Brief Description

Students will use at least three different types of resources to research inventors and inventions and will then compare and contrast the information for completeness and accuracy.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 1T-F3-Use appropriate technology resources to access information and communicate electronically.

• Standardized REACH Third-grade Curriculum: In preparing to create an invention, students will use a variety of resources to research famous inventors and inventions.

Academic

• After researching inventors and inventors, students will compare and contrast the information for accuracy and completeness.

• Students will use at least three different types of resources to research inventors and inventions.  Two resources need to involve technology.

• Ability to use a mouse and keyboard.

A set of Scholastic posters titled AMERICAN INVENTIONS. Study print SP 608.
Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia CD ROM.
Computer with access to the Internet, CD ROM capability, printer, pencil, paper, worksheet.
Biographical video tape of any inventor(s) available through your school library.

Pair experienced and/or competent students with inexperienced and/or less able ones.

Procedures

Establishing the anticipatory set and getting organized:

1. Teacher demonstrates how to get the required information using each of four sources: TrackStar program, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, Scholastic Inventors' Posters, and a video tape about an inventor or inventors.
2. Teacher pairs students according to their technology experience and skill level.
3. Teacher schedules students' participation in each activity if all can be accomplished in the classroom.
4. Teacher schedules time in a computer lab if one is available.

1. After demonstrating how to find and record required information in the text of one of the posters, allow students to choose one for their own use.  Required information includes the name of the inventor, the name of the invention, the date the invention was copyrighted, a description of the invention, the function of the invention, and the problem solved by the invention.
2. Instruct the students to find and record the required information for each inventor/invention on their posters.
3. Instruct the students to rewrite the required information in their own words.
4. Instruct students to practice presenting the information orally to their partners in preparation for presenting the information to the rest of the class.
5. When all students have completed steps 2-4, allow students to schedule the order of their presentations.
6. Facilitate students' sharing of constructive feedback to presenters.
7. Instruct students to evaluate each presentation (including their own).

Students will use the teacher-made Presentation Evaluation form to evaluate their own presentation and the presentations of their classmates.

Procedures for using Groliers Multimedia CD ROM to gain information about inventors and inventions:

Instruct students to choose one of the inventors they studied from their poster for further research and do the following tasks:

• Click on the "knowledge master" icon of the CD's table of contents.
• Type in the word "inventors".
• Click on the inventor of your choice to access information
• Explore all aspects of the encyclopedia: animation, videos, pictures, etc.

Demonstrate to students how to access a TrackStar program.

• Go to http://trackstar.scrtec.org/
• Click on Find a track by author.
• Type the name: Diane Harland in the "author search" box and click on GO.
• Click on the link to "Exploring Inventors and Inventions Using the Internet".
• Click on View in Frames.
• Click on any link of your choosing and follow the instructions in the Site Location box.

Teacher asks, “Thinking about all the resources you used to research inventors and inventions: video tape, printed materials (books or posters), and the Internet; which resource do you think was the best for finding the required information you needed to do your report? Please explain the reason for your choice."

Teacher Name: Diane Harland
Site: Holaway
Date Submitted: October 24, 2001