Searching for gold: A collaborative inquiry project
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=960
A lesson plan for grades 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies
After the teacher demonstrates to students how to navigate online resources and gives a brief lesson on research skills, students study the Gold Rush using a collaborative inquiry strategy. In several self–selected small groups, students research one aspect of the Gold Rush and create a project to aid in an oral presentation. Using information from their research, students teach classmates about a selected topic. This lesson provides project guidelines, rubrics, and helpful resources for students, as well as resources for the teacher to use in the selection of informative books and websites about the Gold Rush. Although this lesson focuses on the Gold Rush, it can be tailored to fit any unit.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 3
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
- discuss.
- sustain conversation on a topic.
- share information and ideas.
- recount or narrate.
- answer open-ended questions.
- report information on a topic.
- explain own learning.
- Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
Grade 4
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- present information and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
- discuss.
- interview.
- solve problems.
- make decisions.
- Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
Grade 5
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations to inform or persuade selecting vocabulary for impact.
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 5
- Goal 5: The learner will evaluate ways the United States and other countries of North America make decisions about the allocation and use of economic resources.
- Objective 5.02: Analyze the economic effects of the unequal distribution of natural resources on the United States and its neighbors.
