8th+Grade+Social+Issues+Unit+-+Option+2

=**Email to Ms. B regarding collaborative 8th Grade Social Issues Unit:** =

Hi Lisa,

With the unit description & expected performance guidelines you provided for the Social Issues unit, I believe this is a great chance to teach our 8th graders:

 · Critical thinking through comparative analysis of current and past social issues  · Information/media literacy skills, by using a variety of resources/technologies to find/present information  · Continued research skills

As a Big6 proponent, I’ve outlined my ideas for teaching these components using its flow.

Please share your feedback and ideas. Thanks!

Lauren

**Task Definition Lessons**
 * Share task, performance goals, and purpose with students.
 * Distribute and discuss rubric.
 * Distribute product samples, scored with rubric.
 * Class discussions and resources help students brainstorm social issues that pique interest, including (but not exclusive): Climate change, civil rights, health care reform, social justice, human rights.
 * Students pick social issues/form groups.

**Information Seeking Lessons**
 * Instruction on available print, online, and digital sources.
 * Introduction to pre-selected topical texts, magazines, and newspapers within the library.

**Location and Access Lessons**
 * Students locate appropriate information. Group members either divide responsibilities to become experts on a certain area of their issue (jigsaw) or share responsibilities.
 * Lesson on accuracy/authority as it applies to sources.

**Use of Information Lessons**
 * Students organize information using powerpoint template from Big6.com: [[file:Big6-Blank-Notetaking-Template1-1.ppt]]
 * Bibliography lesson – cite each source in the notes section of the PowerPoint slide.
 * Students share slides with group members and organize information in meaningful way.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students extract information and create outlines for final products.

**Synthesis Lessons**
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students collaborate on projects.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Peer review—students share product drafts with classmates and receive feedback.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students revise/improve products based on feedback.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Social Action Day - Students share & reflect on work.

**Evaluation Lessons**
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students assign themselves a grade based on rubric, with reflection and explanation.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Journals and logs that have been kept throughout the process can be used to assist students with evaluation.