Language Three: Let's Have a Whale of a Time

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Access a variety of information sources (encyclopedias, picture books, 
internet).
2. Identify an effective format for sharing information.
3. Organize ideas by making notes and drawings.


Activity

Each day display a picture of a whale. Choose one which is relatively unfamiliar
to the children but one on which information can be found in the classroom
library.

Challenge the class to identify the name of the whale and to locate 3 or 4 facts
about the whale. This can be a "free-time" activity or one to which a particular
time is assigned to.

At the end of the day provide a sharing time.

NOTE: Children can work either individually or with a partner. If Internet access
is available, children might also be encouraged to use this as a resource.


Assessment
Old Tom the Turtle gives some hints for assessment:

Use conferences to question students on their information gathering process -
what resources did they use? Which reference materials were most useful? 
How did they share their learning?, etc.