Submitted by chrissteinhauser on Mon, 03/07/2011 - 19:31
Created By:
Christine Steinhauser
Title/Role:
Librarian/Teacher
Organization/School Name:
Coolidge Middle School
Location:
Massachusetts
Grade Level:
6
Type of Lesson:
Lesson in a unit
Type of Schedule:
Combination
Collaboration Continuum:
Limited
Content Area:
Language Arts
Content Topic:
Biography
Scenario:
The 6th grade students come to the library about once a week for a skills class. The lessons are divided between library/research skills and technology skills. This class meets for the entire year- about 30 times. Library lessons for the year include topics such the Dewey Decimal System, basic reference sources (both print and electronic), plagiarism, literature appreciation and web evaluation. The English Language Arts teacher has assigned a research project about a person and would like the students to cite a variety of sources for the project, including a web site. The ELA teacher has requested that the school librarian teach a series of lessons during the weekly skills class on web evaluation in preparation for the project.
Overview:
As part of the English Language Arts curriculum, students research a person who has made a significant contribution to society. A variety of sources are required including a web site, which should be evaluated. Essential questions for this lesson are: What significant contribution has this person made to society and how has it affected me? What similarities and differences do I have with this person?
Final Product:
A three paragraph essay with a works cited page in MLA format.
Library Lesson:
Students look critically at a web site and evaluate it for the following: Authority, Objectivity, Accuracy of Content, Currency and Coverage. They also determine the purpose of the web site.
Estimated Lesson Time:
90 minutes
Have you taught this lesson before:
Yes
Strategies for differentiation:
A simplified worksheet is created and the number of websites is reduced.
Students are given a resource list of sources to use.