Lesson Plan

Anne Wisniewski

SLM 501 – Spring, 2004

 

“One Picture is Worth…

One Good Citation!”

 

Library Media Skills Objectives:

 

The student will explain the concept of intellectual property and its importance.

The student will identify the key elements that should be included in a bibliographic citation.

The student will create three correct bibliographic citations for books of their choosing using a standard format.

 

Curriculum (subject area) Objectives:

 

            This lesson can be included in any subject area in which the students are required to conduct research.  It will dovetail nicely with social studies, English and science research.

 

Grade Levels:  3 - 4

 

Approximate lesson time:  30 minutes

 

 

Resources:

 

1.      One sheet of white construction paper for each student.

2.      One or two sets of markers (10 different colors/set) for each table of students.

3.      One 3X5” blank index card for each student – prepared in advance with each student’s name written neatly on it.

4.      One 3X5” blank index card with your name written neatly on it.

5.      Three inexpensive easy-to-assemble frames.  The frames should be disassembled and ready for a picture.  Place these on a table near the front of the media center and cover them with a sheet.

6.      One worksheet:  Creating a Bibliographic Citation (One transparency for you and a copy of the worksheet for each of the students).

7.      Overhead projector.

8.      Paper hinge tape.

9.      Three wire book supports.

10. Transparency of title page and verso of a familiar storybook.

 

Instructional Roles:

 

            The teacher may support the use of appropriate bibliographic citations during the research process by requiring the students to use the skills taught in this lesson.

 

            The school library media specialist will demonstrate and instruct the students in the importance of respecting intellectual property.  The media specialist will also demonstrate and instruct the students in the proper formation of a simple bibliographic citation.

 

 Activity and Procedures for Completion

 

As students come into the media center, allow each one to select a piece of construction paper.  Instruct each student to take 5-8 minutes to draw a creative picture.  Encourage students to do a nice job, using elements that they have learned in Art this year, because you will be displaying several of these pieces in the media center.  After 8 minutes maximum, collect all of the pictures and quickly slide three into the frames.  Attach the correct name cards to two of the pictures and your own name card to the third.  Display each on the front table using wire book supports.

To achieve objective #1:

 

1.      How do you like the finished artwork?

2.      Wait for a student to notice that you have attached your name to one of the pictures.  If no one notices, point out the name cards. 

3.      Is there anything wrong with me putting my name on this one?  After all, I provided the paper and markers, I selected it, I framed it, I added the name card and I’m going to hang it on the wall in MY media center?

4.      Ask the real artist to stand/raise hand.

5.      To the real artist:  How do you feel seeing your picture with my name on it?

6.      Why should I put the artists name on it?

7.      What if I copy this picture exactly – then can I put my name on it?

8.      What if I just copy parts of the picture? 

9.      The artist had the IDEA to create this picture therefore it is his/her “intellectual property.”

10. It is the property of the creator’s imagination and needs to be protected just like other property – from theft and misuse.

11. Whenever you use someone else’s creation – you must give them credit.

12. What other “creations” do you think are protected as “intellectual property”?  List these on the overhead.  Some possibilities include:

ü      Literature

ü      Computer software

ü      Video games

ü      Movies

ü      Information on the web

 

13. Has anyone heard of Jayson Blair? 

14. (If you have access to The Baltimore Sun archives, show news clipping from The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, Feb., 29, 2004, “The Making of Jayson Blair.”  Full bibliographic reference below) 

 

Explain that he was born in Howard County, Maryland and studied journalism – writing for newspapers and magazines -- at the University of Maryland.  He really enjoyed writing and his teachers thought he was very talented and would someday be a successful journalist.   Before he even graduated from Maryland, he was offered an important job at the New York Times, one of the most famous newspapers in the world.  Although he had many qualities of a good journalist, he was not truthful.   As the article in the Sun states:

 

“Last April, Blair himself became news.  The top editor of the San Antonio Express-News had pointed out similarities between a Blair article and a story written by one of its reporters…Macarena Hernandez.  Blair’s career quickly unraveled.  The Times revealed that dozens of articles had been compromised…”  His articles were found to be full of incorrect information and passages that were really written by others whom he did not give credit.  He basically stole their intellectual property!  The Times had to publish “an extensive apology.”  Not only was Blair fired, but so were two of his bosses.  He will probably never work as a journalist again!

 

I’m sure you can see how important it is to give the proper credit to people whose intellectual property you are using.

 

To achieve objective #2:

 

1.      What intellectual property of another person do you use when you do research?

2.      What types of information do you think you should include in your report to make sure they get the credit they deserve?

3.      Hand out worksheets

4.      Identify parts of a standard bibliographic citation, listed on the worksheet

·        Author

·        Title of book

·        Place of publication

·        Publisher’s name

·        Publication year

5.      Using the transparency of the title page and verso of a familiar book, explain where to typically find each of the elements.

6.      Allow each student to select a book from the shelves.

7.      Have several students tell the class orally what the one of the elements is for their book.

 

To achieve objective #3: 

 

1.      Demonstrate how to assemble the above key elements into a standard bibliographic citation, using APA format – also shown on the worksheet

2.      Using three books they have selected and in the space provided, create their own bibliographic citation for those books.

 

Evaluation:

 

Assessment will be conducted throughout the development of the first and second objectives by monitoring the students’ oral answers for understanding.  As the students complete their own citation, check it for completeness and accuracy.

 

 

Follow-ups:

 

Each student should create two additional simple book citations on their own.  Each student should be responsible for producing correct book citations on future research projects as well.

 

Selected Bibliography:

 

Folkenflik, David.  “The Making of Jayson Blair.”  The Baltimore Sun, 29       February 2004, 10F-11F.

Creating a Bibliographic Citation

 

Key Elements

 

      •    Author
      •    Title of book
      •    Place of publication
      •    Publisher’s Name
      •    Publication year

 

 

Standard Format

 

Author’s last name, Author’s first name. Title. Place of publication:  Publisher’s name, Publication year.

 

Now you try…