I Wonder: Writing Scientific Explanations With Students

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

K, 1, 2

Overview

If you have ever had your class interrupted by a thunderstorm or by a bug crawling across the carpet, you know that students naturally question the world around them. This lesson encourages second-grade students to ask questions about a specific topic, choose a particular question to explore in detail, and research the question using a variety of resources. Students organize their information on a "What we think we know," "What we have confirmed we know," and "New facts we have learned through research" (TCF) chart. They then collaborate to write a class scientific explanation.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): KG

ELA21.K.R5

Utilize the writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

UP:ELA21.K.R5

Vocabulary

  • Writing process
  • Plan
  • Draft
  • Revise
  • Edit
  • Publish
  • Genres

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
  • Various genres of writing.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan writings in various genres.
  • Draft writings in various genres.
  • Revise writings in various genres.
  • Edit writings in various genres.
  • Publish writings in various genres.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
  • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): KG

ELA21.K.39

Participate in shared research and writing projects to answer a question or describe a topic.

UP:ELA21.K.39

Vocabulary

  • Participate
  • Shared research
  • Shared writing projects
  • Answer a question
  • Describe a topic

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Research and writing can answer questions or describe a topic.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Work collaboratively with peers and adults in research and writing projects.
  • Use research and writing to answer questions about a topic.
  • Use research and writing to describe a topic.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Shared research and writing projects can help answer questions or describe a topic.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 1

ELA21.1.R5

Utilize the writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

UP:ELA21.1.R5

Vocabulary

  • Writing process
  • Plan
  • Draft
  • Revise
  • Edit
  • Publish
  • Genres

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
  • Various genres of writing.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan writings in various genres.
  • Draft writings in various genres.
  • Revise writings in various genres.
  • Edit writings in various genres.
  • Publish writings in various genres.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
  • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 1

ELA21.1.39

Improve writing, as needed, by planning, revising, and editing with guidance from peer editors, responding to their questions and suggestions.

UP:ELA21.1.39

Vocabulary

  • Improve
  • Writing
  • Planning
  • Revising
  • Editing
  • Peer editors
  • Questions
  • Suggestions

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The writing process includes planning, revising, and editing, incorporating guidance and suggestions from others.
  • The process for peer editing and review.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan, revise, edit, and use suggestions from peers to improve writing.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • To improve writing they need to follow all of the steps of the writing process.
  • Responding to peers' questions and suggestions during the peer editing process will help improve their writing.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 1

ELA21.1.42

Participate in shared research and writing projects to answer a question or describe a topic.

UP:ELA21.1.42

Vocabulary

  • Participate
  • Shared research projects
  • Shared writing projects
  • Question
  • Describe
  • Topic

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Research and writing projects can answer a question or describe a topic.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Participate in shared research and writing projects.
  • Answer questions about a topic in writing.
  • Describe a topic in writing.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Shared research and writing projects can help answer questions or describe a topic.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.R5

Utilize the writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

UP:ELA21.2.R5

Vocabulary

  • Writing process
  • Plan
  • Draft
  • Revise
  • Edit
  • Publish
  • Genres

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
  • Various genres of writing.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan writings in various genres.
  • Draft writings in various genres.
  • Revise writings in various genres.
  • Edit writings in various genres.
  • Publish writings in various genres.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
  • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.46

Gather and use research to answer questions to complete a research product.

UP:ELA21.2.46

Vocabulary

  • Gather
  • Research
  • Questions

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Information must be gathered from a variety of sources, and the information can be used to answer questions.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Gather and use the research to answer questions and create a research product.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • A research product requires gathering information from a variety of sources and using the research to answer questions.

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

ReadWriteThink

License Type

Custom
http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/wonder-writing-scien…

Custom License Type (URL)

http://www.readwritethink.org/util/legal.html

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

raulstoncg
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