Week 18 Time for Research

This month, we will be concentrating on research. In preparation for the Social Studies Fair, the Galaxy students will choose a topic of interest to research and compose a research paper. I'm planning to walk through this process with them over the next four weeks. By spending time on this initial research, the whole project should seamlessly come together. I'm referring to Core Knowledge guidelines in preparing to teach this unit. The standards for writing a research paper in grades 6-8 are very similar.

Write research essays, with attention to

• asking open-ended questions
• gathering relevant data through library and field research
• summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting accurately when taking notes
• defining a thesis (that is, a central proposition, a main idea)
• organizing with an outline
• integrating quotations from sources
• acknowledging sources and avoiding plagiarism
• preparing a bibliography

The students will be finishing their MLK essays this week. I feel very strongly that parents are children's best teachers. Please make time to read your child's essay and help with editing. The thoughts need to be the student's but most of the students need some help with the mechanics. Parent involvement and student academic success are directly related.

This week we have Hill and Holler pizza on Wednesday and hot lunch on Friday. Kids Club meets Friday morning and then the Galaxy will head to the Greenbrier County Library to research. I need some drivers and some helpers while we're there. Please contact me if you're available.

Please take a look at the research paper schedule. You can find it at the top of the blog when viewing on a computer and under "home" on your phone. Swipe to see the whole schedule. I will be emailing Science Fair information later this week.

Mrs. J

We had a little fun with following instructions, paper folding, and balance.