Lesson+Comparisons

In the grade 3 inquiry assignments, the student will be **guided** to pre-selected sites that clearly provide the meaning of Philanthropy and will be shown numerous **visual** **examples.** The students then will make **‘self–to- world’** connections through a process of brainstorming in groups for ideas on how they too can or already do perform acts of philanthropy in their world or community. Students will learn to download pictures from digital cameras unto a Microsoft word document also with a **guided and modeled** approach with the use of an example, and then they will have the chance to perform the skill themselves. At the grade 3 level, a 4-5 sentence one paragraph response is appropriate which includes a topic sentence and support sentences. ** For the elementary level, ** by the end of this step, the student will master how to take a digital picture, upload it into ‘my images’ and then copy and paste it into a Microsoft document they will use as part of presenting their information. This skill is reflected in the content area standard for grade 3 and the 21st Century standards in regards to the following: ** 21st Century Standard ** 1.18 Demonstrate master of technology tools for accessing information and pursuing inquiry. 3.4.5 Use a computer to draft, revise, and publish writing. ** Maturation over time: ** Over time, student’s mastery of technology tools will grow, however at this level, creating documents and applying clip art, picture images, etc… is a basic ‘ground-level’ skill to start with… While depending on the particular computer ‘keyboarding’ skills of grade 3 level students (some schools teach keyboarding skills at different grade levels), it might be more applicable to have students write their essay on lined paper and attach the image to that. ** Role of instructional specialist: ** At this level, the instructor’s emphasis will be focused on basic technology skills and providing models for the students to follow. In the grade 7 inquiry assignment, the student will be guided to some pre-selected sites in regards to Charles Dickens’s works, however this will be done in a **‘pathfinder’** approach that provides fewer restrictions on which web sites they explore, only suggestions. In addition, the students will be expanding from making **‘self-to world’** connections and moving towards **‘self-to-text**’ and ‘**text-to-world**’ connections- as will be evidenced in their writing. At the grade 7 level, a 3-5 paragraph essay is appropriate with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. ** For the middle school level **, by the end of this step, the student will be able to connect a real-world issue by sharing new understandings and reflections in their written response, based on their inquiry process. This skill is reflected in the content area standard for grade 7 and the 21st Century standards in regards to the following: 7.3.4 Identify and analyze themes-such as bravery, loyalty, friendship, and loneliness; which appear in many different works. 3.1.1 Conclude an inquiry based research process by sharing new understandings and reflecting on the learning. ** Maturation over time: ** As the student matures and grows, they can see more connections in regards to themes in literature and apply those themes to their own world. In addition, their ability to express their thoughts and beliefs in their writing has also grown with age. ** Role of Instructional Specialist: ** At this level, the instructor is less focused on basic computer skills, but is more focused on providing pathways to relevant information the students can use to analysis the text they read and make connections between the text and with the information researched/discovered.
 * Lesson Comparisons **
 *  A.  ****   Grade 3 (A more ‘guided’ approach with modeling)  **
 * My specific Information Inquiry skill focus was on ‘Synthesis’ 5.2- present information, in the Big 6. (Callison 44-45)  **
 * Content Area Standard **
 *  B.  ****  Grade 7 (A less ‘guided’ approach and expanding on making connections…)  **
 * Content Area Standards **
 * 21st Century Standards **