Curriculum
Research and Information Fluency: Grades 2-3
Ask a Librarian
Download Student Sheet(s) for printout in PDF format.
Read a Letter to Educators about Internet research and information fluency from CyberSmart!
Overview
Students learn that the library is the best place to begin research because the librarian can help them find information in all kinds of media.
Objectives
- Identify resources available for research at the library
- Recognize that the librarian can help find information
- Construct appropriate questions to ask a librarian
National Educational Technology Standards for Students © 2007
Source: International Society for Technology in Education- Research and Information Fluency
- locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
- evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
- Digital Citizenship
- advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
Home Connection
Download the Home Connection sheet related to this lesson.
Site Preview
- No internet site is used in this lesson.
Materials
- Activity sheets (2)
Introduce
- Ask: What kinds of things do librarians do at the library? (buy new books, keep books in order, read stories to children, check books in or out, and so on)
- Tell students that one job of the librarian is to help them find the information they need.
Teach 1
- Distribute the activity sheets. NOTE: Pre-teach the following vocabulary terms as needed—endangered animal, librarian, encyclopedia, fact book, Web site, magazine.
- Have students complete the activity sheets. Explain that learning how to ask the right questions will help them find the information they need at a library.
Teach 2
- Remind students that whether they go into cyberspace at school, at home, or at the library, they should always ask an adult before giving out private information (full name, address, name of school, school address, E-mail address, phone numbers, and password).
- Discuss "Be CyberSmart!" explaining that the library has books about many subjects that they can take home, read on their own, and bring to school to show their class.
Assess
The following items assess student mastery of the lesson objectives.
- Ask: What in the library may have the facts you want? (encyclopedias, fact books, magazines, the Internet)
- Ask: Whose job is it to help you find what you need? (the librarian's job)
- Ask: What can you do if you need a picture of a baby elephant? (Ask the librarian to help you find one online and print it.)
Extend
The following activity can be added for students who completed this lesson in a previous grade.
- Have students write their own questions to ask a librarian based on a project of their own choosing.
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