Ohio Standards Connections:

ELA Standards Gr. 4:  Research Standard:

Benchmark D:  Communicate findings orally, visually and in writing or through multimedia.

Indicator 6:  Use a variety of communication techniques including oral, visual, written or multimedia reports, to present information gathered.

 

Library Guidelines:

Information Literacy Guidelines:  Benchmark D:  Students understand and use a process to gather information.

Indicator 7:  Take simple notes and organize information into a logical sequence.  (Gr. 4)

Indicator 9:  Communicate findings orally, visually or in writing and draw conclusions about findings.  (Gr. 4)

Lesson Summary: 

Students will explore the web site of 4 picture book authors, collecting facts about the author’s life.


Estimated Duration:  1 hour each of 4 weeks

 

Commentary: 

Author web sites for each week:

Week 1:  Patricia Polacco

 http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

Week 2:  Chris Van Allsburg

 http://www.eduplace.com/author/vanallsburg/

Week 3:  Robert D. San Souci

http://www.rsansouci.com/index.htm

Week 4:  Bill Peet

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111400/index.htm


Pre-Assessment:

A focus question will be asked to review fact and opinion statements.

Scoring Guidelines:

Students will show verbal understanding of fact/opinion statements when reviewed through class discussion.

Post-Assessment:

Students will write a minimum of 5 – 10 facts about each author while reading the information at each web site.

Scoring Guidelines:

Students will demonstrate understanding of facts they found by successfully participating in class discussions about each week’s author.

Instructional Procedures:

1.  Pre-assessment question will be asked and discussed.

2.  Media Specialist (MS) will review how to access selected web site through Mybookmarks.com. 

3.  MS will show book she read in library for the selected author and demonstrate how to read a web page and access other areas of the web site.

4.  Teacher will explain expectations and give note-taking handout.

5.  Students will research author and collect facts.

6.  Students and teacher will return to classroom for 15 min. discussion of facts.

Differentiated Instructional Support

Lower ability students will collect 5 facts while more capable students will collect 10 or more.  Poor readers may be paired with a higher ability student in order to read web site materials.  Teacher and Media Specialist will circulate and give aid as needed.

Extension

Web site address will be given to students so they may explore the site at home with their family.  Students will be encouraged to read other books by the author.

Homework Options and Home Connection

See Extension above.

Interdisciplinary Connections

Rereading and skimming for information will be encouraged.  Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar will be expected.

Materials and Resources:

For teachers

Computer lab, web sites listed above

For students

Computers, web sites, note taking handouts, pencils


Key Vocabulary

Fact, opinion, web site, home page

General Tips

If students haven’t been instructed in reading web sites, be sure to demonstrate (moving scroll bar up and down quickly does not equal “reading”)

Show students which links they should click on to access biography if site is not well marked.

Attachments (adaptations made to fit lesson needs)

1.  Researcher Organizer from Graphic Organizers – Creative Teaching Press