A teacher wants to help students find information about butterflies in a book. Which method is most effective?

Using an overhead transparency to demonstrate the book's table of contents is particularly effective because it allows students to visually connect the structure of the book to the specific information they seek about butterflies. By examining the table of contents together, students can learn how to navigate the book, identify chapters or sections that are relevant to their interests, and understand how information is organized. This method promotes skills in locating information and fosters independence in research.

Visual aids, like an overhead transparency, engage students and help them to see the relationship between the topics and where to find them in the book. This method also creates an interactive learning experience, as the teacher can guide discussions around the content and help clarify any questions students may have about navigating the book.

Other methods, such as providing printed notes, reading selected paragraphs aloud, or showing a video, do not equip students with the necessary skills to independently locate resources in literature. While these approaches may offer some immediate information, they do not build the foundational skills students need for future research or inquiry-based learning.