Sifting and Sorting Lesson Plan

Part 1: Gather, Read, Sift, and Sort

You will now begin your research to gather, read, sift, and sort information to present to your classmates about:

Oz Family Values Step Two Investigation in the Research Process

How have people used symbols to preserve and represent the values of the groups in which they live and work? You may or may not use all the resources listed below. Keep track of the resources you do use by placing a mark next to each resource you have used.

Using Print Resources

	There are a variety of print resources that you may use to locate information about values and symbols including Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Magazines. The library catalog will help you to locate appropriate resources Using keywords, search the automated catalog for books in the library.
		What is the name of the value? ____________________________ What is the organization you are researching?_________________ What is the name of the symbol?__________________________ What type of device would you like to create?________________ These are good terms to use for keyword searches! After you locate the books about values and symbols, gather, read, sift, and sort the information to answer the questions you developed earlier.Write the information in the appropriate category on your database or data table. Check out your school's Destiny library catalog for helpful sources You will need to keep a record of the resources you use to answer your questions. Click here for information on citing print resources.   Suggested Print Resources The World Book Encyclopedia Cobblestone Magazine A History of the United States Flag by Milton Quaife Symbols of America by Hal Morgan

Using Internet Resources

The Internet offers a wide variety of information on all kinds of topics. You will visit a variety of websites to gather information to answer your questions. Be sure to have a copy of those questions and your graphic organizer with you as you work. Important Notes!!! Don't forget to look at links on each site, and explore the ones that sound most promising. Use the back button to return to each original site and explore some more! Once at a site, remember to scan the information carefully to find answers to the questions that you have listed. Save only those words, phrases, and ideas which are clearly related to your questions. Paraphrase rather than copy word-for-word from your sources. Keep only the best and most relevant information! Make sure that you cite the source when you take notes from any of these or other websites. Click here to find a list of websites you may use in your research.

 

Using Human Resources

	Contacting Local Organizations Community organizations can help you to find out more about how people and groups use symbols. You can find out what symbols and values are important to different groups. You may contact a local organization by writing or telephoning. Below are the addresses and phone numbers of a few local organizations that you may want to contact. Before you call or write be sure to do the following: Check with your teacher and parents. Get permission to contact the organization. Write down the questions that you want to ask. Check your questions to be sure that they: are clear and understandable state exactly what you want to ask show respect for the person you are addressing
	If you contact an organization by phone you will need to explain your reason for calling and arrange a time for asking your questions. You should plan ahead. It may take time for you to get a response from the organization. Click here for a list of suggested community organizations.
	Interviewing Family Members   You may interview family members to find out their views on the values of importance to your family. Check with your family members to be sure that they are comfortable with the idea of participating in an interview and sharing information with your teacher and classmates. Before you begin interviewing you will need to prepare questions that relate to your research topic. Use the Interview question sheet to record the answers to your questions. Here are some sample questions: What family value is most important to you and why? How does our family preserve its most important values? How have the values of importance to our family changed over time? How would you symbolize the values that are important to our family? After you have prepared your interview questions you will need to evaluate them by asking yourself the following questions: Is the question clear and easy to understand? Does the question contain only one idea? Does the question relate to the main topic? Does the question reflect respect for the people I am interviewing?   You may want to prepare a separate Interview question sheet for each person you interview.   Good luck on your interviews!

Part 2: Synthesis and Evaluation

		Now that you have gathered information, stop to evaluate your work. Look at your graphic organizers with the categories, the questions, and the answers you found. Have you found answers to all your questions? Can you throw away material which is not useful or does not answer your questions? Do you need to rearrange the information in different categories? Can you combine the information? Do you need to develop new questions to cover your topic? Based on the information you have gathered can you answer your focus question: How have people used symbols to preserve and represent the values of the groups in which they live and work? Take time to think about how the information you have gathered will fit together to help you create your final product. Look at the information and ask yourself the following. Have I identified ways that values are preserved by different groups? Have I gathered information on the symbols that can be used to represent my family values? Do I know what values are most important to the members of my family? What more do I need to find out?
		If you are not satisfied with your answers to these questions, go back to the resources and keep researching!