What is a million? Really!

Subject Area(s):

• Working With Others
• K-12: Language Arts
• K-12: General
• K-12: Science

Grade Level(s):

• 3rd-4th Grade
• K-2nd Grade

Description:

As part of the students research on animals, the T-L will give the students a lesson on internet searching, databases, and citation basics. Students will compare the results from a Google search and the results from a search on one of the library databases. The T-L will choose search terms to ensure that students will see more than 1 million results when using Google for animal research.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

1.      Students will learn the difference between using a database and Google for a research project.

2.      Students will learn the basics about providing citations when doing research.

3.      Students will become an expert on an animal of their choice.

Learning Objectives: 

1.      Second grade students will be able to list 2 reasons why a database is better than Google when doing research.

2.      Second grade students will provide one citation for every resource they use when gathering research information.

3.      Second grade students will use an on-line database to find at least 5 facts about their animal in order to complete a worksheet.

Motivational Goals:

1.      To build students’ confidence in their ability to conduct research using the proper tools.

2.      To encourage the importance of learning information skills and to motivate students to use these skills in their everyday life.

3.      To promote students’ satisfaction with their research achievements.

Materials:

See attached lesson plan in Supporting Files.

Procedures:

See attached lesson plan in Supporting Files.

Assessment:

See attached lesson plan in Supporting Files.

Supporting Files:

• What_is_a_million.doc
  
• Worksheet_1.doc
  
• Worksheet_2.doc
  
• Self_Evaluation.doc
  

Standards:

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Definition

• Identifies requirements of research task
• Determines amount/type of information needed to complete research task

Planning

• Formulates a search strategy
• Identifies potential information sources

Exploration

• Locates and accesses information resources
• Explores range of information resources

Collection

• Selects most appropriate information sources
• Locates relevant information within selected sources

Organization

• Summarizes/synthesizes/classifies final information
• Organizes final information for presentation

Presentation

• Cites sources appropriately
• Presents results

Evaluation

• Assesses the efficiency of the research process
• Determines future usefulness/applicability of research process
• Subject: Working With Others

National Content Standards (K-12)

• Contributes to the overall effort of a group
• Works well with diverse individuals and in diverse situations
• Displays effective interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrates leadership skills
• Subject: K-12: Language Arts

Writing

• Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process
• Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Reading

• Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process
• Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts

Viewing

• Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media
• Subject: K-12: Science

Life Sciences

• Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment