop computers for students

Guided and/or Independent Practice

The librarian will guide the students to find appropriate resources. The teacher will give feedback and help them during the days they are researching in the classroom.

Assessment

Assessment will be based on students’ demonstration of trying to find the best sources of information.