Research at VVE

Several grade levels have been conducting research across our school.  In fifth grade during library time, students have picked an animal, conducted research using library databases, composed keynote slides, and then presented their findings to the class while Ms. Iles videotaped their presentations.  At the end of their presentations, students answered questions from the audience and gathered feedback including both positive comments and suggestions on what they could do to continue strengthening their presentations.
 
In fourth grade during library time, students have been working on their National Parks research.  Each student picked a national park, conducted research using their iPads and National Park websites, took notes, and over the past days they have been creating Google Slides in a shared Slides presentation.  It took us a while to navigate the best procedures for all working on a shared slide show at the same time, but students persevered and figured it out!  When they have completed their slides, Ms. Iles will print the slides so students can practice using editing marks they have been learning about in their homerooms.  After editing on paper, they will make their final edits and share with the class.  Ms. Iles will eventually make a book of their work that can be checked out by other students in the school.

Finally, in Ms. Abell's class, 5th graders have been working on "Be the Change" research projects, in which they have each selected an issue in which they see a need for change, defined a problem statement around that issue, and then they collected information from multiple resources including Ebsco Databases, Encyclopedia Britannica, Discovery Education, National Geographic for Kids, and Kids Infobits.  As they finish gathering their facts, students are creating their own Weebly websites with information to share about their selected topics.  Creativity abounds as they make choices about how to represent the information in multimodal ways.  

Way to go, Cardinal Researchers!