Collaborative Lesson Teacher & Media Specialist

Unit: Rain Forest

Grade: 2
Instructors: Ms. Johnson and Mrs. Edge
Information Literacy Skills Needs:
The teacher identified areas of weakness in most information literacy skills. Many students at the school
struggle academically and are not on grade level in reading which presents challenges in both using and
synthesizing information. The decision for a research project came from the need to cover many informational
literacy skills. Information literacy standards to be addressed: develop information seeking strategies, locate
and access information, synthesize information, and evaluate the product.
Student Objectives:
Students listen to a Read Aloud of The Rain Forest.
Students read the Rain Forest story in their ELA textbook.
Students conduct a short research project about an animal to build knowledge about that topic.
Students navigate through the Rain Forest Animal Pathfinder.
Students review the Plagiarism Handout in order to appropriately cite sources.
Students use an organizer to guide their research about their chosen animal.
Students use both print and internet sources to locate information.
Students transfer information from the organizer into the animal script.
Students locate an online image of their selected animal.
Students use their information for a brief oral or multimedia digital presentation.
Students will evaluate their work.
Standards:
Related Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.5 Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries,
electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.5 Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings,
glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts
about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or
gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and
definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen
writing as needed by revising and editing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and
publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on
a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.6 With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish
writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
CC.2.SL.4 Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas: Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts
and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.
Related AASL Standards

1.1.3 Develop and refine a range of questions to frame search for new understanding.

1.2.2 Demonstrate confidence and self-direction by making independent choices in the selection of resources
and information.

1.2.3 Demonstrate creativity by using multiple resources and formats.

1.3.1 Respect copyright/intellectual property rights of creators and producers.

1.3.3 Follow ethical and legal guidelines in gathering and using information.

1.3.5 Use information technology responsibly.

1.4.2 Use interaction with and feedback from teachers and peers to guide own inquiry process.
1.4.4 Seek appropriate help when needed.

1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order
to make inferences and gather meaning.

1.1.7 Make sense of information gathered from diverse sources by identifying misconceptions, main and
supporting ideas, conflicting information, and point of view or bias.

2.1.6 Use the writing process, media and visual literacy, and technology skills to create products that express
new understandings.
3.1.3 Use writing and speaking skills to communicate new understandings effectively.
Materials Needed:
ELA Textbook
Pre-selected books and magazines from Media Center
Computer/Internet Access for online research
Microphone for Blabberize production
Projector for presentations (Smartboard)
Graphic Organizer / Animal Script
Plagiarism Handout
Project Evaluation Rubric
Lesson Outline:
Day
Prep

Task
Materials including forms, lesson plan

Prep
One
One
Two

Rain Forest Pathfinder

Textbook Reading Unit, Lesson Introduction
Read Aloud
Lesson Overview, Presentation of Pathfinder
(includes review of all forms), Example Blabberize
Shared with class
Plagiarism Review/Lesson
Student select animal and begin research using
graphic organizer
Graphic Organizer Review to ensure research is
complete and sources are cited
Translation of facts on graphic organizer into Animal
Script
Creation of talking animal on Blabberize
Evaluation of Product
Presentation of projects to class

Three
Four
Four/Five
Five
Five/Six
Six
Seven

Responsible Party
Homeroom Teacher &
Media Specialist
Media Specialist
Homeroom Teacher
Media Specialist
Media Specialist

Media Specialist
Homeroom Teacher
Media Specialist
Homeroom Teacher &
Media Specialist
Media Specialist
Homeroom Teacher
Homeroom Teacher &

Media Specialist