Introduction

6th grade students from Sam Rayburn Middle School will be asked to choose a hero or a profession. Students will then be asked to use the Big 6 research method to explore information on their hero's profession or the profession that they chose. See the project timeline for a quick overview.

Samples

Hero Newsletter Sample
(Publisher 98)

Lesson Plans

Below are links to lesson plans for each day and subject area. This year, we made this interdisciplinary and ran this unit through Science, Reading, Math, Social Studies, and English. In the future this project will be run through reading where research methods and careers are integral parts of the standards. The lesson plans were given to the teachers to review so when the counselor, librarian or CIT came to teach, the teacher knew what their kids were learning.

Day 1 - Science Class Lesson

Day 3 - Math Class Lesson

Days 5 & 6 - English Class Lesson

Day 2 - Reading Class Lesson

Day 4- Social Studies Class Lesson

Extra Teacher Information

Student Handouts

Below are links to handouts that are to be used with the lessons. The handouts are linked to the day that they are to be given to the students with a brief description of the what is covered of the Big 6 each day.

Day 1 - Big 6 Research Method Students will be shown the sample products and introduced to the Big 6 research method. Students will complete the Task Definition and Information Seeking Strategy sections of the Big 6 Research Method handout.

Day 2- Students will go to the library to complete the Location and Access section of the Big 6 research method. Students will use on-line databases, such as Bridges, as well as print material. Students see the sample projects again as well as review the steps of the Big 6 that they have covered.

Day 3 - Students see the sample projects again and complete the Big 6 step of Use of Information by filling out the Newsletter Use of Information Template (Publisher 98 version) or (Acrobat Reader version).

Day 4 - Students go to the computer lab and see the sample projects again. Then the students are told that they are completing step 5 in the Big 6 - Synthesis. Students use the Newsletter Directions and the Newsletter Template (to modify in Publisher 98) to complete their newsletter. Students print out a copy to present the next day.

Day 5 (& 6 if needed) - Students finish up the Synthesis step by presenting their project to the class. After they have all presented, then the students work on step 6 of Big 6 steps - Evaluation by completing a Self-Evaluation on this project. The printed projects are then compiled and given to each team.

Resources

Bridges Career Database

Big 6 Research Method