Educator's Name:                  Charles Plaisance

School:                                    Hawkins Middle School

School District:                      Forest Municipal School District

Student Grade Levels:            7-8

Subject:                                   Library Research

Title of Lesson Plan:               Reference Readiness

Competency #:                     # 21 Main Idea and Detail Reading

Objectives:                            

Locate and combine information from reference sources.  Students will learn how to choose, find, and use six basic reference books.

Instructional Format:          

1.            Discussion of research books in the library

2.            Question and answer period

3.           Use of examples

4.         Students work independently to find answers in their searches

5.         Entire class reviews the correct answers and librarian shows students how to

            get the correct answers using the MAGNOLA databases

Prior Preparation:

Go through MAGNOLIA databases and formulate research questions based on information from those databases.

Materials Needed:

Overhead projector

Basic reference books

MAGNOLIA

Sample questions overhead sheet

Copies of "Basic Reference Questions" handout for every student

Internet access

Duration of Activity:                      varies -- 1-2 weeks

Activity:

1.         Go to MAGNOLIA.  Click on to Wilson Biographies.  Type in "Dictionary of American Biography."  Click on "Drake, Francis Samuel."

            What did Mr. Drake publish in 1872? 

            A Dictionary of American Biography.

2.         What is the description of A Dictionary of American Biography?

            It is a biographical dictionary of about 19,000 notable Americans who died before 12/31/80.  The articles are written and signed by subject specialists and include references to resources for more information.

3.         Go to First Search.  Under OCLC First Search, list all databases.  Select Worldcat and click "select."  Type in under "Search for:" World Almanac.  Once there, click on The World Almanac and Book of Facts.

Name the eight libraries and their locations in Mississippi that have the World Almanac and Book of Facts.

4.         Click on "Libraries that own item." 

            What states house these reference books?

            Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

These types of searches can be used with all of the reference books listed below.

Explore Activity:                     

Current Biography Yearbook

Dictionary of American Biography

Dictionary of American History

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography

World Almanac and Book of Facts

Other reference books can be used in addition to the ones listed above.  Students may be asked to write a research paper and use MAGNOLIA and reference books in the library to conduct a more formal search.  Students must be able to cite sources.

Formal Assessment:              

Students go to MAGNOLIA and find the answers to the questions from the six books. 

Papers are corrected.  Students who missed questions are to look again to find the right answers for the purpose is for them to learn how to find the information quickly and correctly.