Individual research folders are hands-on organizers for children. The framework allows children to follow simple steps in collecting information and citing resources.
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"I really task analyzed this; really broke it down into smallest possible chunks." — Char Soucy
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Char and the class brainstorm research questions. Students must answer three required questions and others of their choosing.
Children write each question on a different color index card. They look for useful print resources, labeling each with a letter of the alphabet on a sticky note. Children search for information in print and on the Web, and take notes in their own words. And they talk about citing resources. As first graders they write down the name of the book and the author. For Web sites they write down the URL.
"The design of the research folder really facilitated that because everything was color coded. Everything was letter coded." — Char Soucy
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