Melissa Exler

Greenbrook Elementary School

Tuesday, February 28, 2017/ Writing 10:10-11:30
Grade: 3rd

Subject/ Topic/ Activity: Students will be introduced to their inquiry research project.
Students will see a powerpoint about what research is and then be asked to write down a
few big ideas or questions they might want to research about any topic they have already
learned about (i.e. weather, space, people)

1. Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.

2. Objectives:
Students will compose a list of big ideas or questions they might want to
research to learn more about.

3. Materials:
Powerpoint
Lined paper

4. Procedures:

Introduction:
HOOK: How are the earth, sun and moon connected? How have different
inventions changed the world? Why do we need to know how to add, subtract,
multiply and divide? Can one person make a difference?
Ask students how they can answer these BIG questions. The answer is
research!

Body:
Remind students of the time that we were reading a book about day and
night, and you told students to write down any questions they had because we ran
out of time. Then instead of you looking up all of these questions, you told them
to research it themselves. Did they ever do it?
Show students powerpoint for beginning research topics. Emphasize that a
big question cannot be answered in a yes or no answer, but requires research and
facts. This is not something that can be done in 1 day.
Remind students the important connection between our research and
summarizing. Connect this with what we have been learning about it in reading.
Closing:
Once the powerpoint has been viewed, students will write down big ideas
or questions they have floating in their minds. Remind them that it is a good to be
inquisitive and this is their time to ask any big questions they can think of.
Students will write a list of big questions they have that they might want to
research more about. The topic is not limited, but students will be encouraged to
think about anything they have previously learned such as weather, space,
people, maps, etc.
A share will be completed at the end of class where students
name 1 big question they thought of during class. Before coming together
as a whole class, students will draw a star next to the big idea they would
like to share.

5. Assessment:
Students will be assessed by composing their own list of big ideas for topics they are
interested in. Students will be required to write at least 3 big ideas down. At the end of
class, all students will share 1 big idea they have.

6. Management Issues, Transitions, and Differentiation:

Students will begin the lesson on the rug facing the board. After the powerpoint is
finished, students will return to their desks and draft their list of big ideas. Once they are
finished, students will continue with their to-do list as well as finish publishing their
realistic fiction story.

# _____ Name ______________________________ Date _______________



Put a * next to the BIG question you would like to share at the end of class!