Brief Description

As a precursor to researching using computer-based text, articles or web pages, young students do not critically read for the information they need. Instead they find their topic or subject and print the entire page or article, thereby wasting the resources and their time. This lesson addresses this concern by developing their computer based reading skills. In this lesson, students will learn to use their computer efficiently and effectively to research from primary sources.  Using a cloze activity, the students will locate the web page provided, then read the primary source information and identify the missing words by reading from the web page on the computer. The list of terms they generate will guide them to read from the computer screen and take notes. Then once this skill is developed, the note taking skill can be taught in later lessons.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 4T-E2.  Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create curricular related products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• 6T-E1 Determine when technology is useful and select appropriate tools to collect data.

• 1SS-E1. Understand and apply the basic tools of historical research, including chronology and how to collect, interpret, and employ information from historical materials.

Academic

• Using the cloze reading strategy from a primary source web page on Sabino Canyon’s climate, the students will read the information, identify key terms in context and write a short summary of at least three sentences.

• After locating the Sabino Canyon website, http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/sabino the students will read primary sources on the computer and take notes from the computer screen using the cloze activity.

The following skills are necessary to successfully complete this lesson:

1. The students will be able to turn on the computer independently.
2. The students will be able to find and click on Netscape Communicator.
3. The students will be able to type in the URL for Sabino Canyon and successfully navigate the website.

1. Computer
2. URL addresses for Sabino Canyon
3. Assessment worksheets 1 & 2

Accommodations for Special Needs

• Special Education Students: Prepare the cloze activity with blanks for the students to transfer the information with a similar format.
• Gifted: Have the students take the virtual tour of Sabino Canyon after they finish the cloze activity and prepare three facts to share with the class.
• SEI: Prepare the cloze activity with blanks for students to transfer the information in a similar format just like the special education, but with this group provide a word bank of cards for them to practice with an English speaking students before the lesson begins. The words would include: Sonoran, 2, gentle, Pacific, Saturated, September, Mexico, season, 12, extreme, 105 degrees.

1. Anticipatory Set: Ask: “Has anyone taken a trip to Sabino Canyon?” Have students share their experiences. Then ask: “How might you describe the desert environment? What kind of a climate does it have?”
2. State today’s objective. Each year we do a research project. If we were to do a research project on the Sabino Canyon’s Climate, how would you find the information? Yes you can read books, take another trip to the canyon and yes the Internet. Today using the following website, we will research a primary source about Sabino Canyon’s climate and practice reading from the computer screen.  In this way you will learn to use your computer efficiently and effectively to do research of primary sources.
3. Today we are going to research the climate of Sabino Canyon on the computer, record notes from the computer and write a summary of at least three sentences from our reading.
• Locate the Sabino Canyon web page with the following URL: http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/sabino/
• Click on the Climate and Natural History link.
• Read the climate passage and complete this worksheet with the correct words and the correct spelling.
4. Give the students time to locate the web page and begin their search. Then facilitate their note taking.
5. Give worksheet 1 to less able students. With the worksheet 1, the less able students’ transfer of the vocabulary words from the computer screen will be easier to follow.
6. Give worksheet 2 to the regular education and gifted students.
7. Follow up the lesson with the gifted students challenge to take the virtual tour as the rest of the class finishes the cloze activity.

The following criteria will be used to grade the Cloze Activity Worksheet.

History Of Arizona Climate Worksheet 2 Criteria

Component	Point Value
1. Complete list of 10 words	4 points each=total 40 points
2. Appropriate words spelled correctly	2 points each=total 20 points
3. Summary (at least three sentences)	20 points each=40 points
Total	100 points

History Of Arizona Climate Worksheet 1 Criteria

 

Component	Point Value
1. Complete list of 10 words	8 points each=80 points
2. Correct words spelled correctly.	2 points each=20 points
Total	100 points

Teacher Notes:
Answers to Cloze Activity: (After reading the passage, and comprehending the passage, the students will complete the passage with the correct words.
Sabino Canyon is located on the northeastern edge of the Sonoran Desert. This desert experiences 2 annual rainy seasons. About half of the annual rainfall occurs during December, January and February. These are typically long, gentle rains that arrive from the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally, when El Nino is active, these rains can lead to flooding as the ground quickly becomes saturated (soak thoroughly) by the more frequent storms. The summer rain occurs during July, August, and September. Intense, local thunderstorms are produced from moisture driven northwest from the Gulf of Mexico. In Tucson, this is referred to as the "monsoon season," because the winds bring the moisture from the south. In all, 12 inches of rain can be expected in a typical year. This is quite a lot of moisture for a hot, desert climate, and can support a wide variety of plant and animal life.
Temperatures can be extreme in this desert region. Snowfall tends to occur at least once during the winter months, and it has been known to snow as late as April. During the summer months, temperatures climb to well over 105 degrees.