Activity Description

Preparation:

1. Select a non-fiction book appropriate to students’ reading levels
    a. Read through and become familiar with the book
2. Produce overhead transparency of the table of contents and index of the preselected book
    a. Other technology, such as a SMART Board or Promethean Board can be used
3. Decide on a topic to search for in the non-fiction book and generate a search word

Implementation:

1. Present the non-fiction book to the class
    a. Inform the class that you were reading the book the previous evening to find information on a
    particular topic, but were unsuccessful 
2. Explain that non-fiction texts have two important features that help you to look for information: the table of contents and index
    a. Explain the function of each 
3. Introduce a search topic and search word
    a. For example, “I want to find out more about where polar bears live. I’ll look for the word ‘habitat’,
    which usually has to do with where an animal lives.”
4. Present students with an overhead transparency of the table of contents 
    a. Read through the table of contents as a class
    b. Model how to skim through the table of contents to find the search word and other key words related
    to the search topic
5. Present the class with an overhead transparency of the index
    a. Model how to search for keywords by skimming the index
6. Explain that sometimes our search word won’t work and we will need to find another way to say it
    a. Brainstorm and record synonyms of the search word as a class
    b. Look up the synonyms in the index as a class
7. Review how students can use these 2 features of a non-fiction text to look for information
8. Have students practice using the search strategies independently at their desks

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- Present pictorial representations of unfamiliar vocabulary
- Provide students with a copy of the text and related key words in advance to familiarize him/her with the information

LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:

- Provide students with a clear and concise list of the basic search process steps
- Review the text and related key words with the students in one-on-one or small group sessions beforehand

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Use non-fiction texts that lend themselves to all types of diversity

Differentiated Instruction:

- Allow students to use a thesaurus for more challenging search words
- Allow students to pair up to practice the search strategy
- Review over the search process with small groups of students

Related References

Source:
Dreher, J., Davis, K., Waynant, P. & Clewell, S. (1995). Easy Steps to Writing Fantastic Research Reports. Toronto: Scholastic Professional Books.

Evidence:
Wray, D. and Lewis, M. (1992). Primary childrens use of information books. Reading, 26 1924.