Lesson Plan 3

To conduct secondary research to eventually write the rationale for selecting the problem and proposed solution for your project

1. Internet
2. Projector

1. Remind students of the problem they selected to solve in the previous class. 
2. Tell them that they have to now contextualize this problem to their OWN city. So they will have to go online and find resources that show why the selected problem is one that is relevant for their own city. 
3. They have to find valid and reliable sources to make their case  (news articles, statistics from reliable websites, etc.). 
4. Tell them they need this to build a “rationale” for why their project is an important project to do and will need this research to write their Phase 1 document over the next week or so (see the optional lesson on how to write a rationale.)

1. Use the information from this link to teach students what counts as a RELIABLE source of information: https://sites.austincc.edu/student-skills-workshops/critical-reading/what-makes-information-reliable/
2. This site offers valuable ideas for students to check validity and reliability of their sources: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/faq/reliable

1. Students sit in their groups and begin their research. You can walk around and guide them, pushing them to:
   • Figure out if their source is valid and reliable and then
   • Summarize the information they are reading.

      They have to continue this throughout the week.

      Note: If your students do not have the skills yet to do this online or the resources to do so, we suggest that you, as the teacher, find 7-10 valid and reliable sources for them to read and listen to and analyze. Then this period can be used to teach them HOW to analyze and summarize the information they are reading.