Instructional Goals:

Students will learn to use print and online encyclopedias and apply that knowledge when proving or disproving a statement on a given subject.

Learning Objectives:

When given a statement, students will use print and online encyclopedias to learn whether or not that statement is true. If it is not true, students will extract the correct information and revise the statement to make it true. If the statement is true, they will note which source they used and what page they found the information on. Students will research a total of two statements during one class period.

Motivational Goals:

Motivate continuing information exploration by using interesting statements that are directly related to a current class unit. Reinforce confidence in research ability. Promote the value of information skills by allowing choice. Maintain interest in the research process by promoting inquiry. 

Introduction:

As students enter the LMC they will see 2 statements about Japan written on the white board and a 'mystery box' on the worktable. Students will be curious about the box, but will be told that they will find out what's inside later. After directing their attention to the white board, they will be asked what looks familiar to them about the statements.

Body:

After students identify Japan as the country we are referring to on the white board, they are asked if the statements are true. They are expected to answer yes. Then will be asked how they know that. They are expected to answer that they 'just know' or that their teacher told them. I will explain that sometimes it isn't enough to just know; that sometimes we need to prove that something is so. How can we do that? Listen to student responses Explain that an encyclopedia is a good place to start. Hold up a print encyclopedia and explain what it is, that it is organized like a dictionary (alphabetical with guide words) but contains more details, and contains many volumes) Next, pull up online encyclopedia and explain that it contains the same kinds of info. as print version, but that we must search using a keyword.

Read one of the statements. Ask students what word(s) they would look up to find the answer. Using the print version, model looking up the word, read the information and decide with class whether it tells us that our statement is true or false. Next, read the second statement and model the process using the online encyclopedia. Tell students that they can do the same thing at home to learn about something. Suppose a friend tells them that all snakes are poisonous, and they don't know if they can believe their friend. What can they do? Prove it using an encyclopedia!

Tell students that they will now have an opportunity to try this themselves. They can work alone or with a partner. Each student or team will have 2 statements to research. Introduce the content of the mystery box. Tell students that in a few minutes, they will each have an opportunity to draw a piece of paper from the box. Each piece of paper will have a statement about Japan on it, and they will use the print encyclopedia to look up one statement, and the online encyclopedia to look up the second. They can decide which statement to use which resource for. If the statement is found to be true, they are to note the place they found the information (page # if print, keyword if online). If the statement is not true, they must change it to make it true and note where they found the information (page # if print, keyword if online). Students are told that at the end of class they will present their results to the class. Students are given job aid to help them search the online encyclopedia, and then asked to draw a paper from the mystery box. Students are directed to the computer workstations and the shelf where the encyclopedias are kept and told to get started. Remind students that the LMS and/or teacher will be here to help them.

CONCLUSION

The last few minutes of class will be used to have the students take turns reading their original statements and telling the class whether it is true or false. If false, they will read the revised statement.