Research Papers

For Grammar and Writing last week we worked on short research papers.  The kids started by choosing a topic and making a brainstorming web of what they already knew about their topics and what they wanted to learn.  Asher decided to write about dinosaurs and Savannah decided to write about flowers.  After the webs were complete, the kids wrote their questions on index cards and started their research.  They looked through encyclopedias, non-fiction science books, and even searched online for answers to their questions. After they answered their five questions on the back of their index cards we started writing the actual paper.

We checked our rough drafts for grammar and spelling before writing our final drafts in our best handwriting.

Here is Asher's paper:

"I am writing about dinosaurs.  The meat eater Barxonyx had a claw on the thumb of each hand. It may have been a fish hook to snatch fish from water.  This is a clue that Barxonyx probably ate fish.  The Protoceratops female arranged her eggs carefully in a spiral shape or in circles."

Asher also researched information about pteranadons, but he forgot to include it in his final draft (I think his hand may have gotten tired...)

Here is Savannah's paper, which is a little less based on fact. :)

"I am writing about flowers! They are as pretty as dolls. Some can grow without sunlight.  There are as many as 100455 kinds of flowers. They have to drink water every day. They grow in all 50 states. They help and feed bees."

The kids are also focusing on writing in DETAIL using adjectives, adverbs, and trying to SHOW our readers rather than TELL them.  I will let them pick one of their detail practice pieces for a later blog entry. :)