This collaborative inquiry unit incorporates language arts, and science standards along with information inquiry standards. The unit allows for personal choice to be given to all students while gaining in-depth knowledge about nautral disasters. The lesson itself focuses on the role of the media specialist. The classroom teacher roles of instructing reading, writing, and science are mentioned but no detailed lessons are included.
The standards adressed are as follows:
Indiana State Standards: Reading: 5.2: Students will be paticipating in a reading unit aligned with the book Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehret. Science: 5.4: Students will be involved in learning about tornados and weather patterns. Writing: 5.5, 5.6, 5.7: Students will complete a mini-book about a specific disaster by completing the writing process.
AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner: Inquiry, think critically, gain knowledge: 1.1.1, 1.1.4, 1.3.1: Students will follow the inquiry model steps of the Big 6 while finding and evaluating sources and later citing those sources. Draw conclusions, make informed decisions: 2.1.2, 2.4.1: Students will organize the information gathered and determine its worth. Share knowledge, participate ethically and productively: 3.1.3: Students will communicate their understanding of disasters through both written and oral communication. The media specialist's part of the project can be done in only a few class periods but the whole collaborative project can be completed in one week. Of course, the project may be drawn out to span two weeks if desired depending on how much time is available for instruction. The key is to make sure that the reading unit, science unit and media center visits all occur during the same time frame so that students can make cross curricular connections throughout the unit. |