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The following lesson plans use the link to the page on Space and the bookmark to Spirit Rover.  Both Spirit and Opportunity Row are Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) that will be the focus of educators attention in 2004.  
The following learning strategies are in a test trial at Sargent Park School and other users are welcome to adapt to their own lessons.  The objective is to facilitate a focused learning of Internet Resources and preparation of project or report work by the student.  Reading with a purpose that improves literacy can improve understanding of content that is actively being read.  Otherwise, the reader will be overcome with information and be further limited in understanding as each new web link is opened.  Often the student feels that all new science information on the web page is to be studied and remembered for use in the assigned work / project.

 Learning Strategy  1 - KWL 

KWL is integrated with internet research as it is adaptable to individual or group approaches to knowledge acquisition using technology.  Students own the process in all three areas of KWL.  Teacher IT resources maximize internet time online and in processing the document information.

Literacy Strategy used - K.W.L.

What does KWL mean?

K - what you know already about the topic, issue or research item.

W - what you want to know or find out about the topic, issue or research item.
students can compose questions with introductory words What, Who, Where, When, Why, and How.

L- what you learned or found out about the topic, issue or research item.

Simplified Process

1. Open up the Space web page.

2. Start MS Word (lines will be adjusted as you add information)
Line 1 - line type your last name first name grade room ID and Mars Spirit Rover

Line 2 - blank

Line 3 - type the date and press enter when the pop-up box appears to place the date

Line 4 - blank

Line 5 - type the heading "What I already know about Mars exploration?"

Line 6 - type your response or opinion. 

Line 7 - type "What is the Spirit Rover going to do on Mars?"

Line 8 - type your first opinion (before you access the internet resources)

After you type this, go to the Space Web page and do a first overview of the main page links to get a general impression about the Rover and its Mission.  Then, complete the following in word.

Line 9 - type "What I learned today"

Line 10 - type your general impressions about what you learned today in the overview of the web pages.

Follow directions for saving on the network in the correct folder.

 Learning Strategy  2 - Three-point Approach to Words and Concepts 

Sample Word Document template

Mars Exploration Rover

Date, 2004

Three-point Approach for Words and Concepts

Word or Concept:
Definition:
Synonym or example:
Web link:
Diagram:

Word or Concept:
Definition:
Synonym or example:
Web link:
Diagram:

Word or Concept:
Definition:
Synonym or example:
Web link:
Diagram: