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100 Questions
Gather around to play a game! Middle and high schoolers answer questions (provided here) using various reference materials. Bring encyclopedias and other reference materials to class, as each group has limited Internet access! An answer...
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Putting History in its Place
Examine ways in which historic places and landmarks represent significant themes and events in American history. Then create theme-based travel guides for related historic locations. This lesson plan requires informational reference...
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Encyclopedia Introduction
Second graders demonstrate how to use reference materials. In this library media lesson plan, 2nd graders are introduced to the encyclopedia and are shown how to use the encyclopedia as a reference. Students use encyclopedias to complete...
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Animal Report
Fourth graders explore the variety of resources available to them at the library. They utilize many of these resources to create an animal report with a set criterium.
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OLYMPIC SHADOW BOXES
High schoolers, in groups, use library reference materials to research an Olympic sport and create a visual display/shadow box to represent it.
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Exploring the Library
Young scholars explore ways to use the library as a resource for accessing research material. Working individually, they participate in a teacher created library scavenger hunt to aid in locating fiction and nonfiction material as well...
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Which reference book helps most?
Fourth graders utilize various reference materials to find specific types of information. In this library research lesson, 4th graders choose the best source of information from the library's reference collection to answer questions.
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What is a Dictionary?
Second graders explore the purpose of a dictionary. In this library media lesson plan, 2nd graders explore My First Dictionary and identify guidewords, entry words, and captions. Students list ways they can use the dictionary.
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Cite Your Sites
What information would you find in an almanac that you would not find in an atlas? What is the difference between a dictionary and a thesaurus? Using a Cite Your Sites worksheet on which they record their observations, groups participate...
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Reference Resources: Being a Good Detective
Students explore a variety of reference resources while seeking information. atlases, almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, and online search engines as well as library card catalogs are utilized in this lesson.
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Glossary, Index, and Table of Contents
Fourth graders use two separate sources to learn about index, glossary, and table of contents usage. In this library lesson, 4th graders use two books, Learning About Weather with Graphic Organizers, and The World Almanac for Kids, to...
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Not Just Books
Learners consider uses of a library and explore the collections at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City, and create proposals for exhibits of various artifacts.
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OLYMPIC SHADOW BOXES
Students acquaint themselves with little-used library resources/reference materials and create shadow boxes to be displayed in the Media Center based on the research they've done regarding the Winter Olympics.
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Selecting a State Fish
Students work in groups to select a state fish for their state. They review reference materials to make a list of state characteristics and select a fish that best exemplifies the state.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Men and Women of Space Exploration
Fourth graders research famous astronauts. In this space science instructional activity, 4th graders list famous astronauts and use reference materials and the Internet to write a report on them.
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Presidents
Fifth graders explore the encyclopedia and take notes from it in a formatted way. They analyze and compare the encyclopedia to an almanac and begin to take information on their chosen president.
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Researching Using Books
Students investigate researching techniques by exploring their library. In this literature references lesson, students identify the different types and genres of books that are readily available at their local library as well as proper...
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Animals of the Arctic
Sixth graders research an Arctic animal. They survey the questions in the Animal Report in order to conduct their research. They investigate their chosen animal by using the Internet, library books and reference books.
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Presidential Powers
Students study and discuss the section of the Constitution that refers to the executive branch. They write a new section or clause describing a new duty for the president of the United States. Students define the word power and proposal.
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What They Left Behind: Early Multi-National Influences in the United States
Students research the impact of European voyages of discovery and colonial influence on different aspects of American culture. They access a number of online sources and reference maps to trace the influences of England, France, Holland,...
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Being a Good Detective
Students examine a variety of reference resources when seeking information. They discuss atlases, almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, online search engines for the Internet, and online library card catalogs. They complete a...
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Synthesis of Information
Locating and synthesizing information is an essential part of the research process but can be overwhelming for many young writers. Eliminate some of the stress and confusion, this resource suggests, by separating these steps. To focus...
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Summarizing with James and the Giant Peach
Elementary readers in literature groups practice summarizing chapter-by-chapter with Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Focus on main idea, supporting details, and the 5 Ws. Unfortunately, a clever "peach" graphic organizer to which...
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North American Explorers
Sixth graders discuss famous explorere then research an explorer, collect reference materials and take notes using notecards. They write a three to four page typed and double spaced report then present their findings to the class.