Teacher Information

Library Day 1:

Prior to coming to library, students will need to have selected their inventor from the list provided. Don’t give them a lot of information about the project, other than letting them know they are going to be researching an inventor.

The LMS will introduce the research project website and give a project overview. She will then do a lesson on being a professional researcher and guide the students through filling out a research planner based on the Big 6. She will also talk to the students about how to take ABC notes. Students will be encouraged to add additional questions to their research planners when they get back to their classroom.

After Library Day 1, back in the classroom:

During reading and writing workshop time, the classroom teacher should teach minilessons on expository writing. It would also be good to reinforce the notetaking process by modeling how to take notes (use the research guide that you want students to use – there is one provided on the project website). You could use a person that is not be researched by the kids. You might use a couple of sources (i.e. a book, a website, and World Book Online) to demonstrate how to take notes. Make sure they realize they are looking for the answers to the questions they wrote on their research planners. Be sure to model making a source card for the resources you use.

Library Day 2:

Students will be given additional time to take notes using the resources in the library. The LMS and classroom teacher will circulate among the students and guide them as they take notes and fill out source cards for their resources.

After Library Day 2, back in the classroom:

Allow the students additional time to take notes if needed (you could use your computer lab time to do this or utilize the computers in your classroom during workshop time).

Once students have completed their notes, they are ready to move to Step 2 on the process page of the project website. They will write their report about their person. Remind them that they want Mary Pope Osborn to think their person is interesting enough to write a book about in her series. Also make sure that they remember to include why their person’s invention is helpful, harmful, or both.

After completing their report, the students will be ready to move to Step 3 on the process page of the project website. This step has them create their story map of the book they would like to see Mary Pope Osborne create about their inventor. A story map form is provided on the site.

During any of the writing portions of the project, if you want to work on them during your library research time, that would be fine, and the LMS will be glad to assist however needed.

Project Extension Ideas:

After the students have written their inventor report and created their story maps, you could do an extension activity that might incorporate technology. They could make “book preview trailers” using Movie Maker to try to sell their book. They could design a book jacket for their possible book.