Grade: 4 Subject: ELA Unit: Research Basics Lesson: 3 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Guided Practice

Learn

In this lesson, you will practice the research skills you have learned so far. Guided practice means working through research tasks step-by-step with support and examples to help you along the way.

Why Practice Matters

Research is a skill that improves with practice. The more you work through the steps of finding sources and taking notes, the easier it becomes. This lesson gives you a chance to try these skills in a safe environment where you can learn from any mistakes.

The Research Process Review

  1. Choose a topic - Pick something specific enough to research well
  2. Ask questions - What do you want to learn about this topic?
  3. Find sources - Look for books, articles, and websites that can answer your questions
  4. Take notes - Write down important facts in your own words
  5. Organize information - Group related facts together

Tips for Effective Practice

  • Start with topics you find interesting
  • Use the strategies you learned in previous lessons
  • Do not copy text word-for-word; use your own words
  • Keep track of where you found each piece of information

Examples

Example 1: Researching Dolphins

Topic: Dolphins

Research Question: How do dolphins communicate with each other?

Source Found: "Ocean Life Encyclopedia" by the National Marine Society

Notes Taken:

  • Dolphins use clicks and whistles to talk to each other
  • Each dolphin has its own special whistle, like a name
  • They can hear sounds that humans cannot hear

Example 2: Researching the Solar System

Topic: The Solar System

Research Question: Why is Pluto no longer called a planet?

Source Found: NASA Kids' Club website

Notes Taken:

  • In 2006, scientists made new rules for what counts as a planet
  • Pluto is too small and has not cleared its orbit of other objects
  • Pluto is now called a "dwarf planet"

Practice

Try these guided practice activities:

Activity 1: Topic Narrowing

The topic "Animals" is too broad. Which of these is a better, more specific topic?

  • A) All animals in the world
  • B) How polar bears stay warm in the Arctic
  • C) Every type of mammal

Think about which topic you could fully research using a few sources.

Activity 2: Writing Research Questions

For the topic "Volcanoes," write three questions you might want to answer through research.

Example questions to get you started:

  • What causes a volcano to erupt?
  • Where are most volcanoes located?
  • How do scientists predict volcanic eruptions?

Activity 3: Note-Taking Practice

Read this short paragraph and take notes in your own words:

"Honeybees are important pollinators. They visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen. As they move from flower to flower, they spread pollen, which helps plants make seeds. Without bees, many fruits and vegetables would not grow."

Check Your Understanding

Answer these 10 questions to test what you have learned about research practice.

Question 1: What is the first step in the research process?

Answer: Choose a topic. Before you can find sources or take notes, you need to know what you are researching.

Question 2: Why is "Dogs" too broad as a research topic?

Answer: "Dogs" is too broad because there is too much information about dogs to cover well. A better topic would be something specific like "How guide dogs are trained" or "Why dogs wag their tails."

Question 3: What should you do before you start looking for sources?

Answer: Write research questions. Having questions helps you know what information to look for and keeps you focused.

Question 4: When taking notes, should you copy sentences exactly from the source?

Answer: No, you should write notes in your own words. This helps you understand the information better and avoids copying someone else's work.

Question 5: Why is it important to write down where you found information?

Answer: Writing down your sources helps you find the information again if needed, gives credit to the original author, and lets others check that your facts are correct.

Question 6: Which is a better research question: "What is weather?" or "How do meteorologists predict hurricanes?"

Answer: "How do meteorologists predict hurricanes?" is better because it is specific and focused. "What is weather?" is too broad and basic.

Question 7: What does it mean to organize your research information?

Answer: Organizing means grouping related facts together. For example, if researching butterflies, you might group facts about their life cycle together and facts about their diet in another group.

Question 8: How many sources should you try to use for a research project?

Answer: You should use more than one source (at least 2-3 for most projects). Using multiple sources helps you get complete information and check that facts are accurate.

Question 9: What should you do if two sources give different information about the same fact?

Answer: Look for a third source to check which information is correct, or ask a teacher or librarian for help. Consider which source is more reliable or recent.

Question 10: Why does research improve with practice?

Answer: Practice helps you get faster at finding good sources, better at taking useful notes, and more confident in organizing information. Like any skill, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Next Steps

  • Review any concepts that felt challenging
  • Try researching a topic of your own choice using the steps you practiced
  • Move on to the next lesson when ready
  • Return to practice problems periodically for review