In collaboration with a Social Studies teacher, students will use the internet to find research relating to their unit on National Parks. The LMS will introduce to students helpful websites, web portals, and search engines to help students locate information. This lesson will take place over two sessions: the first session for the research task and the second for discussion of the research process and presenting topics.

Instructional Goals

• Students will learn about the types of websites that can be used for research.
•  Students will use the Internet for research.
•  Students will locate information on their topic.
• Students will compile a brief paper on their topic.
•  Students will participate in a discussion reviewing their research.

Learning Objectives

• Students will recognize the difference between reference websites, web portals, and search engines.
• Students will access websites, web portals and search engines.
• Students will use these tools to locate relevant information on their chosen topic.
• Students will prepare a one-page paper using the research that they located.
• Students will participate in a discussion about which sites proved most useful in their research.
  

 

Introduction:

 

In collaboration with a Social Studies teacher, students will use the Internet to find research relating to their unit on national parks.   The LMS will introduce to students helpful websites, web portals, and search engines to help students locate information.  

 

When the students arrive in the library, the LMS will explain that they will be doing an online activity (buILder) in conjunction with what they are learning in the classroom about national parks.  

 

Body:

The LMS will discuss the different kinds of online research that can be used to complete the project.  There are four types of sites that can be used. 

• The first are Websites that specifically deal with national parks information and are a great place to start your research.

• The second type of Website is a general reference site.  These sites contain information about many topics and may or may not contain information on your topic.  An example of a reference site is an online encyclopedia or dictionary.

•  The third type of Website is a web portal.    A web portal is a starting out point for Internet browsing and exploring.   You are able to go to the portal and be directed to other useful Websites.   They are generally arranged by subject. 

• The last type of website is a search engine.    A search engine searches the Internet and provides you with a list of sites.    It is important to use the appropriate search terms or the list may not provide you with results that are on point to your topic.

 

Before the students begin, the LMS will explain that research is a trial and error process.   Sometimes they will find information easily and other times they will have to dig around and re-think their search terms or strategies.   

 

Students will log on to their computers and access the buILder online activity:

http://www.informationliteracy.org/builder/1332

The first step is to click on the tab labeled “National Parks.”   Students should browse the sites listed and then select a national park that interests them for further research.

 

After they have selected a park to research, students should use the additional tabs to access links to reference websites, web portals, and search engines that can be use to locate information on their topic.

 

After they have found relevant information, they will be asked to write a one page paper containing information about the selected park.  This paper can be handed in at the next session.

 

There are three attached handouts.  The first handout contains the URLs for the Website is for the student to have for future reference.   The second handout contains what type of information is expected to be included in the paper.   The third handout should be filled out and discussed during the review the next session.

 

The LMS will tell the students that in the next session they will review and discuss how they found most of their information and which sites they found most useful.   Students will be asked to share the name of the park they chose and a few useful facts about that park.

 

 

Learning Assessment Methods:

*By completing the buILder activity, students will have learned about reference websites, web portals and search engines.

*The one-page paper will assess the lesson and show that the students have located information and compiled a paper with relevant facts about their park.

*The discussion involving the research process will also serve as a measure of the students understanding of the internet research process.

*The worksheet (appendix 3) which students complete will show that they learned about the different types of websites and which ones that proved most useful to them.

*The LMS will observe the students while they are working on their research to monitor interest level and whether they are staying on task.

9th grade social studies teacher