LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES The student will: -listen and respond to appropriate literature -define 'fact' as information that is true -give a fact about trees or leaves

MOTIVATIONAL OBJECTIVES: The student will: -become interested in the research process. -understand the importance of information skills. -experience increased confidence in research ability -understand the value of information skills. -achieve satisfaction in research accomplishments.

INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES -The library media specialist may gather a collection of colorful leaves and let students choose one for a 'fact sheet.' Cost is minimal, but students will leave the library media center with enthusiasm and feel they have been given a treasure.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION -When the seasons start to change during students' first few months in school, their excitement grows as leaves begin to fall. Take advantage of their natural sense of thrill to share a wonderful book, reinforce science concepts, discuss an unusual art technique, and introduce them to an extraordinary author/illustrator as well as the basic information skill of differentiating between fact and fiction. -Ask for a show of hands: Who has noticed what the trees are doing these days? Take answers 'turning colors,' 'falling,' and other responses. Inform students they already know, and have shared, some facts about trees. Define a fact as something true, something that gives us information. -Display 'Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf' and tell students you will be sharing a story by a wonderful author/illustrator. Briefly describe Ehlert's illustration style as realistic, with true-to-life sizes and labels that explain. Point out leaves on the cover and inform students that these are not real leaves, but paper Ehlert has handcolored and then cut into real-life leaf sizes and shapes. -Open the first page. Show a cut-out leaf illustration and hold up a real leaf to compare sizes. Point out that this is one way the author/illustrator gives us information. The size of the leaf is a fact. Inform students that they are to listen carefully as you read the book. It tells a story about a girl planting a tree, but gives many facts. After the story, you will ask each student to repeat a fact about trees or leaves from the story.

-Read the story, pointing out appropriate labels, discussing relevant details such as the 'helicopter' cases for seeds.

-Dismiss student to go to tables, having them choose a precut leaf from the basket and a sheet of paper on their way. Go from table to table attaching their leaf to the paper. write their fact on the paper. It will probably be necessary to help some remember a fact that was in the book, not just something they know about leaves from personal experience. When students complete the project, they may browse on their own or do a book exchange.