ALEX Classroom Resource

  

Searching for Gold: A Collaborative Inquiry Project

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

 Searching for Gold: A Collaborative Inquiry Project

URL:

 http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/searching-gold-collaborative-inquiry-960.html

Content Source:

 ReadWriteThink
Type: Lesson/Unit Plan

Overview:

In this collaborative inquiry unit, the real gold is the inquiry skills and content area knowledge that students develop. The class works in small groups, each focusing on one aspect of the same big topic, such as the Gold Rush. After skimming related texts, the class brainstorms people, places, and things associated with the topic and develops a list of five or six main subtopics. Students then work in small groups to research one of the subtopics, practicing specific research skills as they work. Finally, students choose an activity, such as an oral report, trivia game, or newspaper, to teach what they have learned to the rest of the class. Group accountability and individual responsibility are built into this lesson process.

While this unit uses the Gold Rush as an example, any event or geographical area could be substituted.

Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 3
R3. Expand background knowledge and build vocabulary through discussion, reading, and writing.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
R3.
  • Background knowledge
  • Vocabulary
  • Discussion
Knowledge:
R3. Students know:
  • Relating experiences through discussions, reading, and writing will help build background knowledge and improve vocabulary.
Skills:
R3. Students are able to:
  • Connect new concepts to prior experiences to increase background knowledge through discussions, reading, and writing.
  • Construct the meaning of words through discussions, reading, and writing.
Understanding:
R3. Students understand that:
  • Background knowledge can increase by relating experiences to new ideas, topics, and words while participating in discussions, reading, and writing.
  • Vocabulary will increase by constructing the meaning of words while participating in discussions, reading, and writing.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 3
6. Use digital tools to enhance oral presentations, working collaboratively.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
6.
  • Digital tools
  • Oral presentations
  • Enhance
  • Collaboratively
Knowledge:
6. Students know:
  • Digital tools often refer devices like computers, laptops, etc.
  • Digital tools can help improve or enhance oral presentations.
Skills:
6. Students are able to:
  • Use digital tools to create visual aids to enhance oral presentations.
  • Work collaboratively.
Understanding:
6. Students understand that:
  • Digital tools can help aid their oral presentations because their peers can see visual representations and can gain a better understanding of the information.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 3
39. Gather and evaluate information about a topic from a variety of sources, including digital sources, and utilize it to create a project, report, or presentation.

a. Avoid plagiarism by using their own words and utilizing digital sources ethically.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
39.
  • Gather
  • Evaluate
  • Information
  • Topic
  • Sources
  • Digital sources
  • Utilize
  • Project
  • Report
  • Presentation
39a.
  • Avoid
  • Plagiarism
  • Utilize
  • Digital sources
  • Ethically
Knowledge:
39. Students know:
  • Information can be gathered from print or digital sources.
  • Strategies to gather and evaluate information.
  • Relevant information about a topic should be added to a project, report, or presentation.
39a.
  • Plagiarism is presenting someone else's words or ideas as their own without crediting the source.
Skills:
39. Students are able to:
  • Gather information about a topic from a variety of print and digital sources.
  • Evaluate the relevance of the information to the topic.
  • Use information to create a project, report, or presentation.
39a.
  • Use their own ideas and words in writing and/or presenting information.
  • Behave ethically when using digital sources by appropriately crediting original creators.
Understanding:
39. Students understand that:
  • The first step in creating a project, report, or presentation is gathering and evaluating information from a variety of sources.
39a.
  • Plagiarism is using someone else's ideas and/or words without giving credit, and it should be avoided both in written and digital work.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4
R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
R3.
  • Digital tools
  • Electronic tools
  • Appropriately
  • Safely
  • Ethically
  • Research
  • Individually
  • Collaboratively
Knowledge:
R3. Students know:
  • Digital and electronic tools must be used appropriately, safely, and ethically.
  • Digital and electronic tools can be used for research or for writing tasks.
  • Digital and electronic tools can be independently or with others.
Skills:
R3. Students are able to:
  • Engage in safe and ethical behavior when using digital and electronic tools individually and collaboratively.
Understanding:
R3. Students understand that:
  • Safe behaviors, interactions that keep you out of harm's way, are necessary when using digital and electronic tools.
  • Ethical behavior, interactions that align to one's moral code, are necessary when using digital and electronic tools.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4
33. Use research to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

a. Introduce a research topic clearly and group related ideas.

b. Integrate and cite evidence to present research findings in written form.

c. Paraphrase portions of texts or information presented in diverse media and formats.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
33.
  • Research
  • Clear
  • Coherent
  • Development
  • Organization
  • Task
  • Purpose
  • Audience
33a.
  • Research
  • Topic
  • Group
  • Related ideas
33b.
  • Integrate
  • Evidence
  • Cite
  • Research
33c.
  • Paraphrase
  • Diverse media
Knowledge:
33. Students know:
  • Research happens when you look up information about a topic.
  • Clear and coherent writing is organized into a text structure and develops ideas with the addition of details.
  • Writing styles can vary depending on the task, the purpose, and the intended audience.
33a.
  • Informative writing should begin by introducing the topic of the text.
  • Writing can be organized into a structure by logically grouping ideas to support the writer's purpose.
33b.
  • Integrate means to combine information from multiple research sources.
33c.
  • Paraphrasing means to express the same meaning of the original source, but use different words or phrases.
Skills:
33. Students are able to:
  • Gather research information about a topic.
  • Create writing that is clear, coherent, and appropriate to the task, the purpose, and the audience.
  • Organize writing into a particular structure and develop ideas using details.
33a.
  • Clearly introduce a research topic in their writing.
  • Logically group related ideas to support explanation of the topic.
33b.
  • Integrate research findings from multiple sources in writing.
  • Cite evidence from research sources in writing.
33c.
  • Paraphrase portions of texts or presented information in writing.
Understanding:
33. Students understand that:
  • Before writing an informative text, they should gather information through research.
  • There writing should always be clear and coherent, but the style may change depending on the task, purpose, and audience.
33a.
  • Focusing on the topic of a text by providing a clear introduction and grouping related ideas draws the reader's attention to important points and supports the meaning of the text.
33b.
  • They must combine multiple sources of information and cite the source of the information when presenting research findings in their writing.
33c.
  • Paraphrasing can demonstrate they understand the source information well enough to write it in their own words.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4
42. Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes, and speaking clearly with adequate volume, appropriate pacing, and clear pronunciation.

a. Articulate ideas, claims, and perspectives in a logical sequence, presenting information, findings, and credible evidence from multiple sources and modalities to enhance listeners' understanding.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
42.
  • Report
  • Topic
  • Text
  • Recount
  • Appropriate facts
  • Relevant details
  • Descriptive details
  • Main ideas
  • Themes
  • Volume
  • Pacing
  • Pronunciation
42a.
  • Articulate
  • Ideas
  • Claims
  • Perspectives
  • Logical sequence
  • Information
  • Findings
  • Credible evidence
  • Sources
  • Modalities
Knowledge:
42. Students know:
  • One way to share information is through oral presentations.
  • Oral presentations should be organized, have a main idea or theme, and include relevant, descriptive details and facts that support the key point.
  • Speakers should orally present in a volume loud enough for the audience to hear, at an understable pace, and with correct speech pronunciation.
42a.
  • A speaker can enhance the audience's understanding by explaining ideas, claims, and perspectives in a logical sequence, and by providing additional information in the form of credible evidence from multiple sources.
Skills:
42. Students are able to:
  • Orally report in response to a topic or text, to tell a story, or to describe a personal experience.
  • Create an oral report that is organized, and includes relevant, descriptive facts and details that support the main idea or theme.
  • Speak at an adequate volume and appropriate pace and use proper pronunciation when presenting an oral report.
42a.
  • Orally articulate ideas, claims, and perspectives in a logical sequence.
  • Gather information, findings, and credible evidence from multiple sources and modalities.
  • Orally present information, findings, and credible evidence.
Understanding:
42. Students understand that:
  • An effective oral presentation requires an organized structure and uses relevant facts and details to support the key idea.
  • An effective speaker presents with a voice that can be heard by the audience, a speaking pace that can be understood by the audience, and proper pronunciation of words.
42a.
  • Information, findings, and credible evidence should be gathered from multiple sources in varied modalities to enhance the audience's understanding of the oral presentation.
  • To clearly articulate their ideas, claims, and perspectives, they must organize their thoughts in a logical sequence.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 5
R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
R3.
  • Digital tools
  • Electronic tools
  • Appropriately
  • Safely
  • Ethically
  • Research
  • Individually
  • Collaboratively
Knowledge:
R3. Students know:
  • Digital and electronic tools must be used appropriately, safely, and ethically.
  • Digital and electronic tools can be used for research or for writing tasks.
  • Digital and electronic tools can be independently or with others.
Skills:
R3. Students are able to:
  • Engage in safe and ethical behavior when using digital and electronic tools individually and collaboratively.
Understanding:
R3. Students understand that:
  • Safe behaviors, interactions that keep you out of harm's way, are necessary when using digital and electronic tools.
  • Ethical behavior, interactions that align to one's moral code, are necessary when using digital and electronic tools.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 5
9. Express ideas clearly and effectively to diverse partners or groups.

a. Pose and respond to explicit questions in ways that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

b. Verbally summarize information read aloud or presented in diverse media and formats.

c. Report orally on a topic or text, sequencing ideas logically and supporting main ideas with appropriate facts and relevant details.

d. Speak clearly at an understandable rate.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
9.
  • Express
  • Clearly
  • Effectively
  • Diverse
9a.
  • Pose
  • Respond
  • Explicit questions
  • Contribute
  • Elaborate
  • Remarks
9b.
  • Summarize
  • Diverse media
  • Diverse formats
9c.
  • Report
  • Orally
  • Sequencing
  • Logically
  • Main ideas
  • Appropriate facts
  • Relevant details
9d.
  • Understandable rate
Knowledge:
9. Students know:
  • Oral language and literacy skills.
  • Collaboration skills.
9a.
  • Effective communication with others requires asking questions, responding to questions, and elaborating on others' statements.
9b.
  • A summary is a short statement explaining the main point or most important details of presented information.
9c. Student know:
  • An effective oral presentation includes a logical sequence of main ideas that are supported by appropriate and relevant facts and details.
9d.
  • An effective speaker pronounces words clearly and speaks at a speed that is understandable by the audience.
Skills:
9. Students are able to:
  • Clearly and effectively share ideas with others through speaking.
9a.
  • Pose questions that contribute to discussions.
  • Respond to explicit questions in ways that contribute to discussions.
  • Expand on others' comments by adding additional relevant information.
9b.
  • Present a summary of information read aloud or presented in diverse formats through speaking.
9c.
  • Orally report on a topic or text.
  • Sequence ideas logically in an oral report.
  • Support main ideas with appropriate facts and relevant details in an oral report.
9d.
  • Speak clearly at an understandable rate when orally presenting information.
Understanding:
9. Students understand that:
  • They can communicate with a variety of people if they express themselves clearly.
9a.
  • Discussions should include relevant questions, answers to questions, comments, and remarks.
9b.
  • Summarizing information demonstrates understanding and can help communicate ideas with others.
9c.
  • To be an effective speaker, they must logically sequence presented ideas and include appropriate facts and relevant details to support their main points.
9d.
  • To be understood by the audience, a speaker must clearly pronounce words and speak at an understandable pace.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 5
38. Gather information on a topic or question, and share the results through various modes of writing, including projects and presentations.

a. Locate information in print and digital sources.

b. Summarize, quote, and paraphrase information in notes and finished work, providing a list of sources.

c. Integrate information from several texts on the same topic into presentations of research.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
38.
  • Topic
  • Question
  • Results
  • Modes of writing
  • Projects
  • Presentations
38a.
  • Print
  • Digital
38b.
  • Summarize
  • Quote
  • Paraphrase
  • Notes
  • Finished work
  • List of sources
38c.
  • Integrate
  • Topic
  • Presentations of research
Knowledge:
38. Students know:
  • Effective research skills.
  • Transferable writing skills applicable to many modes of writing.
38a.
  • Information can be found in both digital and print sources.
38b.
  • Summarizing is putting the main idea(s) of the source into their own words.
  • Quoting is using direct evidence from the source material.
  • Paraphrasing is condensing the original source by broadly explaining the content.
  • Summarizing, quoting, and paraphrasing are important note taking skills, but they can also be used in formal writing pieces.
  • Credit must be attributed to the original creator of the work by including a list of sources.
38c.
  • Research presentations should include information that is incorporated from several sources.
Skills:
38. Students are able to:
  • Research information from a variety of sources to explain a topic or answer a question.
  • Share information learned through research in various modes of writing, including projects and presentations.
38a.
  • Locate information in print and digital sources.
38b.
  • Summarize, quote, and paraphrase information in written notes and finished work.
  • Include a list of sources with written summaries and paraphrases.
38c.
  • Combine information from several texts on the same topic into one piece of work.
Understanding:
38. Students understand that:
  • They can share their research findings through multiple modes of writing, including presentations and projects.
38a.
  • An effective writer uses multiple sources of information, including print and digital sources.
38b.
  • Including a list of sources with their writing ensures they are giving the original creator credit for their work.
38c.
  • Effective research presentations include multiple sources of information that are integrated in one coherent project.
Tags: Collaboration, Comic Creator, Gold Rush, newspaper, Persuasion Map, Printing Press, ReadWriteThink Notetaker, research, subtopics
License Type: Custom Permission Type
See Terms: http://www.readwritethink.org/util/legal.html
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses
Accessibility
Comments

ReadWriteThink is a free resource with links to additional resources such as videos, interactives, and printables.

  This resource provided by:  
Author: Cassie Raulston
This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Copyright © 2017, Alabama Learning Exchange
Alabama State Department of Education
Alabama State Department of Education