authorstudylessonone

Title: Author Study: Research

Grade Levels: 4-6

Subjects: Reading, Language Arts, Technology

Learner Outcomes: Student will:

Search the Internet for information.
Search encyclopedia disks for information.
Make note cards.
Visit library to conduct title, subject, and author search for information
Use hard copies to search for information.

Duration of lesson: Two 1 hour sessions

Materials: Index cards, encyclopedias

Technology Tools/Courseware: Internet Multimedia Computers, 3 1/2 inch disk for each group, Encyclopedia CD-Roms

Teacher Notes: One computer for each group of 4 students is ideal.
Collect several books of various levels for each chosen author.

Procedures:

Brainstorm names of various authors and works they have written.
Give class an overview of the requirements of the unit.
Divide class into groups of four and have each group decide on the author they wish to study.
Brainstorm ways of obtaining information about their chosen authors.
Provide encyclopedia disks, Internet access, and hard copy encyclopedias for each group.
Instruct groups that ONE FACT WITH DATE goes on each note card.
Visit a library (school or public) to gather information and books by chosen author.
Make note card for each fact (with date) for information gathered.
Each group chooses a work by the author to read, critique, and present to the class.

Modifications: Modifications must be made in compliance with students' IEPs. Students with written expression problems could record information on an audio tape. Peer tutors, parents, or business partner volunteer could help less experienced students.

Enrichment Activities: Students could search for information about the author's country, historic events in the world during the author's life to see if they might have influenced the author's writing, and music/art of the time.

Evaluation/Assessment: 4 point rubric

4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Points

Group cooperation	Group cooperation	Group cooperation	Group cooperation
Completed 10 note cards	Completed 10 note cards	Completed 10 note cards	Completed 10 note cards
Provided teacher with chosen author by end of 1st session	Provided teacher with chosen author by end of 1st session	Provided teacher with chosen author by end of 1st session	Provided teacher with chosen author by end of 1st session
Gathered 4 books by author	Gathered 4 books by author	Gathered 4 books by author	Gathered 4 books by author
Told teacher title of book to read by end of 2nd session	Told teacher title of book to read by end of 2nd session	Told teacher title of book to read by end of 2nd session	Told teacher title of book to read by end of 2nd session
Date for each fact	Date for each fact	Date for each fact
1 fact on each card	1 fact on each card
Participated in brainstorming

State and National Standards: WV IGOs

                    Reading/Language Arts/Technology:
                            Grade 4: 4.31, 4.40, 4.42, 4.81, 4.83, 4.86, 4.91, 4.92, 4.93, 4.96, 4.98
                            Grade 5: 5.16, 5.20, 5.26, 5.27, 5.34, 5.162, 5.170, 5.171, 5.172, 5.177,
                                          5.179, 5.186
                            Grade 6: 6.3, 6.4, 6.14, 6.16, 6.17, 6.20, 6.23, 6.26, 6.33, 6.34, 6.153, 6.160

National Standards

References:   Freeman, Judy. Books kids will sit still for, Alleyside Press, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1984.
                     Trelease, Jim. The Read-Aloud Handbook, Penguin Books, New York, 1979.
                     McFarland, Karen K. Back to Books: 200 library activities to Encourage Reading, McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina, 1983.
                     Disks: "Time Multimedia Almanac"
                                "Infopedia 2.0"
                                "Encarta"
                                "Grolier's Encyclopedia"
                                "Compton's Reference Collection"
                                "World Book 1997 Multimedia Encyclopedia"
                                "Compton's Encyclopedia 1999 Deluxe"
                      List of web sites about authors

Authors: Vienna Elementary School
                Christie Jones
                Marsha Myers
                Glenda Bennett
                E-mail: viennaschool@yahoo.com

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

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