EASY & LOW PREP RESEARCH PROJECTS

It seems like teachers are always looking for innovative and new ways to engage students and encourage a more in-depth learning experience. Research projects are a powerful resource for students to explore topics of interest, develop critical thinking skills, and fulfill a sense of curiosity.

In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of research projects and provide practical tips for implementing them effectively in the classroom.

SET UP IS QUICK AND EASY

Assigning these research projects is SUPER simple! It's as easy as deciding which slides you want the students to complete and how you want them to work – independently or in a group or partnership. Teacher tip: Preview videos (videos online can change or links can be broken over time).

Once you have made a copy of the research project, you can delete slides you don't want your students to work on. This is the best way to differentiate instruction based on student needs. There are so many different resource types. Articles and/or videos with comprehension questions are included for each topic. There are also additional slides to extend student learning.

Choosing how students will complete the research project can be the hardest part.

Independent Work: This lets you see individual skills or areas of improvement. Each student is responsible for completing the research process and filling out the accompanying slides.
Partnerships: Working with one other person allows students to share thoughts and ideas. They also have someone to talk through the project together.
Small Groups: A small group can be the most challenging but offers an opportunity for students to learn about a topic while learning to work successfully as a group member. Students can also be assigned jobs to help them work cohesively in their group.

You get to choose what works best for your students at their grade level. Teaching research skills and working on research projects

BENEFITS OF RESEARCH PROJECTS

“I am obsessed with this research project!! It was perfect for an engaging end of year writing activity as we continued to practice research. Everything is there for you- links to videos and all! My students LOVED being able to pick an animal and it was so fun to have them all share what they learned about the animals!”

Critical Thinking: Research projects require students to analyze information critically, evaluate sources, and draw evidence-based conclusions. This helps foster the development of critical thinking skills that tie into real-world problem-solving.
Inquiry-Based Learning: Research projects encourage students to ask questions, seek answers, and explore topics. This inquiry-based approach allows for student curiosity and empowers them to become active participants in their learning.
Literacy Skills: In today's digital age, navigating and evaluating information is a needed skill. Research projects are a great opportunity for elementary students to work on their information literacy skills by reading, listening, and understanding the information.
Collaboration and Communication: These research projects can be done in collaboration among peers, promoting teamwork and communication skills. Through group discussions, peer feedback, and collaborative problem-solving, students learn to effectively communicate their ideas and work together towards a common goal.

Research projects are something that can be used all year long. There are multiple topics you can easily add to your already existing curriculum. And they are low prep and will save you so much time!

RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS:

Student choice skyrockets engagement. Let students choose from a list of things to research within the topic you choose! Each project offers options for students to pick from so that they can decide what they want to learn about. Here are a few examples of research projects you can use in your own classroom.

Women in History: 27 women who had an impact on our lives today. Students can watch the videos or read the articles to gain a better understanding of these significant women.

Animal Research Project: 25 animals to research complete interactive Google slides. Perfect to use as a tie-in for science any time of year.

Natural Disasters: 17 natural disasters that students get to explore and learn about through articles and videos. They use the information gathered to complete the interactive Google slides.

Check out even more research project ideas HERE!

There are so many fun topics to choose from. They are the perfect addition to any classroom and an easy way to keep students learning during the end of the school year.

Pin this image to read the blog later!