LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES

The student will:
-be introduced to biographies.
-become familiar with the location and organization of biographies.
-use technology to display knowledge.

CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES:

The student will:
-interpret information presented in a biography.
-discern relevant and important information that is valuable to know when researching a person.
-locate information in order to answer questions about the life of a famous person

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.

INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:

-The library media specialist and teacher determine the timeline of the project and decide on goals and objectives.

-The library media specialist introduces biographies and provides a grade-level appropriate sampling for browsing.

-Time is given in the classroom for students to read and plan costumes, props, and backdrops. Students work in teams with the library media specialist to complete the multimedia final product.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:

-Display selected biographies to allow for discussion and browsing. Choose a wide variety of people including historical, political, sports figures and people from today's popular culture. Have students select biographies that interest them and that they can read independently.

-Brainstorm with the students about what types of information they expect to find in their books. With the help of the library media specialist and the teacher, students generate a universal list of important information to learn from their reading. Creating this list will help the students to identify information that is found in most biographies and show what influences helped develop the person to become who he/she was/is. In addition, this encourages students to find little-known, interesting facts about their selected person. The list serves as a research guide of critical information that students must complete. This guide will be used as a reference for future writing assignments.

-After students have chosen their biographies, introduce the idea of creating a wax museum. Students can view actual figures in a wax museum by going to 'WaxWorld' on the Internet (http://www.waxworldpei.com/ ).

-Wax figures often have plaques in front of them. Explain what type of information would be available for viewers to read. Why or how the person became famous and other important information about the individual. Students use a program such as 'Student Writing Center' or 'Publisher' to create succinct and attention-getting signs to be used as their plaques.

-In preparation for the museum exhibit, students create a background to hang behind the display and provide three props to support a portrayal of the famous person. Explain the use of a button in a wax museum to get a quick snippet of information and to bring the person to life. Each student must decide how to portray the selected famous person for a brief moment-ten seconds should be adequate.

-Invite parents and other classes to tour the museum. While the museum is open, take pictures of each student with a digital camera (A regular camera can be used if you have access to a scanner).

-Students use a presentation program, such as *PowerPoint or *Hyperstudio, to create pages by importing pictures and including the information they used for their plaques. This becomes a slide show for future viewing.

FOLLOW-UP:

-Present the slide show to other classes. The program can be used to support additional studies of famous people during such times as Black History Month or Women's History Month when interest in biographies peaks.