Objectives:
DPI Standard Course of Study http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/
Technology Competency Goals 2 and 3
English Competency Goals 1,2,6

Focus and Review:
As students know, this semester they will be focusing on who they are, where they have come from, and where they are going.  Using the internet, students will conduct a self study.  They will be discovering how history has shaped who they are and the world around them.  On this page you will find several useful links, including a link to the Library of Congress, the History Channel, and The Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Teacher Input:
Students will begin by spending two days in the computer lab in the media center learning their way around the web, and visiting relevant web sites.  I have linked this lesson to the web sites my students will be required to navigate.  Students will be taking specific notes on events that occurred on and around their birthday throughout history.  There are several nifty sites that provide a place to type your birthday, and then give you information about literature, history, events, etc. that happened on that day.  One of these sites is the Library of Congress web site.  Students can not only access what events occurred on their exact birth date, but they can also access the archives for that particular day in history by clicking on archives at the bottom of the page.  I will also guide students in using the News of the Past CD-ROM and the online Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Guided Practice:
I will be guiding students in Internet navigation, as well as in the composition of their finished product, a paper which will be divided into four parts and focuses on their past, present, and future.  See below for specific guidelines.

Independent Practice:
Students will be required to write their paper, which will consists of four specific parts.  They must properly cite their sources using MLA documentation.  http://mla.org

Closure:
Once again, I will emphasize the importance of creating a product of which students can be proud.  A copy of each student's self study should be included in their writing portfolio.

*The following Student Self Study has been slightly modified from a lesson given to me by my friend and colleague Diane Chadwick.

Purpose:  The purpose of this lesson is to help you focus on who you are, on the forces and faces who helped shape the person you are becoming, on what you believe, and where you are going in the future.  When you finish with this assignment, most of your writing can be used when you are called upon to write essays for jobs, college, or scholarship applications.

Resources:  Use the following in the Media Center or on your home computer.

• News of the Past CD Rom to look up information about pop culture, national and international events which occurred on your birth date (month, day, year); take notes on the events, the prices of common items, popular songs, movies, best selling books, etc.
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook on-line through one of the search engines.  Locate information about a career you think you may pursue in your future.  Take notes on preparation needed, skills, abilities required, training needed, working conditions, responsibilities and expectations of someone in this job, and outlook for the future.
• Access the following addresses to find information about events that occurred on your birth date throughout history.

  http://www.historychannel.com/thisday/  (In box on left hand side of screen labeled "What Happened  on Your Birthday?" set month and day to match your birth date.  Hit Go button.)
  http://www.scopesys.com/anyday
  http://www.440int.com/twtd/today.html
  http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html
  http://myhistory.org

• Write down as many significant events from these sites that pertain to your birth date.  Include events from several centuries, at least one significant event from each decade of the 20th century, and several important events which occurred the year of your birth.  You are looking for events which might have influenced who you are.

• Part I   Who Am I?

• Part II   What Do I Believe?

• Part III   Where Am I Going?

• Part IV   My Resume