Instructional Goals:

Students will review reference materials and utilize critical thinking skills by determining how to meet an information need through the appropriate use of reference materials. Students will gain experience in utilizing reference materials. Students will problem solve, gather information, and present their findings. Learning Objectives: Fifth grade students, working in pairs, will be asked to answer six questions drawn from the  "Wonder" box.

They will determine which reference material will best provide the answer, record their findings on a hand-out provided, and present to the class their findings as well as the process by which they answered each of their questions. The questions will be created in collaboration with the students' Social Studies/American History teacher and reflect knowledge they have covered thus far in thier curriculum relating to westward expansion, pioneer life, etc.

Motivational Goals: This lesson will:

1. build confidence in students' research ability

2. promote the value of information skills

3. promote satisfaction in research accomplishments and

4. encourage ongoing confidence in research ability. It will also give students an opportunity to review their content knowledge of the American Westward Expansion and create for them a bridge between classroom learning and IL skills.

Introduction: As students enter the LMC, they will see a colorfully decorated box (with question marks) sitting on a central table and the [adventurous] LMS will be dressed up in cowboy attire. The LMS explains to the students that this is the "Wonder" box and that they are going to participate in a Reference Resource Round-Up!

Body: ·The LMS will hand out her standard "Our Learning Tree" advance organizer and discuss with the class what the lesson will entail. ·The LMS will begin by conducting a brainstorming session about the various available reference materials and how they are typically used. ·S/he will explain that the class, working in pairs, will participate in a "reference roundup" that they will answer 6 questions/scenarios/problems, drawn from the box, by locating the answer from the best reference resource they think will have the needed information.

The LMS will review the possible reference materials students may find their answers (atlas, encyclopedia, dictionary, database, the internet). ·The LMS will also present the hand-out worksheet to the students and go over the various elements that need to be completed: the question, the answer, where found, and any dead ends they experienced. ·The LMS will demonstrate an example of the activity with student participation. ·Students will begin work while the LMS observes and provides guidance as needed. ·Students will proceed with 6 questions while recording their findings as well as their process of locating their answers.

Conclusion: Upon completion, students will present their findings, informally but comprehensively, to the class at large. If any particularly difficult questions surface, the LMS will guide the class as a whole through the search and discovery process while encouraging student participation.