It will be up to the science teacher as part of this collaborative unit to plan the activities to make students familiar with the science behind the story. The library media specialist should be there to teach the story structure. The following are ideas for conducting the lessons that go with writing up the story:
Sample Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan 1 Becoming Familiar with the Format
Lesson Plan Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is simply to show the students examples of the science writing format that the library media specialist has introduced them to.
Lesson Plan Objective
Students should be able to recognize and point out the elements of the feature story.
Lesson Plan Procedure
Step One: Students are briefed in a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on the format of the feature.
Step Two: Students receive back issues of the Science Times section of The New York Times as well as three or four examples of science features that fit the format printed out from a full-text periodical database such as Newsbank, EbscoHost or Infotrac. If your high school library does not have a private service, your library media specialist can access a database through the public library website or the Connecticut State Library.
Step Three: Students mark up the stories, labeling each part of the feature.
Lesson Plan Assessment
Students will be asked to answer the following questions:
1. Who was interviewed for the story?
2. What statistics were used?
3. Where did the reporter get background information?
4. Where is the science summarized?
5. Which unanswered questions does the story leave in your mind?
What issues are raised and developed?
Lesson Plan 2 Interviewing for Feature Writing
Lesson Plan Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the art of interviewing.
Lesson Plan Objective
The objective of this lesson is to teach students how to ask in-depth, probing questions and be able to listen to the answers to make sure the questions have been addressed and see if any follow-up is needed.
Lesson Plan Procedure
Step One: Choose a student in the class who is involved in an extra-curricular activity such as Debate Club or a sport.
Step Two: Stage a mock press conference around an upcoming event or a recent event in which that person participated.
Students are to take notes on a specially designed handout.
Step Three: As a group, students discuss which quotes are good to use directly, which are for paraphrase (informational).
Step Four: Using their notes, students write a news story on the event.
Resources/Materials
Portable tape recorders and blank tapes to check for accuracy
Lesson Plan Assessment
Students will read their stories in class and get reaction from other students who may have tried a different approach
Lesson Plan 3 Picking Quotes
Lesson Plan Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to help students pick out appropriate quotes for their stories.
Lesson Plan Objective
Students will be able to pick at least three themes to develop for their stories after combing through all interviews. They will have at least one quote to back up each theme.
Lesson Plan Procedure
This lesson is done after students have done all interviews. Teachers should note that all interviews should be audio taped so students can make transcripts as part of this lesson.
Step One: Students transcribe their taped interviews. As part of the transcription, they will include the questions that they asked the subjects as well as the answers.
Step Two: Students will read over the interviews, starring quotes that they feel raise a significant point about the subject of genetic testing. Students must be sure that all voices are represented and all viewpoints aired.
Step Three: Students will formulate "topic sentences" for each of the three issues that are raised, and make note of which quotes will be used in the development of the issue, being careful to see that there are at least two points of view for each.
Lesson Plan Assessment
This is a graded assignment, which will include a rubric. Points will be assessed for the three themes and the quotes selected.
