First Grade Graphic Organizer- Animal Reports

Link to the First Grade Animal Research

Students in the first grade recently worked on a unit and learned about one of our library's databases.( Exploring Nature). Students also used a non- fiction book from our library. We have an easy non-fiction book section which is very popular with the young students.
Here is the link to the graphic organizer!

First Grade Animal Graphic Organizer

First Grade- collaborative lesson!

First Grade students doing research! The students came down to the library and logged in on the computer. Most of them remembered how to find the library page and went quickly to the data base section! ( I think that is the beauty of showing them this- they were so excited to be doing "work" like the older students that they really listened! ) Some of the students needed a little help to find their animal . After they found it , most were able to read and they started filling out their graphic organizer. The students who read above first grade level actually got some extra facts about their animal. They had to find : what does the animal looks like, habitat, how they take care of their babies, and other facts. I will try and post the organizer if I can figure out how to do it.

First Grade- collaborative lesson!

I had my intro class with my First grade class. I went into the room and set up our library's web page. The steps to get to the Data base was shown . Students were also told that if they had computer and internet they could get here from home. Log in was completed, and then students were shown how to select there level. On the main search page, one student was asked what his animal was. Then we did some " higher level thinking" to figure out what we should click on to find that animal.

We then looked and found the animal in the list and clicked on that . Students were shown the different headings. Students were also shown a graphic organizer that I had developed for them to fill in. The students were also shown the side where they could print out a labeling chart of the animal.

On the smart board we went back to the Main search page, and did some more higher order thinking to figure out where some of the other students might click on to find their animal.
Tomorrow the students will come to my library - in two groups- and work on my bank of computers. We will have two adults beside myself that will be able to assist with the task of finding facts on their animal!

February Giveaway- Announced!!

Drum roll please!! My February give away is for the Book "Collaborative Library lessons for the primary grades"! This is a great resource.
And the Winner is Stacy!!
Stacy- Please send me your information so I mail the book to the correct address!!

First Grade- collaborative lesson!

I am working with one of my first grade teachers to highlight a data Base (Exploring Nature) with the first grade students. In the NY Common Core, there is a piece actually for all grades to use more nonfiction. This is the first grade students introduction to non-fiction so they are using nonfiction books about animals from the library . I will go into the classroom and we will introduce the Data base and how to use it and find s three more facts on their chosen animal. Then I and a parent volunteer will take small groups of students into my library and have them log in and use the database. Instructions for use at home if they have computer access will also be given.

Exploring Nature

School Libraries Work- Scholastic

Today - another snow day- even though it is really mostly freezing rain and ice, there was a little snow and snow left over from yesterday. I have included a link from Scholastic . Their study includes many great talking points about the importance of school libraries and librarians. This document should be in every administrators need to read pile. Send one to your administrators and then also follow up with a meeting to discuss some of the points. We need to be proactive and show our importance to the school community



School Libraries Work