China is an optional addition the fourth grade curriculum frameworks in Massachusetts. Near the end of October 2006, I began planning an 8-week unit culminating in a paper and presentation to peers and parents with a fourth grade teacher from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School. This was the first time the teacher had partnered so closely with the school library to teach her students the content of the unit.
Library’s Role: Christine and I planned a 7-week unit with weekly library mini-lessons to be presented in the classroom, library or computer lab as necessary. Topics for mini lessons included teaching the steps in the research process; using informational texts to find information, using library databases (Kids Infobits) and synthesizing information in order to share it with others.
Students worked in teams of two to investigate topics related to Ancient China, including Calligraphy, Inventions, The First Emperor, and Confucism.
I gathered print library materials for students to use throughout their research, found appropriate online resources for students to access and created handouts to guide their research, citations, reflections and synthesis of information. Christine and I worked together to give students prior knowledge from which they could build by organizing a round-robin inquiry and investigative activity in the library. As we neared the end of our project, I participated in editing students’ final papers and giving them feedback as they prepared presentations. Finally, I connected the fourth grade teacher from the Amigos school with Christine’s class to give students a chance to present to their peers before presenting to teachers and parents the following day.
Results & Reflection: Our fourth grade researchers grew not only in knowledge but in skill level as they investigated their topics. Sharing their knowledge with a class of their peers made them considerably more nervous than presenting for family and faculty the following day; but it was clear from their preparations and delivery of presentations that they were invested in doing their best work. This was to be the first of three engaging, successful research units the library and 4th grade class would complete together this year.
