Mammals-the+first+research+project

Stephanie Robinson Mammal Research Grade: K


 * Topic:** The students have chosen their favorite mammal in their classrooms, and the librarian has that information before the students come for their research lesson. This is a collaborative project between the Kindergarten teachers and the librarian.


 * Pre-Assessment:** Students share one thing they already know about their favorite mammal. After the students have shared, the librarian leads them in a brainstorming session: where in the library can you find out more about your favorite mammal? Make a list of student ideas.

Information Literacy: The student will: Access information efficiently and effectively • begins to identify sources of information • access a variety of media Use information accurately, effectively, responsibly, and creatively • Select books based on interest and/or need with assistance
 * Standards:**

Technology: The student will: Use appropriate technology resources to make informed decisions • Use technology resources for teacher-directed learning, problem-solving, and extended learning activities (e.g. videos, educational software) • Use teacher-selected websites to acquire information related to a given topic (whole class activity)

1. TLW recognize the bear dicut as the symbol to help them locate information about mammals. 2. TLW identify two places where they can find mammal information in the library. 3. TLW will find three facts about the mammal they have chosen with assistance-two facts from National Geographic Kids and one fact from a print resource. 4. TLW will restate the facts they found in their own words and copy the facts on their paper. 5. TLW find the mammal sources by searching for the mammal label with 100% accuracy. 6. TLW complete 100% of the project with librarian assistance within three library visits.
 * Instructional Objectives:**

Teacher: bear dicut labels affixed to computers and library shelves in Dewey section 599 Mammal pathfinder multimedia projector PC computer markers sentence strips Students: pencil, paper, crayons
 * Materials, Media, an Other Resources**

Teacher: Good morning, Kindergarten! I understand you are learning about mammals. What is a mammal? Have you chosen a favorite? The students share the mammals they chose. Teacher: Those are great choices! Well, guys, I have a problem...can you help me solve it? I have a favorite mammal, too, and I want to learn lots of facts about it. I know those facts are in the library somewhere-can you help me find some mammal facts? Students brainstorm and librarian lists the ideas.
 * Set:**

Day 1 http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/
 * Instructional Sequence:**
 * Show students the bear label and choose two quiet listeners to find the symbols. One symbol is on the appropriate shelf; the others are on the computers.
 * Read the titles of some of the mammal books. Ask students: "Would this be a good place to start?"
 * Show students the Mammal Pathfinder and the National Geographic Kids website using a PC and multimedia projector.
 * Demonstrate the search box and take student requests for animals to search.

Day 2-5
 * Students are sent in groups of five to the library each day to find two facts about thier mammal on the website and one fact from a print resource. The librarian writes the chosen facts on a sentence strip and the student copies the facts on their own paper.


 * Closure:** Students illustrate thier research projects and present what they learned to their class.

Kindergarten students have various learning needs and the activity will need to be modified as needed. Some higher-level students will be able to sound out their facts instead of having to copy the restated facts from a sentence strip and may have time to find more than three facts. Other students will not be able to copy from a sentence strip, and the librarian will write the facts for them with a highlighter for the student to trace.
 * Adaptation and Extensions:**


 * Assessment:**
 * Students restated facts with 90% accuracy and completed their project in the allotted time.