I am so excited about a research strategy that I came across in Ralph Fletcher's book Non-Fiction Craft Lessons:Teaching Information Writing K-8. Research can be overwhelming and unmanageable for second graders but if you have them take an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of copy paper and fold it into fourths it suddenly becomes manageable and exciting for them! Students write, sketch and/or label an interesting fact for each box while reading trade books, websites and listening/watching videos about their topic. This strategy encourages students to write "just enough" of the information to help them remember the interesting fact later and put that information into their own words (something I have found very challenging for second graders of all levels to do) when the time comes to create their own teaching books. This strategy also helps students develop a clear topic sentence and organize their writing. After students have collected 8-12 facts you have them cut the four squares apart and group them into sections that go together. They can move facts around until they sound just right.
Here are some photos of second graders using this strategy.
Do you have any strategies that have allowed second graders to do independent research?
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