Identifying and evaluating reference resources

Students will be introduced to various information (ready reference) resources available to help them solve an information need; and 2) use the reference sources available (e.g. encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac, and atlas) to find information. The concepts learned will help students with their research and personal information needs.

English or Social Studies research projects

45-60 minutes

2

Set of encyclopedias (at least l full set)
Dictionaries – one for each group (2-4 students)
Almanac- one for each group
Atlas – (individual classroom size) one for each group
Form to record question#, reference source and answers to questions
Pencil

Part II

Internet access

Encyclopedia: www.worldbookonline.com/training/kids/index.htm
Dictionary: www.visuwords.com
Almanac: www.factmonster.com
Atlas: www.lonelyplanet.com

Part I - Instructional Goals:

• Students will learn about an encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac and atlas as ready reference resources.
• Students will understand what type of information can be found in each reference source.
• Students will learn how to retrieve information effectively from a reference resource.
  

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to choose appropriate information resources from a variety of types available
• Students will be able to choose appropriate reference sources (e.g. encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac and atlas) to find answers to information questions.
• Students will be able to explain 2 ways to look up information in the available information sources (e.g. table of contents, index, and guide words)
  

Motivational Goals:

• Students will share new facts that interest them in small group discussion to promote confidence in using the reference resources.
• Students will learn the value of an encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac, and atlas; the information they contain, how to retrieve information, and how they can utilize these to answer future information questions and research.

Procedures:

1. Show students each of the four reference resources one at a time. Discuss any past experiences using these sources.
2. Have students browse the contents of each source. Have the whole class browse an encyclopedia together then move on to the dictionary, atlas and almanac.
3. Immediately after browsing a resource, discuss what kinds of information they found. Ask the class a question and have each group decide which reference resources would best to answer the question. Ask several more questions to be sure the students understand the different kinds of information are found in each resource.
4. Have students work together in pairs and select questions found at each table group. They read each question and decide which reference source would best answer the question. Students work in pairs to look up answers to the questions using the appropriate reference source. Students record the question #, the reference source they chose to use and the answer to the question.
5. The teacher circulates to help and check forms where answers are recorded. Incorrect answers or wrong choice of reference source will need to be re-done.

Selecting the Right Reference Source to Find Information-Part II
Procedures:

1. Students will enter the library and sit at their assigned tables and share information they learned last week (Lesson I). Students should include each of the four reference resources used and what kind of information is included in each resource.
2. Ask the students questions from Lesson I and ask which reference resource they would use to find the answer.
3. Have computer set up to project on large screen. Demonstrate how to locate on the internet popular on-line reference resources (one on-line source for each: encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac and atlas). Suggested links are as follows:

• Encyclopedia: www.worldbookonline.com/training/kids/index.htm
• Dictionary: www.visuwords.com
• Almanac: www.factmonster.com
• Atlas: www.lonelyplanet.com

1. As a whole group, look at each site and discuss how they can use these reference sources to find information and answer questions.
2. Allow students to work in pairs (2 to each computer) and navigate through the on-line reference resources. Student pairs will generate questions of interest and write their questions on the form provided (at least one question for each on-line reference source).
3. Students will choose the appropriate on-line reference source to answer their question and record.
   
4. Students will record their answers and be prepared to share with the whole group.