Grade: 7th Subject: English Language Arts (ELA) Standard: Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources.
Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, to develop a coherent understanding of an idea or event, while also identifying and analyzing discrepancies among the sources.
Materials: - Various primary and secondary sources related to a specific idea or event (e.g., articles, videos, images, interviews, historical documents) - Chart paper or whiteboard - Markers or whiteboard markers - Notebooks or loose-leaf paper - Internet access (if available)
Procedure:
-
Introduction (10 minutes): a. Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever heard the phrase βdonβt believe everything you read.β Discuss why it is important to critically analyze information from different sources. b. Explain the objective of the lesson: to integrate information from diverse sources into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, while also noting discrepancies among the sources. c. Provide an example of an idea or event that students will be exploring throughout the lesson (e.g., the American Revolution, climate change, a historical figure, a current event).
-
Preparing for Research (10 minutes): a. Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific source (primary or secondary) related to the chosen idea or event. b. Instruct each group to read or watch their assigned source and take notes on key information, main ideas, and any discrepancies they notice compared to other sources. c. Encourage students to use critical thinking skills and consider the credibility, bias, and perspective of each source.
-
Source Analysis (15 minutes): a. Bring the class back together and ask each group to share their assigned source and the key information they gathered. b. As a class, create a chart on the board or chart paper with columns for each source. Write down the main ideas and key information from each source, highlighting any discrepancies or differences among them. c. Facilitate a discussion about the discrepancies, asking students to analyze why they might exist and how they impact our understanding of the idea or event.
-
Research and Integration (20 minutes): a. Instruct students to work individually or in pairs to research additional sources related to the chosen idea or event. They can use books, articles, websites, or other reliable sources. b. Encourage students to take notes on the new sources and compare the information to what they have already gathered. c. Remind students to consider any discrepancies or differences they find and how they might affect their understanding.
-
Coherent Understanding and Reflection (15 minutes): a. Bring the class back together and ask students to share the new information they found and how it aligns or differs from the previous sources. b. Guide a class discussion to help students develop a coherent understanding of the idea or event, considering all the information and discrepancies they have encountered. c. Have students reflect in their notebooks or on loose-leaf paper about the importance of integrating diverse sources and noting discrepancies when developing a comprehensive understanding.
-
Conclusion (5 minutes): a. Summarize the main points discussed during the lesson, emphasizing the importance of critically analyzing information from diverse sources. b. Encourage students to continue practicing these skills in their future research and reading. c. Provide an opportunity for students to ask any remaining questions or share their thoughts on the lesson.
Note: The duration of each section can be adjusted based on the available class time and the pace of the students.