Today saw on of the most successful information literacy sessions to date which gets pupils engaged (in a bit of friendly competition), using books, in particular contents and indexes and teaches them scanning skills. It also ensures S1 pupils get an idea of the resources available for their big History research project.

To begin with, pupils are asked about what they know of keywords. We also discuss how we find information in books and online using contents and indexes of books and search engines.

Pupils are paired off. Each gets a bingo card and a recording sheet. There are 5-6 books, each on a different topic covered in Ancient Civilisations (Romans, Vikings, Aztec, etc) on the tables. Keywords are called out. Each pair has to browse through the books, using contents and indexes and find the keyword. The keyword, title of book and page number (if they find it) has to be recorded on the sheet (good practise for recording the resources they use in a project in a bibliography). If their keyword is on the bingo card, they score it off. We start slow, giving pupils time to find and record the keywords. As the game progresses, the time between the call outs gets less and pupils only need to record the keyword and/or mark it off, although some still continue searching in the books. Prizes (from a mixed tin of sweets) are given to the first three groups who get a line. If time permits we then go on to see if anyone gets a full house.

Pupils appear to be really engaged and enjoying the lesson whilst probably not realising they are learning stuff in the process. Not only are they trawling through the books, they start discussing the topic and some will even be thinking ahead about which book might be appropriate for the keyword called out. 5-10 minutes at the end is set aside for them to just browse the books (start background reading) and think about the topic they will finally choose to research. It is great to see two or three pupils huddled over a single book actively engaged in and discussing / sharing the content with each other.

‘Some chuffed’ as they say here in Orkney.