My 4th Grade

Research
Project

Name: ____________________
 Research Project
Directions:
Hello students! Throughout this week, you will work on
researching a topic of your choosing. You will use what youve
learned about how to research effectively to create a
presentation about your topic. You will have opportunities to
work with adults and your peers to revise your project and
make it the best it can possibly be. On Friday, we will have a
celebration of learning where we present our projects to the
class. Have fun and show me what youve learned throughout
the school year about research! I cant wait to see all of your
wonderful presentations. You will also be turning in this
workbook on Friday so please fill it out completely.

You will have our normal hour and a half allotted English time
each day this week to work on this project.

Rockstar Researchers do the Following

- Make sure to ask questions as needed
- Stay on task as there is a lot to cover each day
- Fill out each page of the worksheet completely
- Look at the daily check list and make sure youre meeting
the goals for each day
- Read the rubric each day and make sure you have everything
included that you need to
- Remember to cite every source you use
- Have fun!
 Research Project
rubric
Directions:
Use the rubric below to self-check how your progressing
through this project. I will be using the same rubric to score
you at the end of the project, so check it each day to make sure
your project is all in the 5 category.

5
I know how to research
3
Parts of my presentation
1
I need some more help to
effectively. were lacking. improve my researching
skills.

My presentation is 5-7 My presentation was a My presentation was

minutes and little short and/or did too short and I did not
demonstrates that I not have enough detail demonstrate that I
researched my topic to show that I researched my topic
thoroughly by using researched my topic thoroughly. I provided
specific details about thoroughly. very few details.
my topic.

My reflection is My reflection doesnt I did not write enough

thorough and uses include many details. detail in my reflection
specific details to Its difficult to tell if I to show what I learned
demonstrate my understand my topic through this project.
knowledge of the topic fully. My reflection was
I researched. incomplete and/or
unclear.
Ive included at least 3 I cited 1-2 sources in I forgot to use citations
sources and cited them my visual and/or my within my visual and
in my visual as well as source sheet, but have did not complete my
on the source sheet. not given enough source sheet.
information.
 Research Project
details
Role: Your role throughout this project is a researcher. You will
become an expert on your chosen topic.

Audience: Your audience will be me, your classmates, the

research assistants from Tuesdays class, and any grown ups
youd like to invite

Format: You will demonstrate your research skills through

preparing this project and presenting it on Friday. The
presentation will be 5-7 minutes long, where you will explain
what you learned about your topic. Please refer to the rubric
and directions for specific details.

Task: Research a topic of your choosing and present it to your

classmates.

Materials Needed: Each day this week, we will be in the

library as well as a computer lab. You will need to bring this
workbook and a pencil each day. You will turn in this workbook
on Friday after your presentation, so it is important that you
complete it thoroughly.

Time Allotted: Each day this week, we will use our entire ELA
time (an hour and a half) for this project.
Research Project
daily check list
I can list three topics that I am
interested in and choose one to
Monday do my project on
I can explain what I already
know about the topics Ive
selected
I can research my topic using
books and the internet

Tuesday I can work with research

assistants to discuss my
project and what Ive found so
far
I can use either Prezi,
PowerPoint, or a poster to

Wednesday show my findings

I can list my sources on a
source list within my
presentation

I can peer-edit one of my

classmates research projects
Thursday I can edit and revise my project
to be the best it can be

I can present my research

project to the class
Friday I can provide my classmates
with detailed feedback about
their projects
 Research Project:
Day one
Directions:
Today you will choose a topic that youre interested in
researching and presenting to your classmates. You may use
books in the library as well as online sources to help you
brainstorm what you might be interested in researching. On the
next page, complete the worksheet with three possible ideas of
what you might want to research. Use your background
knowledge on the topics to write a few sentences about what
you already know about the topics. Once you have three
possible topics, choose the one youre the most interested in
and either circle it or put a star by it. You may then check in
with me to let me know what youve decided.
 Research Project:
Day one
Possible Topics:

1. ______________________________________
What do you know about this topic already? Write 2-3 sentences.

2. ______________________________________
What do you know about this topic already? Write 2-3 sentences.

3. ______________________________________
What do you know about this topic already? Write 2-3 sentences.
 Research Project:
Day Two
Directions:
For the first half of todays class, we will be researching our
topics using books and online resources. Use the lines below to
record any websites or books you use. You will complete the
source list below with every source you used for your project.
Remember, you may not take information without citing it. You
also must use at least three sources, and at least one of them
must be a book and at least one of them must be found online.
For the second half of class, we will have research assistants
coming in (students from GVSU and other community
volunteers) to work with you in shaping your presentations.
They will fill out a worksheet with you that will help you to
make sure your topic is focused and your research is on track
with where it needs to be.

Source List:
1. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
2. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
3. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
4. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
5. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
6. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
7. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
8. _______________________________________ Book or Online? (circle one)
 Research Project:
Day Two
Notes:
Use the following lines to record any notes for your project.
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 Research Project:
Day Two
Directions:
Please work with a research assistant and show him or her
what youve found so far. Give them this worksheet to complete
with you. Once they have completed it, please look over their
responses and see what they would like you to work on.

Research Assistants Name: ___________________

Students Name: ____________________________
Topic: _____________________________________

Does the student have

1. At least three sources listed? Yes No
2. A presentation started? Yes No
3. Notes about their topic? Yes No

Please list at least two things this student can work on:
1. _________________________________________________________
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2. _________________________________________________________
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3. _________________________________________________________
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 Research Project:
Day Three
Directions:
Today is a work day. You will focus on making your
presentation the best it can possibly be. Tomorrow we will
begin peer editing, so your research needs to be finished today.
Please use the checklist below to make sure you have all of
these things in your project. If you finish early, you may start
working on creating notecards for your presentation on Friday.
Your presentation will be 5-7 minutes and you will discuss
what you learned from this project. If you dont finish your
notecards in class, you may work on them at home and bring
them in tomorrow.

___ My project has a clear topic. It is the same topic that I discussed
with the research assistant yesterday.

___ I am using either Prezi, PowerPoint, or a poster as a visual to

show my findings

___ I used at least three sources

___ At least one of my sources is a book

___ At least one of my sources is a website

___ I have prepared notecards to guide my presentation on Friday

___ The information in my visual and on my notecards is factual and

cited in my source list
 Research Project:
Day Four
Directions:
Almost to the end! Today we will be working on peer-editing
with a classmate as well as revising our projects to improve
them. To do this, please complete the attached worksheets.

Our presentations will be tomorrow, so please also look over

the rubric at the beginning of this book again to refresh your
memory. You should have all of your notecards completed and
ready to go. The celebration of learning will be from 2:00 3:45
tomorrow. You may invite your grown ups to come in and
celebrate with us if youd like. I have posted on our class
website about it as well. Ive also invited the research assistants
that you worked with on Tuesday. Have fun on this final work
day and let me know if you have any questions!
 Research Project:
Day Four
Directions:
Please work with one other student and listen to him/her
present their project. Please give your workbook to the other
student while youre presenting so that he or she may work on
answering the questions below. Also be sure to provide verbal
feedback to one another.

Peer Editors Name: ______________________

Presenters Name: _______________________

1. What questions do you have for this person about their topic? List
1-2 questions below.
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2. What do you think this person could improve before the

celebration tomorrow? Give 2-3 specific comments.
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3. Does this person have at least three sources listed? Is at least one
of them a book and at least one of them an online source?
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 Research Project:
Day four
Directions:
Reflect on the peer editing experience. What did the other
student say or write down? What do you need to improve
before the celebration of learning tomorrow? How can you
make your presentation the best it can possibly be? Use the
lines below to reflect.
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 Research Project:
Day five
Directions:
Reflect on what you learned through this research project. Tell
me what you now know about your topic and what you knew
before. If you run out of space, you may also write on the back
of this page.
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 Research Project:
Day five
Directions:
Use the boxes below to provide feedback to your classmates. Be
as detailed as possible. You will fill one out for each of your
classmates.

Presenters Name: ___________ My Name: ______________

During your presentation, I learned

Presenters Name: ___________ My Name: ______________

During your presentation, I learned

Presenters Name: ___________ My Name: ______________

During your presentation, I learned

Presenters Name: ___________ My Name: ______________

During your presentation, I learned