Instructional Goals

1. Students will identify Boolean operators

2. Students will understand how Boolean operators are used in database searching

3. Students will use Boolean operators to complete database searches Learning

Objectives

1. 9th Grade students will identify AND, OR, and NOT as Boolean terms by using these terms in a candy sorting exercise as a class

2. Students will practice using Boolean terms in a soup box sorting activity in small groups

3. Students will complete 3 database searches for articles using the Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT to define their searches

Motivational Goals

1. Generate interest in the 9th Grade English research project

2. Establish the importance of using Boolean logic to perform database searching

3. Build students' confidence in using Boolean logic to perform database searching for resources

1. 1 large cardboard box covered with brightly colored paper and ribbon

2. 7 large cards, each with a candy bar wrapper taped to it and its main ingredients listed (ex. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup: chocolate, peanut butter)

3. 25 empty Cup of Soup boxes (ex. chicken noodle, beef vegetable) (4 boxes for each group)

4. Job Aid with Boolean operators listed and examples of their uses for each student

5. Computers with internet and database (EBSCO) access

6. Projector and screen to view librarian's computer screen (optional)

7. Worksheet for students to enter the results of their database searches

This is a 40 minute lesson that can take place in the library media center or the classroom. If it takes place in the classroom, the database searching section of the lesson may need to be modified or omitted.

Introduction

1. The LMS has a large cardboard box covered with brightly-colored paper and a ribbon at the front of the instruction area.

2. The Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT are written on an easel or whiteboard (if available).

3.The LMS explains that these terms are used to narrow or expand the results in online searching. She states that knowledge of these terms and how to use them will make the search process easier and help students find better resources for their projects.

Body

1. The LMS tells students that they are going to help demonstrate the meaning of each Boolean operator. She asks seven volunteers to stand at the front of the room. She opens the colored box and hands each of the volunteers a candy bar card (with list of ingredients) taken from the box.

2. The LMS asks all volunteers whose candy bar has chocolate listed as an ingredient to hold up their cards. (6 volunteers will hold up cards)

3. The LMS now asks that all students who have both chocolate AND caramel as ingredients to hold up their cards. Count the number of students with cards up. The number will be smaller. The LMS explains that using the AND operator has narrowed the results.

4. Now the LMS asks that students who have chocolate OR peanuts as an ingredient hold up their cards. All students should hold up their cards. The LMS points out that the OR operator has expanded the results

5. To demonstrate the NOT operator, the LMS asks all students who have caramel but NOT chocolate to hold up their cards. The NOT operator has excluded all volunteers with chocolate, therefore limiting the results.

6. The LMS will now review the results and answer any questions.

7. Now students get into small groups (4-5 students) and they are given 5 empty boxes of soup taken out of the big colored box.

8. The groups are asked to practice using Boolean operators by generating their own search strategies. They will use AND, OR, and NOT to define their "search" results using the soup ingredients. (ex. Two soup boxes have noodles AND beef as ingredients) The LMS will give them 5-7 minutes to complete the activity, and she will circulate around the room to check progress. When satisfied that students understand the concept of Boolean logic, the LMS will allow students to sit at computers and prepare for database searching.

9. The LMS now completes a demonstration of using Boolean operators in EBSCO (or other database) by projecting her computer screen onto a wall screen at the front of the room. She will act as a model to complete the proper steps in the activity.

10. Students are given a job aid that lists the operators and how they are used to help them in future searches.

11. The LMS gives students a worksheet that they will use to list the hits that they receive when completing their searches. The worksheet asks the students to complete four searches, using the Boolean operators to define 3 of the searches.

Conclusion

1. After the LMS is satisfied that all students have completed the searches, she will ask volunteers to state the number of hits that they received for each search. This will allow all students to check their work.

2. At the end of the lesson, the LMS asks volunteers to raise their hands and name one thing that they learned today. This will serve as a review of the lesson concepts.