A Fan of the Plan!

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Language Arts
• Grades K-4 History

Grade Level(s):

• 3rd-4th Grade
• 5th-6th Grade

Description:

This lesson focuses on the beginning aspects of conducting research and the need for a logical, organized plan of action. The teacher-librarian will work with the Social Studies teacher to obtain a clear idea of the research project and the teacher's expectations, along with the list of research choices and which students have chosen what choice. The teacher-librarian will conduct a class session, incorporating lecture, small group work and class participation and discussion. Students will have a Research Plan worksheet to complete and turn in at the conclusion of the research project.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

• Students will be able to understand the need for a research plan.
• Students will be able to develop a research plan for their Native American research project.

Learning Objectives:

• Given a list of steps in the research process, fourth-grade students will be able to put them in the proper order of execution.
• Using a template, fourth-grade students will be able to develop a research plan based on their individual Native American research topic.

Motivational Goals:

• Students will feel confident in their ability to organize the research process into an understandable and workable plan.

Materials:

Please see attached lesson plan in Supporting Files.

Procedures:

Please see attached lesson plan in Supporting Files.

Assessment:

Please see attached lesson plan in Supporting Files.

Supporting Files:

• A_Fan_of_the_Plan_LP.doc
  Main lesson plan document: procedures, audience, standards, and assessment methods
• A_Fan_of_the_Plan__Worksheet.doc
  Put-in-order worksheet
• A_Fan_of_the_Plan__Research_Plan_Template.doc
  Students' research plan template

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Formulates questions based on information needs.
• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Applies information in critical thinking and problem solving.

Recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.

• Seeks information from diverse sources, contexts, disciplines, and cultures

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
• Subject: Grades K-4 History

National Content Standards (K-12)

Topic 2 - The History of Students' Own State or Region

• Understands the people, events, problems, and ideas that were significant in creating the history of their state

Topic 3 - The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the People from Many Cultures who Contributed to its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage

• Understands how democratic values came to be, and how they have been exemplified by people, events, and symbols
• Subject: K-12: Language Arts

Writing

• Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process

Reading

• Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process

Listening and Speaking

• Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes