SfCR2 - Searching for Information
Part of Curriculum Unit:Searching for Cultural Roots
Abstract help
Prior to this lesson, students will have brainstormed and recorded what they knew about their cultural heritage. They also will have interviewed parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles to gather information about their family's history.
In this lesson (Part II) students continue to discover their personal background and family heritage by using the Internet as their main research tool, and the library and CD-ROM encyclopedias to obtain more information. Students use HyperStudio, a multimedia authoring tool to create a presentation stack for their class and make a formal presentation of their discoveries. This is part two of a four-part unit.
In this lesson (Part II) students continue to discover their personal background and family heritage by using the Internet as their main research tool, and the library and CD-ROM encyclopedias to obtain more information. Students use HyperStudio, a multimedia authoring tool to create a presentation stack for their class and make a formal presentation of their discoveries. This is part two of a four-part unit.
National Standards help
NATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
#4: Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
#5: Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
#7: Students conduct research on issues and interest by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
#8: Students use a variety of technological and informational resources (e.g. libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge
#4: Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
#5: Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
#7: Students conduct research on issues and interest by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
#8: Students use a variety of technological and informational resources (e.g. libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge
Pre-requisite Skills help
Basic knowledge of computers and keyboarding.
Teacher Information help
Teacher introduces this section with a demonstration and model search for information about a chosen culture. Students work in pairs at the computer using the Internet to research information. Teacher assists students as needed.
Student Activity help
Lesson 2: there are three activities accompanied by a student guide:
Activity #1: Web Browsing: Demonstration: Teacher uses LCD projector or
television connected to computer to demonstrate using a web browser and
a search engine. Areas covered: navigating, menubar, open location,
bookmarks, searching on Yahoo, choosing a culture, copying a location
(address/URL) and pasting it on the notepad.
Activity #2: With their partners, students use search engines to find
and bookmark at least three web sites that may assist them in your
search. For this lesson, students use one search engine: Yahoo! ,
, which is a good starting
point for students to explore different sites.
Activity #3: Gathering information: Students search for material that
gives them insights int their personal quest. The Internet is used for
their main research tool. Students may use the library and electronic
encyclopedias, such as Encarta, Grolier’s, or Compton’s if the
Internet is not available. The following student guide is addressed to
the student and may be printed:
Student Guide A : Look for relevant information for your project. Use
this guide as a check list. After you find what you want, copy it to a
folder on your computer’s hard drive and to your floppy disk.
* Find information about the history of your ancestors.
* Find a map of your country of origin, region, city, and state. Find
information about the area, its geography, industry, population, and
other information about the peoples of the area.
* Find information about the scientific history of your country.
* Find information about the music, songs and instrumental music.
* Find at least one graphic, drawing, painting, or picture that
represents your culture.
* Find information about the language and dialects of the area.
* Find any other interesting facts that might help you understand your
roots.
* Bookmark and record all the sites you have visited. Be sure to copy
the address accurately on your notepad or a special file you have
created to keep this information. You will need this information later
for your presentation stack. Use the following sites to help you with
your searches:
* Yahoo! contains a variety of cultures.
* Netscape: contains a listing of most search engines and online
services.
* Lycos: People/Society; US Race/Ethnicity: African American
People/Society; US Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic; People/Society; US
Race/Ethnicity: Native Americans.
Activity #4: Students create a document called "Annotated List of Web
Sites." The notes they have gathered are prepared in the same fashion
as a bibliography. Name of author if available, Title of web site,
address (URL) of web site, a brief description of what the site
contains. The list should be alphabetized. In Part III, pairs will
prepare a report of what they have discovered, explaining the
information they found while searching for items listed in "Student
Guide A" above.
Activity #1: Web Browsing: Demonstration: Teacher uses LCD projector or
television connected to computer to demonstrate using a web browser and
a search engine. Areas covered: navigating, menubar, open location,
bookmarks, searching on Yahoo, choosing a culture, copying a location
(address/URL) and pasting it on the notepad.
Activity #2: With their partners, students use search engines to find
and bookmark at least three web sites that may assist them in your
search. For this lesson, students use one search engine: Yahoo! ,
point for students to explore different sites.
Activity #3: Gathering information: Students search for material that
gives them insights int their personal quest. The Internet is used for
their main research tool. Students may use the library and electronic
encyclopedias, such as Encarta, Grolier’s, or Compton’s if the
Internet is not available. The following student guide is addressed to
the student and may be printed:
Student Guide A : Look for relevant information for your project. Use
this guide as a check list. After you find what you want, copy it to a
folder on your computer’s hard drive and to your floppy disk.
* Find information about the history of your ancestors.
* Find a map of your country of origin, region, city, and state. Find
information about the area, its geography, industry, population, and
other information about the peoples of the area.
* Find information about the scientific history of your country.
* Find information about the music, songs and instrumental music.
* Find at least one graphic, drawing, painting, or picture that
represents your culture.
* Find information about the language and dialects of the area.
* Find any other interesting facts that might help you understand your
roots.
* Bookmark and record all the sites you have visited. Be sure to copy
the address accurately on your notepad or a special file you have
created to keep this information. You will need this information later
for your presentation stack. Use the following sites to help you with
your searches:
* Yahoo! contains a variety of cultures.
* Netscape: contains a listing of most search engines and online
services.
* Lycos: People/Society; US Race/Ethnicity: African American
People/Society; US Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic; People/Society; US
Race/Ethnicity: Native Americans.
Activity #4: Students create a document called "Annotated List of Web
Sites." The notes they have gathered are prepared in the same fashion
as a bibliography. Name of author if available, Title of web site,
address (URL) of web site, a brief description of what the site
contains. The list should be alphabetized. In Part III, pairs will
prepare a report of what they have discovered, explaining the
information they found while searching for items listed in "Student
Guide A" above.
Assessment help
Lesson 2 of 4:
1. Creating an Annotated List of Web Sites: In pairs, students create
an annotated list of web sites they hav visited and turn it in for
credit. Criteria: the list contains at least three sites with
accompanying comments about the content of each site.
2. Observing student work: Teacher observes students, class
participation, and collaborative group discussion. Criteria: Students
are in attendance and on task at all times; students work productively
together.
1. Creating an Annotated List of Web Sites: In pairs, students create
an annotated list of web sites they hav visited and turn it in for
credit. Criteria: the list contains at least three sites with
accompanying comments about the content of each site.
2. Observing student work: Teacher observes students, class
participation, and collaborative group discussion. Criteria: Students
are in attendance and on task at all times; students work productively
together.
Enrichment / Alternative Activity help
Students use CD-ROM encyclopedias, library books, and videos for additional information.
Students use magazines, books, and encyclopedias, CD-ROMs to research information for their project.
Students use magazines, books, and encyclopedias, CD-ROMs to research information for their project.
Technology Requirements/Integration help
Networked computers is the main tool for learning (selecting and gathering information for the presentation).
Computers with Internet access, word processing and web browser applications, printer.
Computers with Internet access, word processing and web browser applications, printer.