Authors'+Research+Project

Author’s Project Lesson Plan = Pre-Assessment = The pre-assessment was to look at the different statistics available from the Tennessee Electronic Library. There are several unused databases. The Literature Resource Center was one of those databases. To collaborate with the language arts’ teacher, the librarian will teach this lesson in conjunction with her.

= Abstract =
 * 1) **Rationale:** This lesson plan will contain lessons on how to use the Tennessee Electronic Library to access the Literature Resource Center database to do research about an assigned author from different genres of literature.


 * 1) **Source:** Tennessee Electronic Library, Literature Resource Center, Tennessee State Standards
 * 7.2.spi.1—complete a graphic organizer (i.e. clustering, listing, mapping, and webbing) with information from notes for a writing selection
 * 7.2.spi.9—select an appropriate thesis statement for a writing sample


 * 1) **Duration:** This lesson plan will take approximately three weeks from the time that the lesson on the Literature Resource Center is taught until the students produce the final product of the poster. The first couple of sessions will be an introduction on how to use the database. Then, the author will be assigned. Finally, the students will be able to do research on their particular author.

The students will be able to
 * 1) Goals and Related Instructional Objectives:
 * Use the Tennessee Electronic Library to do research
 * Use the Literature Resource Center database to research their author
 * Complete a graphic organizer about their assigned author
 * Select appropriate material to include on their poster
 * 1) Procedures for Introducing the Unit: There will be a short presentation on J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter Series. Also, there is an online tutorial for using the Literature Resource Center that the students will complete.

Instructional Considerations

 * 1) **Target Group:** This unit is for seventh grade classes in Blue School at E.O. Coffman Middle School. These seventh grade classes are made up of girls and boys. The students are divided into four different classes. In the first period class, there are 31 students with girls and boys. In the second period class, there are 19 students with girls and boys. In the fourth period class, there are 23 students with girls and boys. In the fifth period class, there 26 students with girls and boys.
 * 2) **Instructional Environment:** The students sit in the their own individual desks in the classroom. There are 10 rows with 3 seats in each row (rows are v-shaped) with one seat in the middle. Three walls are painted terracotta with the other wall painted dark blue. There are bulletin boards on one of the walls and a dry erase board on the other wall. A projector is in use part of the time for instruction. In the library, the students will use the computer lab with all of the computers around the wall with one pod of computers in the center.
 * 3) **Assessment of Required Prior Knowledge/Skills:** The needs assessment shows that the Literature Resource Center is underused. There will be a short quiz to see how much prior knowledge there is for the students.
 * 4) **Provision for Individual Differences:** There is a time set at the end of the class period for the teacher to provide one on one conference with any student that needs help. Also, peer tutoring is in place to help any student to understand any new concept.

Materials and Media
Computers Paper Tennessee Electronic Library http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/tel_k_coffman * The password is elvis. Power Point presentation of J.K. Rowling Construction paper Card Stock Poster Board

Evaluation and Learning

 * 1) **Formative Evaluation** (checks for understanding during the lesson): There are four or five questions at the end of each lesson that will be answered in class. The students will have a practice of using the Literature Resource Center before doing the research by following step-by-step instruction. Also, the students will use graphic organizers to organize any information being obtained from their research.
 * 2) **Summative Evaluation** (end of lesson and unit for grading and reporting): At the end of the lesson, the students will complete a poster to show their knowledge of their author. These will be graded according to the rubric provided to the students at the beginning of the project.