research project for 4th grade

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Research Project Templates

Research projects are easy and fun with these templates. Students can learn about dinosaurs, states, provinces, and more. Each template guides students through the research process by asking simple questions and requiring basic drawings. Each file also has a bibliography form that students can fill out at the end of each project, as well as a rubric to help teachers with grading.

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Independent research projects in upper elementary, independent research projects in upper elementary ela.

Every year, I plan to give my students more choice, voice, and independent project work. Of course, we also have to deal with state testing and loads of other requirements. However, giving your students independent research projects not only helps them demonstrate learning and mastery of standards, it also gives them some choices and ability to share their own unique voice! Here are some independent research projects in upper elementary ELA that your 4th through 6th graders will love!

Genius Hour

You may have heard of Genius Hour or Passion Projects. Genius Hour is considered project-based learning, and it starts with a question. Students choose their own research question about anything really, and they study it at least an hour a week. After reading/researching about their question, their final project can be something as simple as an explanatory slideshow or building their own dollhouse. The possibilities are endless.

Genius Hour can require some scaffolding at the beginning. For example, you may ask your students to research a question related to a certain topic. If you’re reading Watsons Go to Birmingham, for example, they may ask a question surrounding the Civil Rights Movement or the 1960s. The topics can be open-ended to give the students some choice but still have an overarching theme.

Once students get practice researching and coming up with their own final project, they can choose a Genius Hour topic about anything. Some example questions may include:

• How do I promote healthy eating in elementary school?
• How do I prepare for middle school?
• What is the best place to take a family vacation, and how can I plan one for my family?
• How do you start a small business as a student?

Genius Hour gives students choice and voice in the classroom, and you’ll love learning about their passions!

Author Studies

This is one of my favorite projects to use for upper elementary ELA students! I first implemented this project with fifth graders after state testing. This is the perfect time of year for an independent study, and it reinforces reading, writing, and research concepts used throughout the school year!

This project includes almost everything you need for your students to complete a research project on the author of their choosing . It sets them up to brainstorm, research, take notes, plan, and then complete a research paper on their selected authors. I have also made sure to leave some of the note-taking more generic so that you and your students can use as little or as many pages as they need.

Start by giving students the included list of possible authors to research or let them choose their own. This author may already be a favorite or one they want to know more about! Once the author is chosen, your job is to facilitate. Remind them of resources to use for research, note-taking skills and options, and let them learn and explore!

The author study resource includes everything your students need to get started. You’ll have the author examples, note sheets, rubrics, and an example research paper to help guide your instruction and student learning!

Differentiate by having students work in groups to research an author together or study different authors within the same genre. This is also a great way to culminate literature circles by having students research the author they read!

These independent research projects in upper elementary ELA are some of my favorites to provide choice while differentiating for all learners. What research projects have you tried in your ELA classroom?

• Read more about: Upper Elementary Reading

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Guide for 4th Graders on How to Write a Research Paper

Related articles, a step-by-step on how to do a background study for a thesis, tools to help you organize thoughts & write a research paper, how to write an explanation essay.

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Writing a research paper is a very grown up and exciting project for many 4th graders. Students can look at a research paper as an opportunity to teach someone else about a topic they have studied. Most 4th grade research papers will focus on non-fiction content from the school's curriculum. In order to write a research paper, 4th grade students should think carefully about the topic they choose and follow the steps of the writing process.

Prewriting Phase of Research

Before you can write a research paper, you need to choose a topic, do some research and brainstorm ideas. Research papers are non-fiction writing, so you will most likely be writing about a real person, place, event or thing -- perhaps an animal or an invention. Choose the topic you are going to write about from the subject or list your teacher gave you, from a seed idea in your notebook or by thinking about subjects that interest you. Gather information about the topic by doing research on the Internet, in books, or by interviewing experts. Take notes as you gather information so you can remember what you learned.

Drafting Phase of Research

Once you have completed your research, you are ready to write the first draft of your research paper. The most important part of this draft is your topic sentence. In your first paragraph -- your introduction -- you want to make sure you tell readers the main idea of your research paper. Everything you write in your paper is going to be related to that sentence. Reread the notes that you took during prewriting, organize your thoughts, and use your own words and ideas to explain what you learned. Most 4th grade research papers are five paragraphs long with one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph.

Edit and Revise

After you finish writing your first draft, take a short break from your research paper. Don't look at it for at least a day. When you go back to it, read it over very carefully, looking for places where you can make your writing better by adding, deleting or rearranging information. Make these changes on the computer or by hand. Then reread it very carefully, sentence by sentence, looking for mistakes in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Fix or mark the mistakes that you find. Finally, ask at least three other people to read your research paper and give you opinions and suggestions. Once you have revised and edited your own writing and asked for feedback from others, rewrite your first draft.

Publish Your Research Paper

By this point in the writing process, your research paper is sounding pretty good. Your topic is explained clearly, your writing is all related to your topic, your paper is broken up into an introduction, a body and a conclusion and you are ready to turn in your work. The final step in the writing process is publishing. This is the step where you make sure that your writing looks neat and professional and ready to share with others. You might share, or publish, your work by turning it in to your teacher, showing it to your classmates or displaying it in the classroom or hallway.

• Great Schools: Your Fourth Grader and Writing

A lifetime resident of New York, Christi O'Donnell has been writing about education since 2003. O'Donnell is a dual-certified educator with experience writing curriculum and teaching grades preK through 12. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters Degree in education from Mercy College.

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50 Exciting 4th Grade Science Projects and Experiments

Did you know you can make plastic from milk?

Nothing gets kids more excited for science than hands-on experiments! Watch your 4th grade science students’ eyes light up when they try some of these activities. You’ll find physics, biology, engineering, chemistry, and more. These projects are easy to set up and really help drive the learning home. Get ready for some science fun!

To help you find the right 4th grade science projects and activities, we’ve rated them all based on difficulty and materials:

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much any time
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

4th Grade Science Fair Projects

4th grade stem challenge science projects, 4th grade motion and energy science activities.

• More 4th Grade Science Projects and Experiments

These 4th grade experiments also work well as science fair projects. Try changing up the variables to turn it into a real experiment, then form a hypothesis and find out what happens.

Blow unpoppable bubbles

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

A soap bubble you can hold in your hand? It’s true! A little glycerin makes the soap bubble layers stronger, so you can even toss them gently from person to person.

Learn more: Unpoppable Bubbles Experiment at Learning Resources

Grow crystal names

No list of 4th grade science projects would be complete without crystals! Kids of all ages love growing crystals, making this an ideal way to learn about supersaturated solutions. The classic experiment gets a new twist when you have kids shape pipe cleaners into their own names first.

Learn more: Crystal Letters at Playdough to Plato

Grow bacteria in petri dishes

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

Your students will truly feel like scientists when they perform this classic experiment. They’ll prep the dishes with agar, swab different surfaces, and see what bacteria they grow. It’s gross science, but it’s also easy and impressive.

Learn more: Growing Bacteria at Steve Spangler Science

See coastal erosion in action

Here’s a cool experiment to include in your unit on oceans. Build a miniature coastline, then see how wave action erodes the shore.

Learn more: Erosion Experiment at Little Bins for Little Hands

Erupt a lemon volcano

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

Early chemistry experiments with acids and bases are always a lot of fun. This one uses the natural acids of lemon juice and adds a little food coloring to up the wow factor.

Learn more: Lemon Volcano at STEAM Powered Family

Sink and float to explore density

Adding items like salt or sugar to water changes its density, as does the temperature itself. Turn this into a 4th grade science fair project by experimenting with different solutions and forming hypotheses about the results.

Learn more: Salt Water Density at Science Kiddo

Discover a density rainbow

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Colorful, simple, and impressive: It’s the trifecta of 4th grade science experiments! Wow your students by layering colored sugar water as you learn about density, adhesion, and cohesion.

Transform milk into plastic

Plastic seems incredibly modern, but people have been making casein plastic from milk for centuries. In this 4th grade science project, students experiment to create the formula for the best milk plastic. They’ll be amazed at the results!

Simulate an earthquake

The ground under our feet may feel solid, but an earthquake changes that pretty quickly. Use Jell-O to simulate the Earth’s crust, then see if you can build an earthquake-proof structure for a practical and fascinating 4th grade science fair project.

Learn more: Earthquake Simulation at Teaching Science

Test Sharpie solubility

Find out if Sharpie markers are really permanent with this 4th grade science project that uses the scientific method to explore solutes and solvents.

Learn more: Sharpie Solubility at Around the Kampfire

Find out if mood rings really work

Apply the rigors of the scientific method to mood rings ! Find out what makes mood rings change color, then see if they really reflect a person’s mood.

Learn more: Mood Rings Validity Test at Education.com

Create a new plant or animal

Kids will really get into this project, indulging their creativity as they invent a plant or animal that’s never been seen before. They’ll need to be able to explain the biology behind it all, though, making this an in-depth project you can tailor to any class.

Learn more: Create an Organism at I Love 2 Teach

Investigate decomposition

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Easy

Yup, it’s gross … so kids will love it! Seal food items in a plastic bag and experiment to see what factors affect their decomposition, helped along by a heaping dose of mold.

Learn more: Decomposition at Mystery Science

Assemble a lung model

With just a few supplies including balloons and a plastic bottle, you can make an impressive working model of human lungs. This makes a very cool 4th grade science fair project.

Explore the causes of tooth decay

They hear it from their parents all the time, but this experiment will prove to your students once and for all what can happen to their teeth when exposed to different drinks such as soda and milk. This is one of those classic 4th grade science fair projects every kid should try.

For students who love to tinker, STEM challenges can spark incredible 4th grade science fair projects. Here are some of our favorites for this age group.

Engineer a drinking-straw roller coaster

STEM challenges are always a hit with kids. We love this one, which only requires basic supplies like drinking straws . ( Get more 4th grade STEM challenges here. )

Learn more: Drinking Straw Roller Coaster at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Make a wigglebot

Who knew electricity could be so adorable? Explore the science behind batteries and motors by creating a simple “wigglebot.” Experiment with weights to throw the motor off balance and create fun designs.

Learn more: Wigglebot at Research Parent

Construct a working flashlight

You’ll only need a few supplies to guide your students in building their own LED flashlights. They’ll learn how electricity travels and the way circuits work. The slideshow available through the link makes this lesson a breeze for teachers too.

Learn more: DIY Flashlight at Mystery Science

Build a hovercraft

It’s not exactly the same model the military uses, but this simple hovercraft is a lot easier to build. An old CD and a balloon help demonstrate air pressure and friction in this fun 4th grade science experiment.

Learn more: DIY Hovercraft at Education.com

Create a smartphone projector

No projector in your classroom yet? No problem! Have your students help you construct one for your smartphone using a cardboard box and large magnifying glass . They’ll learn about convex lenses and how the brain processes images too.

Learn more: DIY Smartphone Projector at The STEM Laboratory

Set up a pulley system

The science of machines never fails to fascinate kids. In this experiment, they’ll design their own pulley system to make it easier to lift an object.

Learn more: DIY Pulley at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Design a working elevator

Engineering activities make for amazing hands-on learning. Challenge your 4th grade students to build an elevator that can safely lift a certain amount of weight.

Make a model seismometer

Explore the science of seismology and learn how scientists study earthquakes and their effects. This model seismometer is easy to build and fun to experiment with.

Learn more: Model Seismometer at Science Sparks

Conduct an egg drop

Here’s one more classic to add to our list of 4th grade science experiments: the egg drop! The great thing about this project is that kids can do it at any age, with different materials and heights to mix it up. Hit the link below to get an egg drop project designed just for 4th graders.

Learn more: Egg Drop Challenge Ideas

Demonstrate Newton’s laws of motion with balloon rockets

Who doesn’t love balloon rockets?! Your students will have a blast(off) displaying Newton’s third law of motion while learning about physics.

Many 4th grade science standards include units on energy and motion. These energy science activities offer cool hands-on ways to spice up your classroom lessons.

Flick marbles to learn transfer of energy

This experiment is a bit of a thinker: What will happen when one moving marble hits several stationary marbles sitting in a row? Flick the first marble and find out!

Learn more: Marble Energy Transfer at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

See energy transfer in action with sports balls

Place a tennis ball on top of a basketball and bounce them together to see how energy transfers from one object to another. This one is very easy, and kids will love seeing how high they can get the balls to bounce!

Go an on energy scavenger hunt

Emphasize the fact that energy is all around us in one form or another with this easy, free printable energy science activity. For a more advanced version, help students identify each kind of energy (kinetic, stored, heat, etc.) they find.

Learn more: Energy Scavenger Hunt at The Science Penguin

See a heat-powered windmill demonstrate convection

Heat rises, and its interaction with cooler air creates convection currents. Find out how we can put convection to work for us with this 4th grade science craft project.

Capture waves in a bottle

Here’s a quick and easy way to show wave action in a no-mess way. You don’t need to add a little ship to the bottle, but it does make it more fun!

Learn more: Waves in a Bottle at What I Have Learned Teaching

Assemble a wave machine

Turn this one into a class cooperative activity, or try it as a science fair project idea. Either way, it’s an incredibly fascinating way to demonstrate the energy science of waves.

Use a Slinky to demonstrate types of waves

A Slinky is more than just a toy—it’s also a terrific science manipulative! Use it to see waves in motion, both longitudinal and transverse.

Watch gravity beads prove Newton’s laws

You’ll need a loooooooong string of beads for this experiment. Make your own by taping dollar-store strings together, or buy a long bead garland . Pile them in a cup and get the beads going; it’s fascinating to watch inertia and gravity at work.

Learn more: Gravity Beads at Teach Beside Me

Spin marble tops to learn about inertia

Glue together marbles in a variety of pyramidal patterns to form tops, then form hypotheses about which will spin best. Afterwards, kids will have fun new toys to play with!

Learn more: Marble Tops at KidsActivities.com

Visualize the second law of motion with soda cans

Newton’s second law, concerning acceleration, force, and mass, can be a little hard to understand. This easy 4th grade science demo makes it a little easier to visualize.

More 4th Grade Science Projects and Activities

Use these cool science experiments to encourage a love of science, at home or in the classroom!

Measure a magnet’s attraction force

Fourth grade science students already know that magnets attract metal objects. In this experiment, they’ll measure to see how close a magnet needs to be to an object for the attraction to work. Mix things up with different sizes of magnets and objects of various weights.

Learn more: Magnet Measurements at Ashleigh’s Education Journey

See light refraction in action

This seems more like a magic trick, but we promise it’s science! Make colors seem to appear and disappear, change numbers into letters, and more.

Learn more: Light Refraction at Ronyes Tech

“Draw” on water with dry-erase marker

This is another one of those mind-blowing science demos that kids will want to try over and over again. Draw on a shallow bowl or plate with dry-erase markers , then slowly add water. The marker (which is insoluble in water) will float to the top!

Paint with sunscreen

Prove that sunscreen really does provide protection from harmful UV rays. Turn this into a full-blown experiment by trying different SPFs or comparing it to other creams or lotions without SPF.

Learn more: Paint With Sunscreen at Team Cartwright

Become human sundials

Choose a sunny day and grab some sidewalk chalk—your students are about to become sundials! They’ll practice measuring skills and learn about the movement of the sun across the sky.

Learn more: Human Sundial at Rhythms of Play

Mine for chocolate chips

If you’re learning about mineral resources, this quick hands-on activity is an interesting way to explore the effects of mining. Kids have two minutes to find as many chocolate chips as they can in a cookie. Will they smash it up and destroy it entirely? Pick them out one by one? This experiment can lead to intriguing discussions.

Learn more: Mining for Chocolate Chips at Sarah’s STEM Stuff

Assemble an edible DNA model

Use licorice sticks, four different-colored candies or fruits, and toothpicks to build an edible strand of DNA. Learn about chemical bonds and the helix shape, then eat your creation!

Learn more: Edible DNA Model at wikiHow

Layer an edible soil model

Digging in the dirt is fun, but it’s even more fun when you can eat the dirt when you’re finished! Create edible soil-layer models, complete with gummy worms, for a simple earth science project. ( Find more edible science projects here. )

Learn more: Edible Soil Layers at Super Teacher Blog

Turn a penny green

Experiment with simple chemical reactions as you turn pennies green using vinegar. (Don’t forget to tell students that the Statue of Liberty is green for this very same reason!)

Learn more: Penny Reactions at Buggy and Buddy

Use marshmallows to explore Boyle’s law

Seeing Boyle’s law (which relates pressure and volume of gasses) in action makes it a little easier to understand and remember. This simple 4th grade science experiment uses marshmallows to make a great visual.

Learn more: Boyle’s Law at Hojo’s Teaching Adventures

Form ocean currents

Learning about oceanography? Demonstrate how ocean currents form using warm and cold water (and a few plastic sea creatures for extra fun!).

Learn more: Ocean Currents at Life Over C’s

Understand the impact of non-renewable resources

This is a neat Earth Day activity . Discuss the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources, then have your class form “companies” to “mine” non-renewable resources. As they compete, they’ll see how quickly the resources are used. It’s a great tie-in to energy conservation discussions.

Learn more: Non-Renewable Resources at The Owl Teacher

Explore blood components

Use simple kitchen supplies to create a jar full of “blood” that includes plasma, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. (You can even snack on the blood cells along the way!)

Learn more: Blood Model at Almost Supermom

Create cool colors with candy

Learn about diffusion in the sweetest way! Grab a bag of Skittles for this quick and easy 4th grade science project.

Wow them with glowing water

Your students will ooh and aah at the result of this exploratory way to show phosphors in action with a black light, different types of water, and a highlighter. The results of this experiment might surprise both you and your students!

Learn more: Glowing Water Experiment at Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Keep the STEM excitement going with these 25 Fantastic Free 4th Grade Math Games .

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45 Great Science Projects For 4th Graders

By Beth Roberts | Last Updated May 4, 2022

As science concepts are constantly changing and developing, kids have to grow up learning them at a rapid pace. However, this may be a time-consuming and frustrating procedure for parents and educators. If you are looking for a fun way to help your young learner keep up with the latest scientific breakthroughs, then here are some great projects you can use during family time to stimulate discussion about the latest scientific discoveries. These 45 science projects for 4th graders will keep your child engaged all year long!

1. Transfer Of Energy

Collect some marbles! This simple transfer of energy science experiment is a wonderful method to illustrate how energy is transmitted from one thing to another. This exercise requires some thought: What happens when a traveling marble collides with numerous immobile marbles arranged in a row? Find out by tossing the first marble!

2. Volcano Science 

The volcano science project is one of the most popular science fair projects globally, and it’s easy to see why. It’s entertaining and simple. Make your model out of an empty bottle, some cardboard, a few old newspapers, and any other odds and ends you can find about the house.

3. Snow Volcano

Making a volcano is a traditional science experiment for youngsters that everyone should try. It mixes science education for children with the awe-inspiring effect of a snow volcano science experiment . However, the setup and cleanup might be time-consuming. This snow volcano is an easy-to-set-up and quick-to-clean-up winter science activity!

4. Melting Snowman Winter 

Children will like this melting snowman , in which they will melt the snowman utilizing a fascinating winter scientific experiment. This snowman activity for preschoolers is ideal for toddlers, preschool, pre-k, and even elementary school students who want to sneak in a fun winter project where they will make a snowman and then melt it using snow science experiments for kids.

5. What If There Is No Electricity?

Make this handy paper flashlight , and learn about basic electric circuit principles! This activity is an excellent experiment for children because it will undoubtedly bring the science of batteries to their attention.

6. Make A Super Cool Lemon Battery

This instruction on constructing a lemon battery is excellent for a quick science fair project, a really fun home science experiment, or a classroom science exercise that requires no preparation. An intriguing experiment, Lemon Power is one that you can try to replicate with various fruits. Which fruit is the most effective battery? Experiment and see what happens!

7. Melting Snowman Slime

With this incredibly glittery and goofy Melting Snowman craft activity , your children will have a BLAST! They will have to race against the clock to construct a cute snowman out of the snowman slime before the snowman melts back into a puddle. This is a fantastic snowman activity for children during December, January, and February. You have to try these basic winter activities for elementary school students if you want to succeed.

8. How Do Antacids Work?

In this project, students investigate the chemical reaction when water is mixed with effervescent antacid tablets. This hands-on lesson demonstrates how a material might behave differently when reduced in size to the nanoscale range. It’s interesting for students to see the difference in reaction time between an unbroken antacid tablet and an unbroken one cut into several pieces.

9. Science Project On Tooth Decay

Maintaining healthy teeth is critical for chewing food, which is necessary for digestion. Due to the critical nature of teeth, tooth decay can be a major concern. A scientific fair project enables students to demonstrate how tooth decay occurs and how it can be prevented. You’ll need numerous samples for this job, and you’re unlikely to have a collection of teeth. Do not be concerned. Eggshells are an excellent replacement, and you may obtain as many as you require.

10. Mice And Music

If you’re testing mice in a maze, consider testing mice’s response to music . It is, in fact, an excellent experiment that has been replicated numerous times in laboratories. Scientists seek to examine the impact of various musical genres on mice to make connections with children. REMEMBER that if you choose to utilize live animals in your science fair project, you must ensure that the animals are not harmed!

11. Exploding Snowman

Children will go crazy for these simple winter activities for elementary students, which they will want to repeat repeatedly! Children will utilize a few common household items to create the winter science experiment to produce a baking soda and vinegar scientific experiment. Prepare for exciting giggles as the snowman grows larger and larger until it POPS! Use this as a snowman activity for children during the chilly months of December, January, and February!

12. Make A Lemon Volcano

After successfully creating a lemon battery, I found a lot of lemons asking to be utilized in another great science experiment. Therefore, what did they do? A lemon volcano can be built! There are so many lemons in our pantry that we could create the rainbow’s most beautiful creation with them all. Consider this excellent technique to utilize those lemons!

13. Force And Motion Stations

Students in fourth-grade science already understand that magnets attract certain metal items . They will do this experiment to determine the minimum distance between a magnet and an object for attraction to occur. Combine magnets of varying diameters with objects of varying weights.

14. Homemade Lava Lamp

This project will take around 2 hours to complete, including the experiment and the writing of the report. Children will learn about the interaction between oil and water in terms of density, as well as the presence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances, by participating in this activity.

15. A Magnetic Primer Designer

How are scientists able to “replicate” DNA? They employ a technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR. The critical component of this process is a short bit of DNA called a primer that adheres to the larger piece of DNA you wish to duplicate, called a template. In this Magnetic Primer research project , you will investigate how the amount of matches and mismatches in a primer affects its ability to adhere to, or anneal, the DNA template during polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

16. Make Frost In A Can

Making frost in a can is a simple science experiment that kindergarten students enjoy. Kids can do this frost experiment at home without becoming cold will delight them, children. For parents, teachers, and homeschoolers alike, this easy salt and ice experiment is a great way to teach children how frost forms in the winter.

17. Ice Salt And Water Temperature

We use ice to cool or maintain the temperature of our drinks. Nobody enjoys warm lemonade or drink, isn’t that correct? With this enjoyable, simple science for kids, teach children about the effect of ice and salt on temperature . This ice and salt experiment is quite easy to conduct and is ideal for encouraging children to investigate and think critically about their surroundings.

18. Growing Bacteria In Petri Dishes 

Are you looking for the greatest bacteria science fair projects that will truly impress your friends and family? Steve Spangler Science has a fantastic collection of bacteria culture ideas, hands-on experiments, and science fair projects for children! Our super-fun projects and bacteria culture experiments will allow your young scientists to witness incredible and memorable bacteria growth in front of their eyes — in a petri dish in their home or classroom!

19. Earthquake Experiment And Interactive

Set a plate of jelly on the table and then begin constructing a structure on top of it. Wobble the dish once the structure is complete so that the jelly rattles and causes the structure to collapse, showing the science of seismology .

20. How To Do the Light Total Refraction Trick?

This may be a magic trick, but we assure you that it is not! C reate the illusion of colors appearing and disappearing , convert numbers to letters, etc. The Zip Lock Bag Water Refraction experiment is a basic and straightforward but awe-inspiring experiment. Simply submerge the zip lock bag in water to remove the image. It does appear to be magical.

21. Fizzy Love Potion

This Valentine’s Day, bring science to life by including some hearts and a delightful WOW effect that will keep youngsters engaged and learning fun. This is a simple Love Potion valentine’s science project with a little extra zing because it is a chemistry science experiment. Thus, by incorporating these Valentine’s Day scientific experiments into your day at home or at school, you may add some learning to the Valentine’s Day theme.

22. Bridge Project

This initiative investigates the fundamental physics of bridges . The goal is for the student to understand which shapes are the most structurally sound through experimentation, as well as the fact that many elements are taken into consideration in the field of engineering and construction. Physics is applied practically in this project, taking place in a real-world setting.

23. Valentines Day Oobleck

Have your children ever attempted to play with Oobleck? Oobleck is an enthralling non-Newtonian fluid that possesses both liquid and solid qualities! It truly is an enthralling science experiment for children to investigate and play with. They created a Valentine’s Day science variation of Oobleck to provide a very enjoyable Valentine’s Day exercise for elementary pupils. Utilize this for your Valentine’s Day theme, scientific exploration of states of matter, or a fun Valentine’s Day idea.

24. DIY Hovercraft

This experiment has proven to be one of the most effective methods of proving the power of air time and time again. Create a floating hovercraft and learn about friction and air pressure as you go.

25. Floating Dry Erase Rainbow And Shapes

The following is yet another mind-blowing science demonstration that youngsters will want to perform repeatedly. Dry erase markers are used to draw on a shallow dish or plate, and then water is progressively added. This is because the marker is insoluble in water and will float to the top of the water!

26. Glittery Purple Valentine Slime

Within 5 minutes, you can put together this incredibly entertaining Valentine Activity. Make this Valentine Slime in minutes with only a few simple supplies, some of which you may already have at home. They are easily obtained from your local craft store, Amazon, or Walmart if you do not have them. Use this in conjunction with your creative Valentine’s Day ideas for kids.

27. Paper Airplane Science

Create your theory about paper aircraft , and then conduct your experiment to test that idea. This article will provide you with all of the information you require.

28. Sunscreen Painting

Do your children become irritated when you apply sunscreen to them? Alternatively, you might say no outright. Demonstrate that sunscreen does protect from dangerous ultraviolet rays. Make this a full-fledged experiment by experimenting with different SPFs or comparing it to other creams or lotions that do not contain SPF.

29. Gummy Bear Osmosis

Perhaps you’ve seen some of the interesting, basic scientific experiments available online, but one that caught our eye was testing osmosis using gummies . Jordyn C. Jordyn, one of our contributors, conducted this gummy bear osmosis experiment with her children. We’ll share her results below; however, if you want to do your experiment, here’s everything you’ll need.

30. Magic Milk

I enjoy simple yet meaningful experiences that encourage young children to investigate, explore, and marvel at the world around them. The magic milk scientific project should be simple, quick to complete, and have a fantastic WOW moment. This experiment using milk and food coloring satisfies all three criteria! At home, in the classroom, or at your homeschool coop, try this milk science experiment for kids’ fun Valentine’s Day activity!

31. Unpoppable Bubbles

Is it possible to hold a soap bubble in your hand ? Yes, this is correct! A small amount of glycerin makes the soap bubble layers more durable, allowing you to gently toss them from person to person without breaking them.

32. Crystal Names

A complete list of fourth-grade science experiments would be incomplete without mentioning crystals. Growing crystals is a popular activity among children of all ages, making it an excellent opportunity to teach them about supersaturated solutions. When you first shape pipe cleaners into the shapes of their names, the traditional experiment takes on a whole new meaning.

33. Does Mint Cool Things Down?

Mint is a perennial blooming herb that comes in a variety of varieties. It thrives in shaded, chilly, wet places. Numerous individuals appreciate mint’s mild, refreshing flavor. Mint-flavored gum, breath fresheners, and hard candies frequently advertise the cooling effect of mint by incorporating pictures of frost and ice. However, is this impression a result of the mint’s true cooling effect ?

34. Which Food Will Rot First?

It’s critical to communicate to your children that they don’t have to wait to realize their ambitions of becoming scientists; they can start right away in their kitchens. They only need to think like a scientist to succeed. The first thing they require is for them to begin with a question. My little scientists came up with the question, “ Which food will go bad first? ” Here’s how we went about trying to figure it out!

35. Newton’s Law

Newton’s First Law asserts that an object in motion will continue to move unless acted upon by an external force. Use a string of beads to demonstrate Newton’s Law of Gravity when the beads are pulled ever so little and then begin to fall out of a glass or other container.

36. Layered Liquids Density 

Are you trying to come up with a nice Valentine’s Day science project for February? When the layered liquids stack up in gorgeous Valentine’s day hues, the children will be amazed. This will be one of the most memorable valentine’s science experiments that they will ever participate in. This Layered Liquids Density exercise is a terrific approach to teaching children about density through a fun, hands-on, and visually appealing density experiment that they will enjoy.

37. Oil Spill Experiment

This oil spill exercise will assist you in gaining a better understanding of the negative impacts of oil spills on the marine ecosystem. We have all heard of oil spills and their devastation of Mother Earth and the marine life that depends on it. However, those who do not encounter these impacts firsthand are unaware of their magnitude.

38. Beach Erosion Demonstration

Where has the beach vanished? Have you ever observed how the coastline changes after a large storm? Why does the seashore have a different appearance? You’re observing the effect of coastal erosion, and you can now set up a beach erosion activity and demonstration to demonstrate to your children how it works. This simple and enjoyable ocean science exercise is certain to be a favorite with your children, as it incorporates hands-on learning!

39. A Ping Pong Catapult

If you were a member of a raiding army in the Middle Ages, a catapult would have been extremely useful for destroying castle walls. However, only if you could accurately aim it! You will experiment with catapult technology in this science project. With a rubber band-powered catapult, you will launch ping pong balls into the air. The catapult design makes it simple to measure and repeat the force with which the ball is launched and its direction, allowing you to establish the optimal catapult settings for reliably hitting the goal.

40. Leprechaun Rocks

When it comes to concealing their gold, leprechauns are cunning. It is insufficient to seek refuge at the end of the rainbow. As a result, even if you reach the end of the rainbow, you will not discover a gold mine. They’d never make it that simple. However, you may come upon some strange green rocks – leprechaun rocks if you look about. With this leprechaun rocks scientific experiment , you’ll discover the secret science of luring the Leprechaun to release their treasure.

41. Amazing Food Coloring Flower 

This simple Flower Science Experiment will teach children about the elements of a flower, the floral’s life cycle, and capillary action – all while engaging them in a wonderfully beautiful flower activity! Children will be able to paint flowers using this flower experiment – even turning white flowers into two-color blooms! This color-changing flower experiment is one of the most incredible kindergarten science experiments I’ve ever seen. Get started by printing out the free food coloring flower experiment worksheet.

42. Make An Anemometer

Using your very own anemometer, determine the wind speed ! Simple earth science is demonstrated using a garden contraption constructed of paper cups, tape, straws, a pencil, and a thumbtack.

43. Simple Geranium Photosynthesis

This SIMPLICITY photosynthesis project enables children to learn about photosynthesis visually. With just a few readily available supplies, you can do this plant experiment for kids in minutes. Your children will like learning and retain much more information about what they do than what they hear. And introducing your children to a world of inquiry, curiosity, and trial and error will prepare them for success in any endeavor they pursue in life.

44. Balloon Rocket

The balloon rocket experiment is an excellent example of a children’s science project that may be carried out at home, in the classroom, or at science fairs. It’s always enjoyable to work on science projects and learn about the research’s rationale. The balloon rocket is an excellent science experiment for 4th Grade Science Projects.

45. Make A DIY Weather Vane

As spring approaches, we observe various changes in the weather, making it an excellent time to investigate with some fun weather activities for kids and weather experiments for kids to help children learn more about wind, rain, clouds, and more! I’ll demonstrate how to create an EASY weather vane , a DIY compass, and additional weather topics that 4th students would enjoy. Therefore, get a few readily available materials and construct this handmade weather vane today.

State Research Project

In my computer-based classroom, there are 14 student computers – one for every two students. When my 4th graders start the year, most of them know a few basic functions and features of a computer. In order to quickly build proficiency at using the computers as a tool for learning, I began the year with a short research project about our state. Social Studies standards for 4th grade focus predominantly on state history, so I thought this project would help us achieve several objectives with a single lesson.

Vetting the Research Websites

Most of the information gathered for our state research project was found online with several websites. There are many such helpful websites on the Internet that provide a quick assortment of facts about every state in America. A simple Google search will result in a variety of choices – choose the one you like the best. As part of my lesson preparation, I carefully screened each website. I wanted sites that provided accurate, easy-to-find information at a level that would not be too taxing for my students to read.

Modeling the Research Process

Since it was the beginning of the school year, and this was our first attempt at research, I walked the students through the process very deliberately. Using my brand-spanking-new Promethean Board (in high-def no less!), I displayed the websites for the class to see while they looked at the same site on their monitors. When researching, we discussed the information we needed and which link might best provide that to us. Here’s how it went down:

• Me: “We need to find the name of our state’s governor. Which link might give us the information?”
• Student: “Click on the one that says ‘Missouri State Governor.'”
• Me: “Why is that the link you would choose?” (Sidebar – it’s important to solicit the student’s reasoning for their decision.)
• Student: “I’m looking for the governor, and that link has the word governor in it. That website probably has what I’m looking for.”

State Research Project Printables

Here are the research pages we completed for this project.

Presentation Ideas

To publish our research, I had the students create a quick portfolio out of construction paper and glue each page to one section of the portfolio. We displayed our state research project in the hall, proud of our first foray into online research!

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Teaching Animal Adaptations in Fourth Grade

Teaching animal adaptations in fourth grade? Focus on birds! You’ll love the way these interdisciplinary studies reinforce understanding of structures and functions.

Ms. Sneed Prepares for Teaching Animal Adaptations

Our favorite fourth grade teacher, Ms. Sneed, sat at the side table with her student teacher.

“What’s next for our life science unit ?” asked Mr. Grow.

“After hitting plant structures and animal structures ,” she said, “I like to spend some time on an animal adaptations research project. However, I also have the best bird beak lab ever – and a cool camouflage activity.”

Bird Beak Lab

Quickly, Ms. Sneed walked over to the science cabinet. “Here they are!” she exclaimed. Then she slid out a stack of Styrofoam food containers.

“Lunch?” asked her student teacher.

“Ecosystems,” the teacher responded with a giggle.

After she plunked the containers down on the table, slid one one toward Mr. Grow. Inside, he found an odd assortment of objects. He picked up a portion of a rubber band. “A worm, I presume.”

“Yep,” said Ms. Sneed. “I placed ten sets of ten objects in each of these containers. They represent organisms in a pond ecosystem.”

She walked back to the cabinet and pulled out a gallon-size Ziploc baggie. In it, Mr. Grow could see chopsticks, tweezers, tongs, and a spoon. “And these represent bird beaks. In their science lab groups , kids each get one minute to pull out as many organisms as possible.”

Mr. Grow smiled. “I get it. Structures and survival.”

“Yep,” Ms. Sneed said again. “As they complete the bird beak lab , they record their results on tables. Then they graph their findings. Finally, they explain which bird and organism are best adapted for this ecosystem. In addition, they tell which is most likely to disappear from it. The kids love this lab! It pairs so well with our animal adaptations research project.”

Mr. Grow winked. “And it integrates math with science .”

Animal Adaptations Research Project – Birds of the World

Next, Ms. Sneed opened her laptop. “After the beak lab,” she said, “we’ll do a bird research project . In this interdisciplinary activity, kids choose topics in groups of three. Each selects a related bird from a different climate: tropical, temperate, and arctic. Then they research. Once they’re done, they compare the birds’ adaptations.”

“So we’ll weave science into our writing block?” Mr. Grow asked.

“Actually,” Ms. Sneed responded, “we’ll use our writing and science blocks. That way, kids can spend quite a bit of time each day on the animal adaptations project.”

Animal Adaptations Simulation – Frogs and Camouflage

“During that time,” Ms. Sneed continued, “we’ll do a few related activities.” She pulled out a single sheet of paper.

“See this little frog outline ?” she asked. “Each child will find a place in the room to hang it. Then they’ll color it to blend in. After that, they hang up their artwork. Over the course of a day – or even longer – kids try to find one another’s frogs. Of course, the frog that stays hidden the longest wins. Best camouflage!”

Mr. Grow grinned. “I can’t wait to get started teaching animal adaptations in fourth grade!”

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State Report Research Project Made Easy!

Are you getting ready to do research on one of the fifty U.S. states? This 19 page unit comes with all the templates students need to complete a research project on one of the fifty states. Students can record information they gather, glue images, photos and draw maps on these templates to create an informational state report.

Research organization templates are included to help students create a research plan and keep track of their resources.

Over 1,000 copies sold! Grab your copy today!

State Report Research Project

Nancy Alvarez

Nancy Alvarez is a principal in Texas. She is a speaker, national presenter, and early childhood curriculum creator.

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Grade 4 Research Projects Worksheets

Related ela standard: w.4.7.

This is the grade level where students begin to explore the research process. Students should be encouraged through this process to help make it manageable and making sure the students have interest in that they are doing. It is always best to explore topics that reflect your students' everyday lives. It is often helpful at this level to have students work in groups or pairs. The jury is still out on whether groups should be assigned or chosen by students. Below you will find a number of research projects students can engage with quickly.

Grade 4 Research Projects Worksheets:

You Are What You Eat – A really thought provoking worksheet for students.

Developing a Research Plan – Let's look at all the tools you have at your disposal.

Your Road Map to Successful Research! – I find a lot of students holding on to this one, even as they progress grades.

Horsing Around – Here is how to zero in on the perfect research topic set.

Animal Kingdom – We ask you a bunch of questions. Make sure to answer all of them.

Planning A Biography – Choose a famous person that interests you. Research that person's life.

Art and Government – Do you think that the government should give money to artists?

Fair Winds and Following Seas – The quotation above is a nautical phrase used to wish sailors good luck on a journey.

Brainstorms – On the back of this sheet, brainstorm a list of words and ideas related to your report. Which one interests you the most?

What's in a Profession? – Different careers require different temperaments and different levels of education.

Look Before You Leap! – Do you have a great idea for your report? Before you dive in, think through the questions below to set yourself up for success!

Navigating the Research Waters – Writing a report can be a long journey; use this checklist to make sure your project sails along smoothly.

Get Ready to Write! – On the back of this sheet, brainstorm a list of words and ideas related to your report.

Your Research Project! – Before beginning to write your report, you should have a firm understanding of your intended audience.

Research Checklist – Things you need to check before submitting any report you may have.

How to Approach Your First Research Project?

Here are some steps to follow for your first research project:

Choose A Topic

The first and foremost step towards doing your research project is to actually decide the topic. This is a very essential step that decides the future of your research project. You should choose a topic that you are passionate about. It should align with your interests. This is necessary because it will keep your interest alive throughout the project.

Write A Thesis Statement

The next step towards doing your first research project is to write the working thesis statement. The working thesis statement will help you throughout the project. It will keep you on track. There are three types of working thesis statements that include persuasive, expository, and analytical. Give yourself enough time to write the thesis statement. Try to make it as narrowed down and specific as possible.

Do Research

The next step is to conduct the actual research on your topic. You can do so by collecting information from credible sources. These sources could be primary or secondary. Make sure that you read your entire research thoroughly. Another tip is to always double-check the authenticity of your research. Your research project should not contain any false information. This could ruin your academic reputation.

Make an Outline

After you are done with the topic, thesis statement, and research, it is time to arrange all the information and ideas you have collected. Make a rough outline of how your article will be. You can decide what information will be in the introductory part and what ideas you will mention in the main body.

Write a Draft

When a clear image of your final article has been made, it is time to start writing the draft. Do not worry about perfection at this time as you can edit and rephrase later. After writing and editing many drafts, you will be left with one final draft.

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50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills

Please note, I am no longer blogging and this post hasn’t updated since April 2020.

For a number of years, Seth Godin has been talking about the need to “ connect the dots” rather than “collect the dots” . That is, rather than memorising information, students must be able to learn how to solve new problems, see patterns, and combine multiple perspectives.

Solid research skills underpin this. Having the fluency to find and use information successfully is an essential skill for life and work.

Today’s students have more information at their fingertips than ever before and this means the role of the teacher as a guide is more important than ever.

You might be wondering how you can fit teaching research skills into a busy curriculum? There aren’t enough hours in the day! The good news is, there are so many mini-lessons you can do to build students’ skills over time.

This post outlines 50 ideas for activities that could be done in just a few minutes (or stretched out to a longer lesson if you have the time!).

Learn More About The Research Process

I have a popular post called Teach Students How To Research Online In 5 Steps. It outlines a five-step approach to break down the research process into manageable chunks.

This post shares ideas for mini-lessons that could be carried out in the classroom throughout the year to help build students’ skills in the five areas of: clarify, search, delve, evaluate , and cite . It also includes ideas for learning about staying organised throughout the research process.

Notes about the 50 research activities:

• These ideas can be adapted for different age groups from middle primary/elementary to senior high school.
• Many of these ideas can be repeated throughout the year.
• Depending on the age of your students, you can decide whether the activity will be more teacher or student led. Some activities suggest coming up with a list of words, questions, or phrases. Teachers of younger students could generate these themselves.
• Depending on how much time you have, many of the activities can be either quickly modelled by the teacher, or extended to an hour-long lesson.
• Some of the activities could fit into more than one category.
• Looking for simple articles for younger students for some of the activities? Try DOGO News or Time for Kids . Newsela is also a great resource but you do need to sign up for free account.
• Why not try a few activities in a staff meeting? Everyone can always brush up on their own research skills!

• Choose a topic (e.g. koalas, basketball, Mount Everest) . Write as many questions as you can think of relating to that topic.
• Make a mindmap of a topic you’re currently learning about. This could be either on paper or using an online tool like Bubbl.us .
• Read a short book or article. Make a list of 5 words from the text that you don’t totally understand. Look up the meaning of the words in a dictionary (online or paper).
• Look at a printed or digital copy of a short article with the title removed. Come up with as many different titles as possible that would fit the article.
• Come up with a list of 5 different questions you could type into Google (e.g. Which country in Asia has the largest population?) Circle the keywords in each question.
• Write down 10 words to describe a person, place, or topic. Come up with synonyms for these words using a tool like  Thesaurus.com .
• Write pairs of synonyms on post-it notes (this could be done by the teacher or students). Each student in the class has one post-it note and walks around the classroom to find the person with the synonym to their word.

• Explore how to search Google using your voice (i.e. click/tap on the microphone in the Google search box or on your phone/tablet keyboard) . List the pros and cons of using voice and text to search.
• Open two different search engines in your browser such as Google and Bing. Type in a query and compare the results. Do all search engines work exactly the same?
• Have students work in pairs to try out a different search engine (there are 11 listed here ). Report back to the class on the pros and cons.
• Think of something you’re curious about, (e.g. What endangered animals live in the Amazon Rainforest?). Open Google in two tabs. In one search, type in one or two keywords ( e.g. Amazon Rainforest) . In the other search type in multiple relevant keywords (e.g. endangered animals Amazon rainforest).  Compare the results. Discuss the importance of being specific.
• Similar to above, try two different searches where one phrase is in quotation marks and the other is not. For example, Origin of “raining cats and dogs” and Origin of raining cats and dogs . Discuss the difference that using quotation marks makes (It tells Google to search for the precise keywords in order.)
• Try writing a question in Google with a few minor spelling mistakes. What happens? What happens if you add or leave out punctuation ?
• Try the AGoogleADay.com daily search challenges from Google. The questions help older students learn about choosing keywords, deconstructing questions, and altering keywords.
• Explore how Google uses autocomplete to suggest searches quickly. Try it out by typing in various queries (e.g. How to draw… or What is the tallest…). Discuss how these suggestions come about, how to use them, and whether they’re usually helpful.
• Watch this video  from Code.org to learn more about how search works .
• Take a look at  20 Instant Google Searches your Students Need to Know  by Eric Curts to learn about “ instant searches ”. Try one to try out. Perhaps each student could be assigned one to try and share with the class.
• Experiment with typing some questions into Google that have a clear answer (e.g. “What is a parallelogram?” or “What is the highest mountain in the world?” or “What is the population of Australia?”). Look at the different ways the answers are displayed instantly within the search results — dictionary definitions, image cards, graphs etc.

• Watch the video How Does Google Know Everything About Me?  by Scientific American. Discuss the PageRank algorithm and how Google uses your data to customise search results.
• Brainstorm a list of popular domains   (e.g. .com, .com.au, or your country’s domain) . Discuss if any domains might be more reliable than others and why (e.g. .gov or .edu) .
• Discuss (or research) ways to open Google search results in a new tab to save your original search results  (i.e. right-click > open link in new tab or press control/command and click the link).
• Try out a few Google searches (perhaps start with things like “car service” “cat food” or “fresh flowers”). A re there advertisements within the results? Discuss where these appear and how to spot them.
• Look at ways to filter search results by using the tabs at the top of the page in Google (i.e. news, images, shopping, maps, videos etc.). Do the same filters appear for all Google searches? Try out a few different searches and see.
• Type a question into Google and look for the “People also ask” and “Searches related to…” sections. Discuss how these could be useful. When should you use them or ignore them so you don’t go off on an irrelevant tangent? Is the information in the drop-down section under “People also ask” always the best?
• Often, more current search results are more useful. Click on “tools” under the Google search box and then “any time” and your time frame of choice such as “Past month” or “Past year”.
• Have students annotate their own “anatomy of a search result” example like the one I made below. Explore the different ways search results display; some have more details like sitelinks and some do not.

• Find two articles on a news topic from different publications. Or find a news article and an opinion piece on the same topic. Make a Venn diagram comparing the similarities and differences.
• Choose a graph, map, or chart from The New York Times’ What’s Going On In This Graph series . Have a whole class or small group discussion about the data.
• Look at images stripped of their captions on What’s Going On In This Picture? by The New York Times. Discuss the images in pairs or small groups. What can you tell?
• Explore a website together as a class or in pairs — perhaps a news website. Identify all the advertisements .
• Have a look at a fake website either as a whole class or in pairs/small groups. See if students can spot that these sites are not real. Discuss the fact that you can’t believe everything that’s online. Get started with these four examples of fake websites from Eric Curts.
• Give students a copy of my website evaluation flowchart to analyse and then discuss as a class. Read more about the flowchart in this post.
• As a class, look at a prompt from Mike Caulfield’s Four Moves . Either together or in small groups, have students fact check the prompts on the site. This resource explains more about the fact checking process. Note: some of these prompts are not suitable for younger students.
• Practice skim reading — give students one minute to read a short article. Ask them to discuss what stood out to them. Headings? Bold words? Quotes? Then give students ten minutes to read the same article and discuss deep reading.

All students can benefit from learning about plagiarism, copyright, how to write information in their own words, and how to acknowledge the source. However, the formality of this process will depend on your students’ age and your curriculum guidelines.

• Watch the video Citation for Beginners for an introduction to citation. Discuss the key points to remember.
• Look up the definition of plagiarism using a variety of sources (dictionary, video, Wikipedia etc.). Create a definition as a class.
• Find an interesting video on YouTube (perhaps a “life hack” video) and write a brief summary in your own words.
• Have students pair up and tell each other about their weekend. Then have the listener try to verbalise or write their friend’s recount in their own words. Discuss how accurate this was.
• Read the class a copy of a well known fairy tale. Have them write a short summary in their own words. Compare the versions that different students come up with.
• Try out MyBib — a handy free online tool without ads that helps you create citations quickly and easily.
• Give primary/elementary students a copy of Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Citation that matches their grade level (the guide covers grades 1 to 6). Choose one form of citation and create some examples as a class (e.g. a website or a book).
• Make a list of things that are okay and not okay to do when researching, e.g. copy text from a website, use any image from Google images, paraphrase in your own words and cite your source, add a short quote and cite the source. 
• Have students read a short article and then come up with a summary that would be considered plagiarism and one that would not be considered plagiarism. These could be shared with the class and the students asked to decide which one shows an example of plagiarism .
• Older students could investigate the difference between paraphrasing and summarising . They could create a Venn diagram that compares the two.
• Write a list of statements on the board that might be true or false ( e.g. The 1956 Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia. The rhinoceros is the largest land animal in the world. The current marathon world record is 2 hours, 7 minutes). Have students research these statements and decide whether they’re true or false by sharing their citations.

Staying Organised

• Make a list of different ways you can take notes while researching — Google Docs, Google Keep, pen and paper etc. Discuss the pros and cons of each method.
• Learn the keyboard shortcuts to help manage tabs (e.g. open new tab, reopen closed tab, go to next tab etc.). Perhaps students could all try out the shortcuts and share their favourite one with the class.
• Find a collection of resources on a topic and add them to a Wakelet .
• Listen to a short podcast or watch a brief video on a certain topic and sketchnote ideas. Sylvia Duckworth has some great tips about live sketchnoting
• Learn how to use split screen to have one window open with your research, and another open with your notes (e.g. a Google spreadsheet, Google Doc, Microsoft Word or OneNote etc.) .

All teachers know it’s important to teach students to research well. Investing time in this process will also pay off throughout the year and the years to come. Students will be able to focus on analysing and synthesizing information, rather than the mechanics of the research process.

By trying out as many of these mini-lessons as possible throughout the year, you’ll be really helping your students to thrive in all areas of school, work, and life.

Also remember to model your own searches explicitly during class time. Talk out loud as you look things up and ask students for input. Learning together is the way to go!

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10 Replies to “50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills”

Loving these ideas, thank you

This list is amazing. Thank you so much!

So glad it’s helpful, Alex! 🙂

Hi I am a student who really needed some help on how to reasearch thanks for the help.

So glad it helped! 🙂

seriously seriously grateful for your post. 🙂

So glad it’s helpful! Makes my day 🙂

How do you get the 50 mini lessons. I got the free one but am interested in the full version.

Hi Tracey, The link to the PDF with the 50 mini lessons is in the post. Here it is . Check out this post if you need more advice on teaching students how to research online. Hope that helps! Kathleen

Best wishes to you as you face your health battler. Hoping you’ve come out stronger and healthier from it. Your website is so helpful.

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The BEST Elementary Biography Project

Looking for a fun, new research and writing project for your elementary kiddos? This living wax museum is a great way to tie together reading, writing, social studies and speaking and listening skills all in one fun project. I have done this project with second through fourth graders and they have all loved it.

Start this project off by having your students select what famous figure they want to research, or by assigning them a famous figure. My ABSOLUTE favorite books for us to conduct our research are the “Who Was” Series by Jim Gigliotti. They are perfect for on-level/higher second graders, and are most appropriate for third and fourth grade students.

Typically, I will introduce the project, show the students my example, and then briefly introduce all of the famous figures that they can pick from. I then let them go one by one and pick which person they want to research.

For my second graders, I always have one group (my lower level readers) that work together to collect our research all on the same person, but then I release them to each write their own reports.

We spend about one week reading our books and researching our influential figure. While they work, they take notes on important aspects of that person’s life. There are also a ton of great books on Epic ! that students can use for additional research and ideas.

After our notes are compiled, students begin writing their drafts for their research reports. I have students write 6 total paragraphs about their famous figures. We do an introduction, a paragraph about their early life, a paragraph about why they are famous, fun facts, a paragraph about a character trait that best describes them and why, and then a closing.

We spend about 1-1 & 1/2 weeks working on our writing. We write about a paragraph or 2 per day, then take our writing through the revising/editing/publishing process. I then give students a good 2-3 days to spend a TON of time publishing their work to the best of their capability, using their best handwriting and best pictures that they can.

Wax Museum: Speaking & Listening

We end this project by inviting parents and other classes to come watch us present our reports. This is a fun time where the students get to dress up like their famous person, bring in props and practice speaking in front of an audience. We always get amazing feedback from the parents and from other classroom teachers. This component is totally optional, but completely worth it!

I always send home a student letter at the beginning of the project so that parents have ample time to help students gather materials for their costumes and to help them get a good understanding of who their influential figure is.

Distance Learning / Digital Learning :

Is your school closed for an extended period of time due to this crazy virus? This project is a GREAT way for students to continue learning at home. Simply send the PDF to parents to print at home (or print at school if you still have access), and send students to Epic or your local online library to find biographies on the person of their choice. Then, add a digital component by having students upload their videos to Google Classroom, SeeSaw or the digital platform of your choice. This is a great way to provide a few weeks of reading/writing plans to parents, while incorporating choice in student learning still.

Recommended Resources :

Snag everything you need for the biography research and writing reports in this Biography Writing Resource .

Click here for a compilation of all of my favorite “Who Was” characters to research for this project. These books are the perfect level for 2nd-4th graders, and are really affordable (between $2-4 each by following my Amazon affiliate link.)

Emily - The Mountain Teacher

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