See our collection of free materials you may share with students or anyone who would like to learn more about the Big6 Skills.

Here is a collection of Mike’s PowerPoint presentations about the Big6, and the importance of information literacy in schools.

Viewers follow a student, Bobby, as he learns and applies the Big6 to complete a school research assignment. With the help of his mentor and friend, Travis, Bobby’s attitude and abilities change from reluctance and confusion to confidence and proficiency in information problem solving. Please view our sample Video Clips.

Related Big6 Skills: Big6 #1 – Task Definition

Purpose: The purpose of the Memory Minder tool is to aid students in remembering – before they go home at the end of the school day – what information or materials they need to complete their homework.

Learning Contexts: This tool is applicable across subject areas in Grades 3 and up when students may have difficulty preparing for successful completion of their homework assignments.

Discussion: Teachers often assume that students understand immediately the teacher’s expectations when they are presented with assignments and know automatically what materials are necessary to complete those assignments. Students typically are reluctant to ask for clarification, and rely instead on memory or on other students for further information. This tool was created as a reminder about assignments and necessary materials to encourage personal responsibility. By using this tool, students practice and become familiar with asking themselves the questions necessary to prepare to successfully complete their homework. The ultimate goal is for students to practice repeatedly until they become self-sufficient in understanding the process of clarifying homework assignments and preparing the materials necessary for completion.

Sample in Context: The teacher gives an assignment verbally either with or without a handout. Students record the assignment on their agenda (calendar/planner) where the Memory Minder is attached. The student is prompted by the tool to again define the assigned homework, self-check for comprehension of the assignment’s parameters, decide whether or not to ask for clarification from the teacher, and to self-check for materials necessary to successfully complete the assignment. Repeated practice should make the student adept at self-checking and help him or her to consistently reach success in completing assigned homework.

Memory Minder:

Bob Berkowitz presents Diamond Thinking, an Information Use strategy that helps students become divergent thinkers. This activity encourages students to expand their ideas as they engage and extract information from material they read, hear, or view.

Here are some pictures to color!

Valuable ideas for students starting a Science Fair project!

Print and color the Info Worm!

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Part of "Maintaining Focus: The Big6 Worksheet" by Susan K. S. Grigsby

Taking notes is fast and easy when you’re organized! Try using this chart with your next project!