REFERENCE
MATERIALS
Introduction:
This unit will enable the students to
identify reference materials needed for
research and writing projects. Students will
first practice with the encyclopedia,
thesaurus, dictionary, atlas, almanac,
glossary, and telephone book. Then they
will use the same reference materials found
on the internet to find specific information
for a Word document.
Lesson Plan:
Reference Materials
Objectives:
Standards:
Reading
1. The student will identify the reason to use the following reference
materials: encyclopedia, thesaurus, dictionary, atlas, almanac, and
telephone book.
2. The student will find specific information using the above reference
materials.
3. The student will find specific information using reference materials
found on the computer using electronic databases and the internet.
4. The student will use Spellcheck and Thesaurus to edit a Word
document.
5. The student will insert information found on the internet onto a word
document template.
5.4 The student will use dictionary, glossary, thesaurus, and other wordreference materials.
5.6f The student will skim materials to develop a general overview of
content and to locate specific information.
5.6g The student will identify new information gained from reading.
Writing
5.8g The student will use available technology to access information.
5.9 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization,
spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Technology 5.2 The student will select and use technology appropriate to tasks.
5.3 The student will use search strategies to retrieve electronic
information using databases and telecommunications,
use electronic encyclopedias, almanacs, indexes, and catalogs.
Strategies/Tasks:
Student Tasks
Structured Overview, Assigned Questions
1. The student will discuss the use for reference materials.
2. The student will identify the correct reference material to use for
specific information.
Problem Solving, Concept Formation
3. The student will find answers to specific questions by looking for
information in the encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, almanac, glossary,
thesaurus, and telephone book.
Independent Practice
4. The student will practice finding listed internet sites for
reference materials.
5. The student will explore the internet sites to find specific information.
6. The student will correct a ready-made paper using Spellcheck and
Thesaurus and print.
Teacher Tasks
Structured Overview, Discussion
1. The teacher will provide a structured overview of reference materials,
such as the encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, almanac, glossary,
thesaurus, and telephone book.
2. The teacher will provide specific questions that students must answer
using reference materials.
Guided Technology Use
3. The teacher will provide access to the computer lab for using on-line
reference sites.
Problem Solving
4. The teacher will create a cyber directions sheet for students to follow
in the computer lab.
5. The teacher will evaluate the corrected word document that students
print out.
Resources:
1. Examples of each kind of reference material: dictionary, encyclopedia,
almanac, thesaurus, atlas, glossary, and telephone book
2. Reference Materials Worksheet
3. Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
4. Computer Lab
5. Cyber Directions sheet
6. Word Document Template
Internet Sites 1. http://www.worldbookonline.com
2. http://www.dictionary.com
3. http://www.thesaurus.com
4. http://www.mapquest.com
5. http://www.atlapedia.com
6. http://www.worldatlas.com
7. http://www.3dflags.com
8. http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com
9. http://www.switchboard.com
Software
1. Word
Assessment:
Formative 1. The student will be observed as they discuss and answer questions
about specific reference materials. Do they understand which
reference book to use to gain specific information?
2. The student will be observed as they search for answers in reference
materials. Do they know how to find the information?
3. The student will be observed in the computer lab. Are they following
directions? Are they using the appropriate search strategies in
locating information online? Are they using appropriate techniques to
edit the word document?
Summative 1. The student will write answers to questions by finding the answers in
reference materials.
2. The student will be graded on the edited word document.
Schedule:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Days 4- 6
The student will discuss reference materials and write notes
identifying the correct book to use to gain specific information.
The student will write answers to questions on a Scavenger Hunt
worksheet using reference materials.
The student will go to the computer lab and practice searching the
internet for specific reference sites.
The student will go to the computer lab and edit a word document
using Spellcheck, Thesaurus, and include information found on the
internet using specific reference sites. The document will be
printed.