Standard 4: Researching

Using the case study, “Oh No! My Sister Wants to Diet!” students will work together and focus on researching the question, “How might social media influence our behaviors about health?” Students will synthesize their findings and then develop a multimedia presentation to explain their findings on the influences of social media in their personal lives.

Type: Lesson Plan

Using the case study, "The Only Constant Is Change," students will conduct research on famous historical failures throughout history. They will also examine the strategies used to overcome these failures.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #3 in the paired text unit series for The Great Seal of the United States by Terri DeGezelle and The Great Seal of the United States by Norman Pearl. In this lesson students will apply information from both texts to examine their observations and inferences made in prior lessons and determine the symbolism represented on the front of the Great Seal of the United States. Then students will write an expository paragraph explaining why the Great Seat of the U.S. is a symbol that represents the United States.

This ELA/Civics Integrated Text Unit is designed to support students with the integration of civics into the ELA classroom through the reading and studying of Norman Pearl’s book The Great Seal of the United States. Throughout the unit, students will identify new vocabulary, describe both Florida and USA seals, as well as the importance of national symbols and their meaning. Using timelines, graphic organizers, worksheets, and other activities they will connect these symbols to other documents like the Declaration of Independence and the understanding of unalienable rights. Each lesson in this series leads to a culminating activity in which students will use their knowledge and understanding of symbols and relevant details to create their own Great Seal.

This resource uses books that you will need to obtain before implementing the resource. The Great Seal of the United States by Terri DeGezelle is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this Civics and Coding integrated lesson, students will complete research on Patriots and Loyalists from colonial times. Students will identify reasons that colonists would have chosen to be a patriot, loyalist, or neutral. This is lesson one of a three-part unit that will culminate with a student-created Scratch project.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #8 in the text unit for Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. After reading the text, students will choose a representative (historical figures in the text) to research further. Students will complete a graphic organizer pulling information from the text and then use online sources and books to gather further information about their chosen historical figure.

This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the thirteen colonies and important historical figures present during the creation of the Constitution, the challenges and conflicts that state representatives faced during writing the Constitution, motifs and themes during the “Grand Convention,” and the relationship between state and national constitutions. Lessons will allow students to identify citizens’ civic duties outlined by the Constitution, the relationship between the federal and state Constitutions, and important historical symbols. Each part of the unit will include an in-depth dive into vocabulary and how it applies to the meaning of the text.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson # 12 in the text unit for Shhh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. This lesson is a culminating activity where students deepen their knowledge of the Constitution after reading the text. Students will be organized into groups where they will be assigned specific Articles from the US Constitution. Every group will be assigned different Articles so that the class is able to cover the whole Constitution. In groups, students will analyze and interpret the articles they have been assigned while referencing the text, dictionary, and internet resources for support. Groups will be given chart paper to define and explain their specific Articles to the class. Students will take notes from the other group’s presentations, so they have notes on all of the Articles and not just the one they have been assigned.

This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the original thirteen colonies and important historical figures present during the creation, the challenges and conflicts that state representatives faced during writing the Constitution, motifs and themes during the “Grand Convention,” and the relationship between state and national constitutions. Lessons will allow students to identify citizens’ civic duties outlined by the Constitution, the relationship between the federal and state Constitutions, and important historical symbols. Each part of the unit will include an in-depth dive into vocabulary and how it applies to the meaning of the text.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson, students will use digital research skills to identify and analyze different types of government including representative vs. other types of government.  Students will complete a graphic organizer. This lesson is part one of a multi-part lesson that will end with a culminating project that identifies characteristics of a representative government using digital resources. 

Type: Lesson Plan

In lesson 2 of this unit, students choose one person to research from the Revolutionary War as a prereading activity for the text, Aaron and Alexander: The Most Famous Duel in American History, by Don Brown. The teacher presents information about King George III. The options for students are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and George Mason. Students conduct research using the research notetaker, then present important information to a small group of peers about the person they learned about.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will read a text about the duties and responsibilities of U.S. Senators and Representatives. Then students will identify the central idea and explain how relevant details support this idea within the text. Students will then research the U.S. senators or U.S. representative that represents them at the national level and present their findings to the class in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson 1 of 3 that will integrate ELA, Civics, and Computer Science to create a visual presentation using block coding with Scratch to demonstrate knowledge of the symbols within the Great Seal of the United States. This lesson will provide foundational information as students research and organize facts about the symbolism found in the Great Seal of the United States to determine how it illustrates the history of America.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will conduct research on the history of wildlife refuges in Costa Rica using a variety of reliable resources. They will collect information in pairs and work collaboratively to compare the information they found on different wildlife refuges to make sure the information is reliable. They will use the information they have found to independently create a brochure to present the information with pictures, graphics, or other multimedia elements to support their details.

Type: Lesson Plan

This resource is a guided approach to researching for fifth graders. It assists in setting up a research framework for students to use as a guideline to complete a good research project.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will research properties of the inner and outer planets in our Solar System. They will organize their research by creating a Solar System poster that displays a comparison between the planets.

Type: Lesson Plan

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Do you think you could survive anywhere in the world or in any habitat? What types of adaptations might help you survive in your dream habitat? Many places seem great to visit, but you won't know if it's the place for you unless you know the characteristics of the habitat. This lesson will encourage your students to research habitats and adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive in their natural environments.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will compare and contrast literary elements of two literary texts "The Enchanted Sticks" and "The Story of Wang Li." They will use the literary elements of each text to determine the development of each theme. Students will then research stories that have similar themes to the ones they’ve discussed in the lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

This two-lesson study of American History examines the different tribes and geographic regions that Native Americans inhabited in the United States. Students will learn briefly about each tribe and region during direct instruction and then, in small groups, conduct research on one tribe in depth. Part II of the lesson requires students to present their research to the class and compare their Native American tribe with one from another group presentation.

Type: Lesson Plan

Water, Water Everywhere! Research the Water Cycle asks students to conduct their own research on the water cycle. Working collaboratively in small groups, students will research and write about the relationships between stages in the water cycle and the three states of matter relating to water. After completing this lesson, students will be prepared to create a model of the water cycle.

Type: Lesson Plan

Explore the Mississippi River and learn more about this physical feature in this interactive research page!

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn how to draw information from multiple print sources to locate an answer to any research question quickly.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

In this activity, students will use resources to answer questions about a topic. They will use a graphic organizer to record their research.

Type: Student Center Activity

This teaching idea describes a 5th grade project that started with the guiding question, "What makes a good leader?" After conducting a survey of responses to this question, students researched a historical leader, wrote a speech from the perspective of their chosen leader, and created a conceptual portrait representing their chosen leader.

Type: Teaching Idea

In the activity, the students will research a particular marine environment to create a new (plant or animal) with adaptations that suit the species for the environment and predict how the new species might effect the ecosystem into which it is introduced.

Type: Teaching Idea