Who Wants to be a Super Researcher?
Presented by: Tracy Grogan
Subject Area(s):
Grade Level(s):
Description:
Students will be guided through a five-day lesson where they will complete necessary research for a 3-5 page science research paper on the topic of their choice. Students will be reminded of the research process and basic research do's and don'ts by playing-"Who Wants to be a Super Researcher?"
Goals & Objectives:
Learning goal:
To gain strategies to conduct effective research suing print and electronic sources, and apply that knowledge when completing a 3-5 page science research paper.
Learning objective:
Students will learn how to use indexes and keywords to find the required information; take efficient notes, avoid plagiarism, cite their sources, and create a bibliography in order to produce a 3-5 page research paper.
Motivational goals:
- Motivate continuing information exploration
- Reinforce confidence in research ability
- Promote the value of information skills by allowing choice
- Maintain interest in the research process by promoting inquiry.
Materials:
- White board
- flip chart
- books, encyclopedias
- electronic databases
- database password jopb aid
- note sheet job aid
- helpful web sites job aid
- bibliography job aid
- sample citations sheet for bibliography practice
Procedures:
Introduction:
DAY 1
- Students are doing a 3-5 page research paper for 8th grade science class on the topic of their choice.
- Tell students that before they begin their research papers, you want to review the research process with them.
- Ask students to brainstorm the steps you go through when doing research. Record on white board. The goal is to get them to list the BIG SIX:
1. Define task
2. Where can I find information?
3. Find the sources and locate the information I need in them
4. Take notes
5. Organize and write paper
6.Evaluation
- After brainstorming, reveal BIG SIX list on flip chart.
- Remind students that steps 1
Assessment:
Teacher/Librarian observation during brainstorming, quiz and practice bibliography segments, as well as during independent research time.
Science teacher has created a rubric for students to follow, which will be used for grading of the final research paper.
Standards:
National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)
Accesses information efficiently and effectively.
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Recognizes the need for information.
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Identifies a variety of potential sources of information.
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Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.
Evaluates information critically and competently.
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Determines accuracy, relevance and comprehensiveness.
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Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.
Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)
Selection
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Narrows topic to be explored
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Specifies subtopics or related keywords
Collection
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Skims/scans information sources
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Locates relevant information within selected sources
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Identifies and extracts relevant information from selected sources
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Uses highlighting and/or notetaking skills
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Stores information for potential future use
Organization
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Summarizes/synthesizes/classifies final information
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Sequences final information
Presentation
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Assembles organized information for presentation
- Subject: K-12: Science
National Content Standards (K-12)
Nature of Science
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Understands the nature of scientific knowledge