rgranger@clinic.netFisher-Mitchell School
597 High Street
Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 443-8265
SEED PACKET # 38
Developer: Ree Granger rgranger@clinic.net
Fisher-Mitchell School
597 High Street
Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 443-8265
Using Technology-A Research Method For Primary Children
A class in Idaho e-mailed: "We are interested in Maine because it is easier to find on the map than some states. Are there still lighthouses there?" This e-mail request presented an authentic purpose for research. This unit of study exposes children the strategies for finding information on the Internet. It also enables teachers to guide them in a safe search.
Snapshot
Young children are very excited about learning something new and becoming authorities among their peers but there often aren't enough books available on the primary level for children to do research. However, with the help of a graphic organizer such as The Big Six Assignment Organizer, second grade students can find information on many topics, using both the library and the Internet. The Big Six, which is adaptable to any grade level, helps them come up with key words and phrases to guide them on a safe search. They develop a search strategy that uses appropriate and available resources, they formulate questions to ask when gathering information, and they record and share the information they've gathered.
Students work in pairs and small groups, supporting each other in coming up with ideas and using the graphic organizer. Once the children clarify what they are searching for and identify key words to use, they are ready for an Internet search. Yahooligans is a good place to start because it is geared to children: they can quickly visit and eliminate sites with text that is too difficult for them. They can also find information and illustrations that are not presently in book form.
By seeing what the child wrote on their organizer, the teacher can check out ahead of time what will appear when the key words are used. If the keyword would take the student to an inappropriate site, the teacher can help students make any changes in their choices of key words before the actual Internet search is started.
This unit of study exposes children to the use of a graphic organizer for conducting research, supports them in writing their response through several drafts, and shows them how to write a bibliography. After they write their response on paper, they may choose to type it on the computer and send it as an e-mail or to make a web page with the information. At this point, students are proud to share their information with other children and are on their way to becoming critical consumers of Internet information.
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Maine Learning Results Alignment
Content Area 1
Grade Level: Elementary Grades Pre-K-2
English Language Arts
H. RESEARCH-RELATED WRITING AND SPEAKING
Students will work, write, and speak effectively when doing research
in all content areas.
1. Develop a search strategy which uses appropriate and available
resources.
2. Formulate questions to ask when gathering information.
3. Record and share information gathered.
Content Area 2
Grade Level: Elementary Grades Pre-K-2
English Language Arts
E. PROCESSES OF WRITING AND SPEAKING
Students will demonstrate the ability to use the skills and
strategies of the writing process.
1. Tell about experiences and discoveries, both orally and in
writing.
3. Respond to remarks or statements orally and in writing.
Content Area 3
Grade Level: Elementary Grades Pre-K-2
English Language Arts
D. INFORMATIONAL TEXTS
Students will apply reading, listening, and viewing strategies to
informational texts across all areas of curriculum.
1. Understand the main idea of simple expository information.
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Procedure
All classes through grade 8 can use this form of The Big Six graphic organizer. Teachers who teach primary grades may want to use the organizer by making the spaces larger and turning it sideways. This makes it easier for young children to fill in their responses. A copy of this format is at http://www.col.k12.me.us/fms/big6 samoset/big6landscapesheets.html.Teachers in upper grades may want to use the vertical format at http://www.col.k12.me.us/fms/big6 samoset/big6landscape.html.
Secondary teacher could use the heading and require even more specific notes, etc. or visit http://www.big6.com to see other ways to adapt the Big 6
This research method takes about two weeks to complete, with children working for about 30 minutes at a time. The time on the Internet may vary greatly, depending on the topic. Most of the time for younger children is spent drafting and editing their thoughts so other people can understand the information they are trying to convey.
It takes about one 30-minute period for second grade students to fill out the graphic organizer. This is time well spent because they now have a plan that will help them access information.
The graphic organizer requires the students to fill out the first five sections before they begin their research. Part 1 is Task Definition. They need to answer the questions "What am I suppose to do?" and "What information do I need in order to do this?". The latter question has places for 4 statements to help the student clarify what they want to find out.
Part 2 is Information Seeking Strategies. This section includes a list of possible research media for this information. The Internet is one of the choices out of the ten items listed. The student then needs to write down the research media they that think would best work for them. They may select Internet, reference books and people (primary resources) as the best methods to use to get this information, for example. They then write some keywords to help with their search.
Part 3 is Location and Access. Here the students write where he or she will find these resources and what or who can help them.
Part 4 is Use of Information. It asks them how they will record the information and how they will credit their sources. They may write notes on file cards, for example, and record the titles and authors of the books they used. They also record the web page URLs, which can be later used as links.
Part 5 is Synthesis. Students decide how they will organize their information, what their product will be, and how they will give credit to the sources of their final product. A choice for the final product may be to use something like Claris Home Page and to copy and paste their work into e-mail.
The graphic organizer helps students create a safe search by clarifying what they are seeking and the key words they want to use. The teacher can use this information to check and see if their search terms will likely lead in safe directions. If the words take them to a poor site, the teacher can help them adjust the search by suggesting a different keyword.
Part 6 is an Evaluation that should be checked before the final product is turned in. Students can evaluate the sites they found for interesting information and pictures, which would help, explain the text. They also self check the quality of their work.
A copy of the Big Six graphic organizer can be found on the Fisher Mitchell School web site. More information about the Big 6 can be found at <www.big6.com>. There is sample research done in this manner at <http://www.col.k12.me.us/fms/big6%20samoset/big6landscape.html>.
E-mail can be created in any browser or program that your school provides. Web pages can be created in AppleWorks, Microsoft Word: Etc. and saved as an html or htm depending on the program. There are many good simple page making programs on the market like Claris Home Page 3.0. Netscape Communicator includes Composer as an easy web page creator. For PCs on Internet Explorer includes Front Page Express.
These are the URL's available for your use with this packet
Link
Description
http://www.col.k12.me.us/fms/big6%20samoset/big6landscape.html
This page shows all the parts of the
lighthouse project including the
Big Six and other ideas for research. viewed 2/14/00 student work,
the Big Six and other ideas.--viewed 12/14/00
http://www.big6.com
The site of the original Big Six and rational for using it in
any grade.--viewed 12/13/00
http://janus.state.me.us/education/g2000/homepage.htm
Information and assistance with The Maine Learning
Results--view 2/14/00
These are the files that are available for your use with this packet
Document 1
Document Name: Big Six
Template
Description of Document: Printable graphic organizer in a vertical
forma.
Use to open. Browser - then print
This File originated on the Platform html
Document 2
Document Name: Big
Six Template
Description of Document: Printable graphic organizer in a horizontal
forma.
Use to open. Browser - Print in landscape format
This File originated on the Platform html
Document 3
Document Name: Maine
Assessment Portfolio Rubric PK-2 Research - English
Language Arts
Description of Document: Rubric for scoring student work
Use to open. Browser - Print in landscape format
This File originated on the Platform html
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Overall Value
The Internet is fast becoming an important thread in the fabric of our society. It will soon be as much a part of our daily life as turning on the television news, picking up the telephone, or turning on the radio. As it becomes an integral part of life in the 21st century, educators are obligated to introduce strategies for accessing information at an early age.
The Big Six graphic organizer is a simple yet effective way to help children learn how to get the information they need and want from the Internet. It also helps make their teachers aware in advance of what these searches will reap.
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Bibliography
Books
Title of Book Author(s) Where Published Publisher Copyright Date Maine Lighthouses-A Pictorial Guide Courtney Thompson CatNip Publications Brunswick, Maine 1996
Web Sites
Title Bar Author(s) Name of Site URL Date Browsed Welcome to Big6.com Mike Eisenberg & Bob Berkowitz The Big6 Skills (TM) Information Problem-Solving
Approach 12/14/00 Secretary of State Kid's Page (Home) Dan A. Gwodowski, Secretary of State Secretary of State's Kid's Page 02/14/00 Yahooligans! . Yahooligans the web guide for kids 12/14/00 Owney, The Traveling Dog Mrs. Granger's Second Grade Owney, The Traveling Dog
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Research Method For Primary Children