Curriculum

Research and Information Fluency

Lesson Plans and Student Activity Sheets

CyberSmart! original, nonsequential standards-based lesson plans and student activity sheets actively engage students in making good search decisions and in evaluating the resources they encounter online.

Search Engines and Directories Students learn that different search sites offer different features and ways of searching.
Grades	Lesson Title	Lesson Overview	Codes^*
2-3	Subject Category Searching	Selecting subject categories is one of two main search tools used on the Internet. Students learn how to best select subject categories in a directory and explore the concept of narrowing their search.
4-5	Choosing a Search Site	Through online observations, students record and compare the features of four children's search sites. They then construct a lift-the-flap poster that will guide them in selecting appropriate search sites.
6-8	Investigating Search Engines and Directories	Students learn how search engines, directories, and meta-search engines work and compare and contrast their features.
9-12	Devise a Search Strategy In Development

The Nuts and Bolts of Searching Students learn a variety of strategies for locating information using search engine and directory sites.
Grades	Lesson Title	Lesson Overview	Codes^*
K-1	A-B-C Searching	Children search for animal pictures online by clicking letters of the alphabet. They then print the pictures and, in an offline activity, color them and arrange a display.
2-3	Using Keywords	Keyword searching is an effective way to locate information on the World Wide Web. Students learn how to select keywords to produce the best search results.
4-5	Choosing Categories or Keywords In Development
6-8	Smart Keyword Searching	When you know the specific information you need, keyword searching is the most effective method of searching on the World Wide Web. Students learn strategies to increase the accuracy of their search. They compare the number and kinds of sites obtained and make inferences about the effectiveness of the strategies.
6-8	Making Search Decisions	Students interpret some powerful decision-making tips to increase their searching efficiency and then apply them in school research scenarios. They also learn to look for advanced search strategies offered at most search sites.

Evaluating Web Sites Students apply given criteria to determine the usefulness and appropriateness of informational Web sites.
Grades	Lesson Title	Lesson Overview	Codes^*
K-1	Good Sites	Children explore and evaluate a children's Web site, concluding that people's opinions about the quality and usefulness of a site will vary.
2-3	Finding Good Sites	Students explore, evaluate, and compare several children's informational Web sites, concluding that people's opinions about the quality and usefulness of sites will vary.
4-5	Rating Web Sites	Students discuss and apply criteria for rating informational Web sites, compare their results, and infer that all Web sites are not equally good sources of research information.
6-8	Identifying High-Quality Sites	Students learn that, because anyone can publish on the Web, they must carefully evaluate the sites they use for research. They review evaluation criteria and use a checklist to “grade” informational sites.
9-12	Evaluating Online Resources^New!	Students learn to think critically about their choices of Web sites for research by using an evaluation checklist that discusses the key characteristics of trustworthy sites. A sampling of sites on a topic of high interest to students provides the lesson context. Optional strategies for the use of Web 2.0 tools are included. Extend the lesson to examine the use of Wikipedia.

Homework Help Students examine Web sites designed for homework help and learn how to correctly cite online sources.
Grades	Lesson Title	Lesson Overview	Codes^*
4-5	Homework Help in a Hurry	Students learn strategies for getting immediate help with their homework, including going online with an adult to homework help search services and reference databases.
4-5	E-mailing for Homework Help	Students visit sites where, with a parent or guardian, they can ask a homework question and receive an answer from an expert over the Internet. They find out that such personalized help takes time and is not suitable if they need an immediate answer.
6-8	How to Cite a Site	Students learn how to write bibliographic citations for online sources following the style recommended by the Modern Language Association.
9-12	Cite Your Sources In Development

What About the Library? Students consider the value of libraries as sources of information in electronic and other forms.
Grades	Lesson Title	Lesson Overview	Codes^*
K-1	The Library	Children learn that the library houses many forms of media for both research and leisure activities. They also learn that an important resource in the library is the librarian.
2-3	Ask a Librarian	Students learn the library is the best place to begin research, because the librarian can help them find information in all kinds of media.
4-5	What's at the Library?	Students learn that libraries offer easy-to-use resources for researching a topic for a school report.
6-8	Online @ the Library	Students learn that there are often advantages to using the Internet from a school or public library and investigate the specific services offered by their own library.
9-12	The Invisible Web In Development

Recognizing Commercial Intentions Students learn that many Web sites are intended to sell, advertise, or promote products or services.
Grades	Lesson Title	Lesson Overview	Codes^*
K-1	Find the Ad	Children learn that the purpose of advertisements is to encourage people to buy something; children also practice differentiating ads from content on Web sites.
2-3	Things for Sale	Students learn that some Web sites are advertising environments intended to promote good feelings about products.
4-5	A Place to Advertise	Students consider that some Web sites are designed as advertising environments to entertain visitors while promoting advertisers' brands and products.
6-8	Sticky Sites	Students explore why and how commercial Web sites attempt to attract and keep visitors.

No computer required =
Optional Web 2.0 tool activity =
Internet connection required =