Description:
In this lesson, students individually explore the various causes and effects of floods and droughts, then use a Venn diagram to compare the two types of natural disasters. Information gathered is then shared with the group and used to create individual outlines and written reports based on student findings.
Goals & Objectives:
LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES
The student will:
-locate facts that support comparison of ideas and concepts about floods and droughts.
-arrange notes in an outline and use the outline to write a report.
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES:
This unit can be incorporated into a unit in geography focused on land, weather, and/or climate.
MOTIVATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
-become interested in the research process.
-understand the importance of information skills.
-experience increased confidence in research ability.
-achieve satisfaction in research accomplishments.
Materials & Sources:
Resource list
Venn Diagram
| Credits: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
Adapted for SOS by Kori Gerbig
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University
|
| Sources: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
December 2002; 19(4); 17-19
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com |
Procedures:
INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:
-The classroom teacher introduces and provides instruction on floods and drought. The library media specialist introduces resources and teachers students how to record notes on a Venn diagram. The lesson may take two or more sessions for instruction, research, and report writing depending on session length.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:
-Introduce this lesson with pictures or demonstrations. Video clips of floods and pictures of drought can also be shown. If a sand table is available, set up two miniature villages - one to be exposed to sun and allowed to dry out for several days, the other to be inundated with a rush of water. Discuss what happens in each situation.
-Students are given the Venn Diagram Note-taking sheet before going to the library media center. The assignment will be to locate information about floods and droughts. Students will search for two kinds of information on two aspects of floods and droughts and document the causes and effects of each type of natural disaster. The information will be used to make a comparison and to write a final report.
-The library media specialist may introduce books and reference sources that will be useful. Materials may be set aside so students may work later on their own if necessary or desired. The Venn diagram is reviewed. The library media specialist discusses how students will record notes in the spaces provided. Students will research and read for two things – the causes and effects of floods and droughts. When they find a fact that they think would be useful, it should be recorded in the space provided. Ask students to record the source and page number at the bottom of the note-taking sheet.
-When students return to the classroom, they may report their findings. The teacher may make a master Venn diagram and record the information that all the students reported. As the students share their findings, the teacher asks them to consider the information that they found in terms of similarities. For example, are any of the causes or effects of flooding and drought similar? This information is recorded in the overlap area of the Venn diagram.
-The teacher explains that the students may use their own or the information on the master Venn diagram to prepare an outline for a report. A sample outline may be developed. For example, students might use the following outline.
I. Floods
A. Causes
B. Effects
II. Droughts
A. Causes
B. Effects
III. Similarities
A. Causes
B. Effects
-The teacher may discuss other outline options. For example, there might be two main headings, causes and effects. Students may discuss how writers have control of how they want to arrange information to report what they have learned with others.
-Reports are written and reviewed. Students may discuss how they chose to outline the collected information.
FOLLOW-UP:
-The students may use their reports to write a documentary script to identify pictures that would illustrate what they learned about floods and droughts.
Assessment:
EVALUATION:
-The student will use at least one source to collect facts on the causes and effects of floods and droughts. The notes will be used to create an outline and to write a final report.
Sources:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
December 2002; 19(4); 17-19
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com
