Subjects:  Reading, Social Studies, Science

Learner Outcomes:     The students will be able to:

Work cooperatively in groups to read and do research on the Internet
Write a report based on information obtained through research
Practice oral and silent reading and apply comprehension skills
Present findings to class in an oral report
Use electronic mail to complete quizzes
Use a word processor to type a report compiled from research

Materials:  Materials needed to complete this lesson are as follows:

Classroom set of the novel, Phoenix Rising, by Karen Hesse
Computers with Internet access
On-Line Encyclopedia
e-mail account for each student

Procedures:

After students have read 2 chapters in a class period, they spend the rest of the period working on their report
Any group that is ready may present their report on any day of this lesson.
E-mail final quiz, covering chapters 25 to 29 to students to be taken the last day of this lesson.

Special-ed students are not required to give the oral presentation unless they volunteer to do so.  They must participate in some way in preparing the report.  Quiz may be modified for special ed students.

Have students:

Discuss how we deal with the death of a loved one.  How did Nyle deal with Ezra's death?  What have we as a society learned from Three Mile Island?  Chernobyl?  What are the chances of another nuclear accident or a nuclear attack today?  Would terrorists use nuclear weapons as a means of getting attention?  Would humanity survive a nuclear holocaust?  How would we protect ourselves?  How would we survive?

Schedule Computer Lab
Close monitoring of computer during research.
Monitor oral presentations: observe behavior.
Monitor participation in class discussion

Evaluation / Assessment: 

Observation as students give and listen to oral reports and participate in class discussion
Quality of written reports, accuracy, group participation
Quizzes on the book

B. Language Arts Standards:
1. Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
3. Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions
4 Gathers and uses information for research purposes
5. Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
7. Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of informational texts.
 

West Virginia State Instructional Goals and Objectives
Grade 6, Language Arts
6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.16, 6.21, 6.26, 6.30, 6.33, 6.53, 6.54, 6.59, 6.60
Computer Technology,
6.154, 6.155, 6.157, 6.160,
Social Studies,
6.19, 6.55, 6.56, 6,57
Science,
6.3, 6.13, 6.26, 6.32, 6.79, 6.81

Grade 7, Language Arts
7.2, 7.3, 7.5, 7.7, 7.19, 7.23, 7.24, 7.26, 7.31, 7.51, 7.52, 7.57, 7.64, 7.65,
Computers/Technology
7.164, 7.166, 7.169, 7.172, 7.173,
Social Studies
7.32, 7.53, 7.54,
Science
7.6, 7.26, 7.62, 7.75, 7.77
Grade 8, Language Arts:
8..2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.14, 8.15, 8.16, 8.20, 8.22, 8.26, 8.33, 8.50, 8.51, 8.53, 8.150, 8.151,
Science
817, 8.26, 8.81, 8.83,
Job / Career Clusters: State Department Career Cluster Codes

SN-      Science/Natural Resource
FH -     Fine Arts/Humanities
HE -     Health Services
HU -    Human Services

References:

Text: Phoenix Rising,by Karen Hesse, Penguin Books USA Inc. 375 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014 c 1994
Computer Internet
The Lightspan Network, metacrawler, Compton's On-Line Encyclopedia
 
 

Created by:
Debi Willard, David Mazza, and Larry Rogers

Lumberport Middle School