Use the following 5-day plan to help students conduct this week's Internet inquiry
activity on freedom of expression. Remind students to follow classroom rules when
using the Internet.
Identify Questions Discuss the lesson focus question: Why is freedom of expression important? Brainstorm ideas for specific inquiry questions about freedom of expression. For example, students might want to learn more about the First Amendment and find several examples of what free speech means, including verbal, non-verbal, visual, and symbolic expressions. 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. After students have compiled a list of the sites they would like to analyze, review how to bookmark Web sites, which allows quick access. Students may bookmark the sites today but will not analyze them until Day 3. Remind students that they need a teacher's permission before they bookmark Web sites.
Analyze Students will explore the Web sites they identified on Day 2. Tell them to analyze each site for information that helps answer their inquiry questions. Students can then print and highlight relevant information or take notes.
Synthesize Have students synthesize information from Day 3. Remind them that when they synthesize, they combine relevant ideas and information from different sources to develop answers to their inquiry questions.
Communicate Have students share their inquiry results. They can use a word processing program to create a short review of the First Amendment or a definition of freedom of expression.