Scott Foresman Reading Street

NEW LITERACIES

Internet Inquiry Activity

EXPLORE ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Use the following 5-day plan to help students conduct this week's Internet inquiry
activity on animal instincts. Remind students to follow classroom rules when
using the Internet.

Identify Questions Discuss the Explore topic: Animal Instincts. Brainstorm ideas for specific inquiry questions about animal instincts and survival. For example, students might want to find out how some animals know when to hibernate or migrate. Have students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to write an inquiry question they want to answer.

Navigate/Search Start a simple Internet search using a student-friendly search engine. After students have compiled a list of the sites they would like to analyze, consider teaching students how to bookmark Web sites. Bookmarking a Web site or placing it in a favorites file allows the students to go to the site immediately with one click instead of keyboarding the complete address. Students may wish to bookmark the sites today, but they will not analyze these sites until Day 3. Remind students that they should never bookmark sites unless they have permission.

Analyze Encourage students to explore the Web sites they identified or bookmarked on Day 2. Tell them to scan each site for information that may help to answer their inquiry questions. Have students analyze information for credibility, reliability, and usefulness. They can take notes or print out valuable information.

Synthesize Have students synthesize information from Day 3. Remind them that when they synthesize, they combine relevant information and ideas from several sources to find answers to their inquiry questions.

Communicate Have students share their inquiry results. They can use a word processing program to create a journal entry on animal instincts.

RESEARCH/STUDY SKILLS

Take Notes/Record Findings

TEACH

Ask students to describe how they would take notes for a research project. As you
discuss the ideas listed here, show how to take notes from the facts about eagles below.

Notes must be neatly organized. Write the date at the top of the page. Record the
name of the source, including chapters and sections that you use.
Begin by skimming and scanning the source to get a sense of what it is about.
You may want to write down some main ideas or topics. Organize your notes
under these main ideas.
Keep key words in mind as you read through the source. If you find a fact or idea
you feel is important, write it down. Summarize information in your own words.

Have students take notes from a reference source available in the classroom. You
might use encyclopedias, trade books, or text books. They should use an article or
selection that is no more than two pages in length.

Bald Eagle - Description
Color Adult male and female eagles have the same coloring. The back and breast is a blackish-brown color. The head, neck, and tail are white. The eagle's feet and bill are yellow. Bald eagles are the only large black bird in North America with white heads and tails.
Size The female bald eagle is 35 to 37 inches in length. The male is slightly smaller at 30 to 34 inches. Bald eagles weigh between 10 and 14 pounds. Eagles that live in the North are larger than those from the South.

ASSESS

As students take notes, check that they have recorded the date and source on the page.
Make sure they record key information and organize it in a reasonable manner.

For more practice or to assess students, use Practice Book 3.2, p. 50.