• Brainstorm "What do we know about animals that live in aquariums?"

• List "Our" questions that must be answered. 
  • What do we already know about keeping fish alive in a saltwater tank?
  • What questions do we need to answer to complete this project?
  • What resources are available to assist us in finding answer to our questions?
• Questions are recorded on strips of tag board.

• (Students) Group questions into categories (they define the categories). Students self select into small groups by choosing one category of questions.

• Discuss Boolean logic by playing "I am looking for someone who has ..... and .....but not ....." game. Students with the identified characteristics step into the center of the circle.

• Brainstorm key words that would be useful for looking information via search engines.

• Demonstrate techniques for locating information using a search engine.

• Search for salt water fish resources.

• (Students) Select one website that has useful resources.

• Write a paragraph describing the website. Include the url in the paragraph.

• Create a class web page of resources by combining all student paragraphs with links. Students will copy and paste their paragraph into the "Salt Water Aquarium" web page template.

• Upload the class web site to the district server.

• Reading & Research Assessment: 
  • Uses text organizers (e.g., headings, topic and summary sentences, graphic features) to determine the main ideas and to locate information in a text;
  • Summarizes and paraphrases information in texts (e.g., identifies main ideas and supporting details);
  • Uses prior knowledge and experience to understand and respond to new information;
  • Identifies the author's viewpoint in an informational text;
  • Seeks peer help to understand information;
  • Differentiates between fact and opinion in informational texts;
  • Determines the appropriateness of an information source for a research topic;
  • Uses a computer catalog to gather information for research topics (search engines).

Resources & Materials:

• Chart paper and markers
• Strips of tag board
• One computer with Internet access for each small group (2-4 children)
• Class web page template
• Word processor software
• FTP software and space on a server