Sixth Grade Research ProjectSocial Studies

Start from the End

Goal:• A five paragraph essay examining the geographic,

economic and cultural aspects of a modern-day river civilization.

Start from the End

Break it Down:• FIVE paragraph essay dealing with the

Key Questions:

• geography

• economy

• Culture

• modern-day river civilizations:• Iraq, Iran, Egypt, China, Israel, Pakistan,

Afghanistan, India, Turkey, Japan

Start from the End

Key Questions:• Geography

• What are the major geographical landforms and bodies of

water in your country here?

• Culture

• What is the culture of your country?

Think about language, religion, traditions

• Economy

• What is the economy of your country?

Think about import/ exports, major industries, natural resources.

How do we get there?

Follow the Process1)Information sheet home

2)Research Project progress Report

3)Big6 Assignment Organizer

4)Note Taking Worksheet (3x)

5)Web Site Evaluation Guide (3x)

6)5-Paragraph Essay Organizer

7)Scoring Guides

1) Information sheet home2) Research Progress REports

Follow the Process• Send home to explain the

importance and weight of this project• 50% of quarter grade• Month long• Composed of many parts• Teaches the Research

Process in a highly structured and organized manner

• Progress Reports for each part

3) Big6 Assignment Organizer

Follow the Process• Helps to clearly explain and

organize the project in your mind going through all 6 steps quickly and concisely:

1.Task Definition2.Information Seeking

Strategies3.Location and Access4.Use of Information5.Synthesis6.Evaluation

4) Note Taking Worksheet (3)

Follow the ProcessWorksheets organized to take notes for a single Key Question from multiple sources• One sheet used for each

Key Question organized by Paragraph• Paragraph #2 – Geography• Paragraph #3 – Culture• Paragraph #4 – Economy

• Integrates place for citing source information

5) Web Site Evaluation Guide (3)

Follow the Process• Worksheet used to assess

the validity of web sites and sources from the Internet• Although web sites are

pre-selected for this paper, this establishes the process for future research

• One sheet used per website

• Integrates place for citing source information

6) 5-Paragraph Essay Organizer

Follow the Process• Used to pull together the

Main Ideas and Supporting Details from each of the Note Taking Pages.• Enables you to see the

“skeleton” on which the paper will be built

• Excellent way to see if your paper makes sense before you start to write it

• Good way to check to see if you have enough information to begin writing

7) Scoring Guides

Follow the Process• Used to allow

students to self-check the quality of their work.• One for every part

assigned a grade• Will involve some peer-

editing• Establishes basis for

scoring each step of the Research Process