1. Big6 Research and Problem Solving Skills 6 th Grade Project Creating a Travel Brochure

2. 1. TASK DEFINITION The task you have is to individually create a travel brochure. I will give you the paper and show you how to fold it. Each section should include important information and picture(s) to go along with the text. The task you have is to individually create a travel brochure. I will give you the paper and show you how to fold it. Each section should include important information and picture(s) to go along with the text. There should be enough information to get others interested in visiting your assigned country or city. It does not need to be very long or detailed, but it does need to have good, accurate information and pictures. There should be enough information to get others interested in visiting your assigned country or city. It does not need to be very long or detailed, but it does need to have good, accurate information and pictures. If you haven’t chosen a place yet, pick a place that interests you or that you can easily get information for. If you haven’t chosen a place yet, pick a place that interests you or that you can easily get information for. Each brochure in the class needs to be on a different place. Each brochure in the class needs to be on a different place.

3. If you were actually doing this project for a grade, you could either draw your own pictures or cut and paste them from the internet, from magazines or from copies you have made. If you were actually doing this project for a grade, you could either draw your own pictures or cut and paste them from the internet, from magazines or from copies you have made. You would be expected to use the following sources to find your information: You would be expected to use the following sources to find your information: At least 1 internet source At least 1 internet source At least 1 encyclopedia source At least 1 encyclopedia source At least 1 library book source At least 1 library book source You can use an expert person as a source You can use an expert person as a source You can use an informational magazine as a You can use an informational magazine as a source. source.

4. 2. INFORMATION SEEKING STRATEGIES You should think through what information do you would need to complete this project adequately. If you are not sure, a good way to begin is to write a list of questions that you think should be answered, then start looking them up. You should think through what information do you would need to complete this project adequately. If you are not sure, a good way to begin is to write a list of questions that you think should be answered, then start looking them up. Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm). Think of all the possible sources of information that will help you answer the questions you wrote above. Consider library books, encyclopedias, and web sites to which your library subscribes, consider people who are experts in your subject, observation of your subject, free web sites and surveys. Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm). Think of all the possible sources of information that will help you answer the questions you wrote above. Consider library books, encyclopedias, and web sites to which your library subscribes, consider people who are experts in your subject, observation of your subject, free web sites and surveys. Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources). Now, look carefully at your list. Which ones are actually available to you and are easy for you to use? If there are some that you need help using, ask your teacher, librarian, mom or dad. Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources). Now, look carefully at your list. Which ones are actually available to you and are easy for you to use? If there are some that you need help using, ask your teacher, librarian, mom or dad.

6. 3. LOCATION AND ACCESS Locate sources. Figure out where you would get these sources. If it is a web site, list its web address. If it is a book, write down the appropriate information. This will save you time in the long run. Think of where this source is located in your library. If your source is a person, figure out how and when you will contact him or her and make a note of this. Locate sources. Figure out where you would get these sources. If it is a web site, list its web address. If it is a book, write down the appropriate information. This will save you time in the long run. Think of where this source is located in your library. If your source is a person, figure out how and when you will contact him or her and make a note of this. Now you would actually get the sources. Be ready to go directly to the resource when you come back in. You may be able to only get one source at a time. If that is the case, come back to this step to locate each source. Now you would actually get the sources. Be ready to go directly to the resource when you come back in. You may be able to only get one source at a time. If that is the case, come back to this step to locate each source. Access the information within sources. When you have the source in hand, how will you get to the information that you need? Remember the questions you want answers to. The sources that you choose will depend on the questions you want answered. Access the information within sources. When you have the source in hand, how will you get to the information that you need? Remember the questions you want answers to. The sources that you choose will depend on the questions you want answered.

7. Think (or even make a list) of words that will help you find information in all of your sources. These are called keywords. They are like synonyms and related words to your topic. Think (or even make a list) of words that will help you find information in all of your sources. These are called keywords. They are like synonyms and related words to your topic. When you have a book, look at the index or table of contents for your topic and keywords. When you have a book, look at the index or table of contents for your topic and keywords. When using an Encyclopedia use the index volume (usually the last volume in the set) for the topic and keywords. When using an Encyclopedia use the index volume (usually the last volume in the set) for the topic and keywords. When using the internet, use Web sites that are subscribed to by your library (use Pioneer which includes World Book; this will help you save time and get accurate, safe information), type topic and keywords in the search box. This will help you. Try them separately and some together. Ask for help if needed. When using the internet, use Web sites that are subscribed to by your library (use Pioneer which includes World Book; this will help you save time and get accurate, safe information), type topic and keywords in the search box. This will help you. Try them separately and some together. Ask for help if needed. Free web sites: use topic and keywords in subject directories. Free web sites: use topic and keywords in subject directories.

8. REMEMBER: The Big6 are steps to help you be more effective (do well) and efficient (solve the problem quickly). If you follow these steps well, you will get your desired results in the shortest amount of time possible. Spending six extra hours doesn’t always make it better! Some problems don’t need a lot of time to solve them; other projects take a great amount of time. Wasting time is not our goal! Think SMART! Write down all the information you need for a simple bibliography. This will save you a lot of time later. Write down all the information you need for a simple bibliography. This will save you a lot of time later.

9. 4. USE OF INFORMATION Engage in the source (read, listen, view, touch). Most likely you will need to read, listen or view your information. You are now looking for the information you need to complete your project. You may not need to read, listen to, or view all of your sources. You may be able to skip around, finding subheadings and topic sentences (read the first sentences in each paragraph) that will take you to your information. Engage in the source (read, listen, view, touch). Most likely you will need to read, listen or view your information. You are now looking for the information you need to complete your project. You may not need to read, listen to, or view all of your sources. You may be able to skip around, finding subheadings and topic sentences (read the first sentences in each paragraph) that will take you to your information. Take out the relevant information from a source. It’s time to take some notes. Consider using the Cornell note-taking technique. Take out the relevant information from a source. It’s time to take some notes. Consider using the Cornell note-taking technique.

10. Cornell Note Taking Main IdeasDetails

11. 5. SYNTHESIS Organize information from multiple sources. Decide how you will put together the notes you took and ideas that you will add. You may: Write a rough draft Create an outline Create a storyboard Make a sketch You then need to put it in the required format for your presentation. In this case it is a travel brochure! Only give us the information that is pertinent to entice those listening to have a desire to go there on vacation. Present the information and make sure that you follow your teacher’s guidelines.

12. Add value to the product by including your ideas along with the information you found in books, web sites, and other sources. Make sure that your final product or paper is more than just a summary of what you found in the other sources. Color makes it more attractive! Produce a product that you would be proud for anyone to read. Remember your audience and your task! If you are not sure, ask your teacher if he or she wants you to write down to show where you got your information and/or pictures. Even though this is not a huge, heavy-duty research project, you should always give credit where credit is due. You need to do a good job on the brochure; after all, that is the assignment. Your teacher can decide if an additional presentation will be worth extra credit, such as some music, dance or food for the class that is unique to your country or city, an additional PowerPoint, or dressing in the native clothes. Don’t hesitate using modern technology if it is the best way to show the results of your information finding.

13. 6. EVALUATION Judge your product (how effective you were). Before turning in your assignment, compare it to the requirements that your teacher gave you. Did you do everything and include all that was required for the assignment? Did you give credit to all of your sources used, written in the way your teacher requested? Is your work neat? Is your work complete and does it include heading information (your name, date, class period, etc.) Would you be proud for anyone to view this work? Judge your information problem-solving process (how efficient were you). Think about the actions that you perform as you are working on this assignment. Did you learn some things that you can use again?

14. What did you learn that you can use again? How will you use the skill(s) again? What did you do well this time? What would you do differently next time? What information sources did you find useful? You may be able to use them again. What information sources did you need but did not have? Be sure to talk to your librarian about trying to obtain them. Now that you have evaluated it, turn in your project to the teacher on-time. He or she will evaluate it as well. After you get it back, take time to notice the grade given and read the teacher comments. If it is not the grade you desired, think about what you could do differently next time.

15. Are there any questions before you begin? Are there any questions before you begin? If you were assigned a travel brochure to do as a project, you should understand the task (#1) before doing anything else. You would then write down and think through where the best place would be to find your information (#2), and where to find it (#3) physically finding the source as well as where to look within the source. You would then be ready for the next step (#4) where you would start to read or listen to the information and decide what would be helpful to complete your assignment. Step #5 is to organize the information and present it to the class and/or the teacher. #6 is to evaluate what you have done to learn from your mistakes. If you were assigned a travel brochure to do as a project, you should understand the task (#1) before doing anything else. You would then write down and think through where the best place would be to find your information (#2), and where to find it (#3) physically finding the source as well as where to look within the source. You would then be ready for the next step (#4) where you would start to read or listen to the information and decide what would be helpful to complete your assignment. Step #5 is to organize the information and present it to the class and/or the teacher. #6 is to evaluate what you have done to learn from your mistakes. Remember, don’t waste your time in the library doing things you can do at home or in the writing lab. Part of the Big6 is to use you time wisely!