Title: Getting to Know World Book Online
Subject Areas: Science, Social Studies, Math, and Language Arts
Overview:
This lesson will introduce students to the database World Book Reference Online. All three-grade levels are required to do research papers and the use of World Book Reference Online is definitely needed. Through this lesson students will become familiar with this database by locating answers to questions found on a scavenger hunt worksheet. The number of students depends on the number of computers available. This lesson will be conducted in the library where there are only 8 computers available therefore; the number of students is limited to 8, but a computer lab could be used to accommodate larger groups.
Duration of Lesson: three to four 25-minute sections
Content Standards: Grade 6-8
ELA Content Standard 5 Information Resources
Benchmarks: Grades 6-8
ELA 5-M1 - locate and select information using organizational features of grade-appropriate resources including organizational features of electronic texts (e.g. bulletin boards, databases, keyword searches, email addresses)
ELA 5-M2 – locate and integrate information from grade-appropriate resources including electronic sources (e.g. web sites, databases)
Technology Standards:
Demonstrate the operations of a computer (e.g., touch-keyboarding skills, save, organize and back-up files) and other peripheral devices (scanner, digital and video cameras, VCR, laser disc player) at an intermediate level.
Objectives: The learner will:
Materials:
Pencil
Hardware – computer, LCD projector
Software – Inspiration
Website – Calcasieu Parish School Board
World Book Reference Online
Background Information:
The student should have intermediate computer skills
Procedures:
Session One
Introduction – The teacher will ask students if they have ever been on a deer-hunting trip? Allow them to respond, and then ask the students who responded, “What are some of the things you must do before going on a hunting trip? Let students take turns responding. The teacher will make an idea map in Inspiration using the students’ responses. The question will be the topic.
2. The teacher will assist with the idea map by suggesting the following ideas: 1. Get a hunting license 2. Take a safety course 3. Buy hunting equipment and clothes 4. Decide where to go hunting 5. Decide who will come on the trip 6. Arrange transportation.
3. After this activity is completed the teacher will tell the student that they will be going on a hunting trip but they will not be hunting deer. Like the deer-hunting trip they will need to prepare for this hunt to. They will be going on a scavenger hunt using a computer database.
4. The teacher will say that the first thing they must do is to be able to locate and access the database we are to use. Using a computer and TV demonstrate to students how to access the school system’s web site, www.cpsb.org. Direct their attention to the menu list on the left hand side of the web page. Click on the link “Resources”, scroll down the drop down menu to the World Book Online link. This will open to the World Book Online home page. The teacher will go over the steps a second time and ask students if they need to be shown how to get to the database again.
5. Give each student the K-W-L handout (see attachment). Explain to them that the teacher needs to get information about what they know and don’t know about World Book Online. In the first column, K=Know, each student should fill in everything they already know about World Book Online. In the second column, W=Will Learn or Want to Know, they are to predict what they will learn about World Book Online or what they want to know about World Book Online and in the third column, L=Learned, the student will fill in their new knowledge.
6. The teacher will explain to the students that they should complete column K and W only. When the students have completed this activity the teacher will take up the handouts.
Session 2
1. Have each student go to a computer and demonstrate how to get to the World Book Online database. The teacher will be observing and assist any student needing help.
2. After the teacher is satisfied that all students can successfully get to the database the students will be directed to look at the tabs at the top of the World Book Online home page. Discuss each tab as the students click on them. Afterwards have the students find the following links located on this home page: Behind the Headlines, Today in History, Feature of the Month, and Media Showcase. Students will be allowed to click on each as the teacher explains what each link is about. Allow for a question and answer session.
3. After the teacher is satisfied that the students have located and understand what each link is about the student will be handed a scavenger hunt worksheet. The teacher will explain that these links will be used to find the answers to the scavenger hunt. Have a student to volunteer to read the directions for each challenge on the worksheet. All other students will be directed to read along with this student.
4. The teacher will check for understanding by allowing students to ask questions about the directions. Students will then be directed to work on the scavenger hunt. The teacher will move amount the students to assist whenever needed.
Session 3
1. Continue working on scavenger hunt. If some students complete the worksheet before the majority of the class they will be instructed to search for information on their research topic.
2. When all students have completed the scavenger hunt the teacher will pick up the worksheets.
Session 4
1.The teacher will return the worksheets to the students and orally go over the answers to the scavenger hunt. Students will be allowed to make corrections on the worksheet.
2. Give the students back their K-W-L chart (see attachment) and have them fill in what they have learned and tell how it will help them.
3. Allow for sharing of the K-W-L responses.
Assessment:
Objectives 1, 2, and 4 will be assessed using teacher observation.
Objective 3 will be assessed using the completed scavenger hunt worksheet.
Accommodations:
The teacher will make accommodations based on student’s IEP.
Extension:
Students will use the skills they have acquired when researching their topics.