Fourth graders have been practicing research skills in Library. We started with our set of World Book encyclopedias. Each researcher chose a volume to peruse before finding a topic she knew nothing about. She then read through the entry and gave a one minute stand up report on what she'd learned. The next week each girl chose a different volume and reported on a topic she'd heard of but about which she knew little, explaining what she already knew and what new information she'd found. Week three was about yet another volume, finding a map of a place they'd never been, and reporting what (city, state, country, continent, planet, mountain range...), where (bordered by, in which continent or state...) and three interesting facts. The last week was about searching through the on-line Encyclopedia Britannica School Edition. Each researcher chose another place and found a video and some sound element, as well as other interesting facts. Some sound elements included national anthems or someone speaking in the local language.
Girls discussed ways in which the two different versions were useful, interesting and easy to use. Ask your daughter about her topics and her discoveries!
