The student will:

• Research a person using multiple sources, including encyclopedias (bound and/or electronic), trade books, Internet, etc.
• Write paragraphs to answer key questions about the person
• Design a book page incorporating factual information and illustrations

(Day 1) Students are introduced to the project and discuss the key questions to be answered during research, which are:

1. When and where did this person live and die?
2. What is this person famous for?
3. What facts are interesting about this person?

I would suggest you choose a list of people you want researched and assign students to topics.  Some examples of Revolutionary People would include George Washington, Paul Revere, Benedict Arnold, Betsy Ross, Francis Marion, etc.  Students should also be shown how to use the note-taking form.

(Days 2-5) Students do research using typical sources, such as bound encyclopedias, textbooks, trade books, etc.  They can also use Internet sources.  I found Ask Jeeves for Kids (http://ajkids.com/) to be the most beneficial for finding relevant sites.   I required two books sources and one web source for my project.

(Week 2)  Once data has been gathered, students write rough drafts of the information to be included on their book pages.  Discuss the use of interesting and exciting language.  Look at Incredible Books for examples of good informational writing.  Once the students are ready for final copies, I suggest that the class look back at the Incredible Books.  How are the words arranged?  Where are the pictures?  Are there more words or pictures?  My class deduced that there is usually one big picture and a bunch of words around it, so that is how they decided to make their pages.  I would suggest that kids draw before they write!  It’s easier to write around a picture than draw around words!!

Once it is complete, put it all together!

Internet research (see above)

School-wide writing rubric

Social Studies 4.1.6    Identify the developments, major events, and notable figures involved in the separation of the 13 colonies from England.

Social Studies 4.1.7    State the key events and effects of the American Revolution on the new country.

4^th grade ELA IV. A-I.  These include the writing process from prewriting through final copy.

4^th grade ELA V.A. The student will use information resources to research a topic.

• Collect information, using the resources of the media center.
• Evaluate and synthesize information for use in writing.
• Use available technology.
• Communicate the information and findings in written and oral forms.

B. The student will plan and conduct research by accessing and selecting information from print, video, and on-line resources; narrowing a topic; and combining information from a variety of sources, gathering additional information as needed.

©2002 Winthrop University. All rights reserved. 
Last updated on February 15, 2002.
Contact Lisa Harris with comments.