Grade 8 Research project

When you see students from Mr. Goury's 8th grade class, ask them how the minus operator changes Google query results.

These students finish the year on a high note practicing research skills while working on Time, Continuity, and Change projects. They use library digital collections and apply search techniques to find materials online to discover facts about their favorite topics.

In which way does the wordless language of emojis evolve? What is the future of travels through space? What makes NBA a global business? Will anime survive if manga becomes less popular?

Active learning instructional strategies prepare 8th graders for future research projects in High School!

 

Five features that make BrainPop my favorite source

Students like to learn academic content by watching videos and playing educational games.
BrainPop uses both approaches to make learning engaging.

There are several features that make BrainPop an outstanding source and tool widely used by educators.

First thing I like about BrainPop is its two main characters - charming Moby and pensive Tim.

Moby and Tim explain academic topics on Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Health, Technology and Engineering, Arts and Music, often quite challenging, in an engaging and straightforward way. 




Second, as educator, I use assessment features designed as play and game activities. Students send me their Quizzes' results and I can track down their progress. I check student understanding with My BrainPop.

Third, BrainPop Educator provides noticeable support with lesson plans and printable graphic organizers. It connects videos to academic standards. Monthly curriculum calendars spotlight videos aligned to standards.






 

Fourth, each video is linked to Game-Based activities with lesson ideas, game quiz and more games options. Math, Science, English, Health, Social Studies, Engineering and Technology games are a great educational tool that students enjoy.

Elementary students enjoy BrainPop Jr. BrainPop Jr. provides curriculum-based content and concepts geared for students of Elementary School levels.

BrainPop Espanol provides movies in Spanish, though useful for students with high language skills.




Visit Online Subscriptions for Teachers on WBAIS Library on Moodle to learn more about this and other sources provided to WBAIS teachers and students.

Ten Basic Steps to work on iSearch Project

An amazing learning is happening in Grade 9 classes. Students work on individual projects and go through divergent research experiences.

Students discern that information gives freedom. They face a challenge of meeting with information that "empowers people to do what they want to do", as Steve Ballmer said about information, "It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential".

TEN Basic Steps to make your iSearch projects successful:

 1. Choose a topic of your interest, the one that you wished to learn but never had time to do so. You are going to work on the project for several weeks, and it's important that you are passionately involved in what you are reading and writing about.

 2. Create Timeline. You need to know when to stop collecting information and start working on an outline, write the paper and create a visual component related to your topic and presenting it in a creative way.

 3. Read broadly on the topic to identify a particular question you would like to write your paper

about. Read encyclopedias such as Britannica and World Book Online to observe what subtopics the topic of your interest holds and choose the direction for your inquiry.


 4. Narrow down your research topic and turn it into a question (create a query). It will help you concentrate on a certain problem.

 5. Read non-fiction books and scholarly articles in order to learn how the question you are asking was attempted by specialists.  Support your hypothesis and ideas.  Use library catalog and library research databases to find detailed reliable information.

 6.  Evaluate web sites when using Internet sources. Authority, objectivity, accuracy and currency of information are factors that identify web sites as credible sources of information. Read more.


 7. Organize collected information and take notes. Use NoodleTools to organize information you have collected. Add sources of information to Bibliography, create note cards and connect them to sources listed in Bibliography. 

 8. Work on an Outline: Use NoodleTools Outline to plan the paper, identify topics and subtopics and add your note cards to support topics and subtopics.

 9. Conclude your research. Compare what you thought you knew and assumed with what you actually discovered. Offer some personal commentary and draw some conclusions. Then apply your conclusions to your own life.

10. Reflect on the research process and describe your growth as a researcher.

Informational Sources for Science

In Middle School, classes on information literature have started right in the beginning of the school year.
We are talking about testing in facts in science (scientific method). Students know that scientists start testing natural phenomena with observation and then they make an educated guess or prediction (hypothesis), which is based on prior knowledge. 

The KWHLAQ Chart  helps students identify questions they want to answer and resources needed to do so. The 21st Century chart shown below is powerful. Besides well-known columns "Know", "Want to know", "Learned" it comprises columns that inspire students for critical thinking: "How Do I Find Out?", "What action will I take?", and "What New Questions do I have?"

Students use encyclopedias and preselected web sites to learn about the subject. Here is a collection of scientific resources.

Wikipedias

There is no doubt, you know what wikis are and for sure you are using Wikipedia! We are amazed of the power of the collective effort. Too much information is there! Unfortunately, sometimes the complicity of the language used in the articles hinders our understanding.

If it's true for you check Simple English Wikipedia that uses simple English words and grammar. It would be helpful for everyone who is learning English.


Here is another Wiki - Wiki Junior! It presents "age-appropriate non-fiction books for children from birth to age 12". The books are "richly illustrated with photographs, diagrams, sketches, and original drawings". In Wikijunior you can also find books in other languages.

Resources for ESOL

Wiki Junio
is a collection of resources for literacy teachers. There is a section forESOL teachers as well as a list of non-fiction books for 0-12 Simple English.

Comprehension: Helping ELLs Grasp the Full Picture (Colorin Colorado)

EFL Classroom 2.0 - Ning for ELL teachers - Here you will find resources and ideas published by ELL teachers from around the world.

John's ESL Community - List of Idioms


Skip's Radio Scripts for English Language learners.

25 Great Grammar Poems with Activites.

February - Black History Month

February is Black History Month when students spend extra time learning about history and culture of African Americans.
Educational World and FamilyEducation.com suggest activities and resources that can be used during this week.
BrainPop: Check BrainPop's Spotlights that explore topics on Black History. Login information can be found in the Library Webpage Online Collections