Students in junior grades engage in a structured research and inquiry process that includes several key phases. During the creation phase, they are encouraged to present their final product, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses, and to reflect on the entire process for future improvement.
Teacher/TL: Assessment OF learning at the end, final
Teacher/TL: Teach Assessment AS Learning to self assess
Teacher/TL: Assessment FOR learning ongoing feedback
The Research/Inquiry Process For the Junior Grades
3) Processing
Students: Organize their findings
Teacher/TL: Provide a variety graphic organizers/templates to organize their ideas based on what they want their final product to be (whether it is a written paper or a hands on final piece) Organizers can be chronological, idea focused, etc.
Students: Make choices on which ideas
they want to use
Teacher/TL: Refer students to their original plan/Focus
Teacher/TL: Refer students to success criteria checklist
Students: Decide which information
is useful
Teacher/TL: Have students work together
to analyze each others findings to compare sources based on its relevance and legitimacy
Teacher/TL: Give feeback based on previous
stage during the investigation
2) Investigating
Students: Narrow the Foucs
Teacher/TL: Teach students about focus being too broad or too narrow (relating back to the purpose of their assignment)
Teacher/TL: Have students submit a "proposal" and give feedback
Students: Find resources/Sources
Teacher/TL: Teach students pathways to legitimate sources
Teacher/TL: Teach students about legitimate information
Students: Create a plan
Teacher/TL: Ensure students know the plan can change. Have students have a large scope then narrow it as they see fit.
Teacher/TL: Assessment Checklists/Templates for a plan
Teacher/TL: allow for collaboration
1) Exploring
Students: Think of the reason/purpose for research
Teacher/TL: Examples of final products, possible audiences
Teacher/TL: Outline the assignment and Success Criteria
Students: Think of questions they want answers to
Teacher/TL: Remind students of WH5 questions
Teacher/TL: Remind students to Brainstorm questions
Students: Select a Topic of Interest
Teacher/TL: Have Several Resources available to select a topic
Teacher/TL: Minds On activities to Use Previous Knowledge
4) Creating
Students: Self assess (Assessment AS Learning)
Teacher/TL: Encourage reflection on all of the phases, not just the final product, so they can improve upon future inquiry at every phase
Teacher/TL: Encourage future goal setting during relfection and self assessment for future learning
Teacher/TL: Hand out self assessment checklists. 3,2,1 exit tickets, one glow one grow during other students presentations as well as their own
Students: Students will make or present their
final product.
Teacher/TL: Encourage each students to focus on their strengths and weaknesses to best challenge the student
Teacher/TL: Assist with selecting an appropriate method
of presentation by showing examples.
