Written by Emily Upton - Posted Nov. 14, 2023
Hey there, upper elementary teachers! Does the thought of having your students complete a research project make you cringe? The hours spent researching, organizing facts, and writing it all down...I've been there. Even though you KNOW doing some research would spice up your science curriculum and get your students excited about learning, it can feel extremely overwhelming to tackle a project in science class, especially if you're short on time.
However, these projects ignite curiosity and help your future scientists develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. So, let's talk about some ways to make completing research projects in science a little bit more manageable. In this easy-to-follow blog post, I'll walk you through some tips to make research projects as pain-free as possible for you and your students!
Want a FREE guide to help you plan your next research project? Grab it here!
Tip 1: Let Them Choose
The secret sauce to a killer research project? Let your students pick topics that get them excited and engaged in their learning! There's nothing worse than arguing with 25 groaning fourth graders who are bored and don't want to write. Avoid this by giving them a list of science-related themes or ideas that jive with your curriculum. Then, let them be their own bosses and choose the one that interests them the most When kids have a say in their learning, they're more motivated and eager to dive in.
.png "Before and after images of a natural disaster project")
Tip 2: Share Research Links
Finding the right info using the entirety of the Internet can be a maze for little researchers that feels impossible to navigate. They aren't sure what research terms to include, raise their hands a million times to say "I can't find the answer!", or end up on random unapproved sites (I'm looking at you, computer games). To keep things moving along and students on task, give them a list of research links. These can be websites, videos, articles, and books – you're still giving them a variety of resources to gather knowledge about their chosen topic. You're just narrowing it down a little bit. 😉 By providing these links, you help them get started on the right track without the headache of endless Google searches.
.png "Including student links can help streamline the research process and make students more productive.")
Tip 3: Get Organized with Guides and Graphics
We all have that kiddo that gets off on the most random tangent when they're writing. They start off talking about ecosystems, and suddenly we've taken a hard left into a paragraph about their vacation to Cancun with Grandma. Make it simpler to keep your students on target and keep their thoughts organized with guided notes and graphic organizers. These tools help kids stay on course, outline their projects, and keep tabs on important details. If those graphic organizers are differentiated to meet the needs of different learners, that's even better! You can find pre-made templates or create your own to fit the project and grade level. It's like a GPS for their research journey.
Tip 4: Chunk it Up
Big projects can be intimidating. For a lot of kiddos in upper elementary, the thought of writing a research paper just seems like too much. That's where chunking comes in! Break the project into manageable pieces or milestones. It could be research, outlining, drafting, and presenting. Or, skip the "Big Research Paper" and have students create something else: a newspaper article, a poster, or a quick slideshow. By tackling one piece of the project at a time or helping students share their ideas in meaningful chunks, students won't feel overwhelmed, and they'll build confidence as they go.
.png "Chunking research projects makes them more manageable for students")
Tip 5: Rock Those Rubrics
To make grading super easy for you AND help your students see what they need to ace the assignment, create rubrics for assessment. These nifty tools break down your expectations into clear categories, so students know exactly how they can get the grade they achieve. I like to include a student checklist directly on the rubric so they can make sure their work is up to the standard I expect. Rubrics help you give constructive feedback too. You can focus on content, organization, presentation, and more. Share the rubric from the get-go so everyone's on the same page..png "Rubrics can help students know what they need to do for their projects.")
Skip to the Good Stuff: Project Examples
CLICK HERE TO GRAB THE FREE GUIDE TO PLANNING RESEARCH PROJECTS!
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