Simulated Research

This week we have been researching an idea in class. The idea was whether or not fourth graders should have a smartphone. To start the week we read an article from Time For Kids where two students talked about whether or not children should have cellphones. One student supported the idea and one was opposed. Students used stick Post-its to mark the students claim and reasons. We had talked about this idea of claims already this year but I was still impressed how easily the students were able to find the claims and the students reasons. After we had looked at the articles, students made their own claims on a notecard.

On Tuesday we started our research. We read two articles that talked about the pros and cons of giving children a smartphone. While students read these articles, they used strategies to search for information. The strategies that the students used were strategies that we had already used this year when we read our Article of the Week. Tables worked on mining the articles looking for evidence to support their claim. It was great to see the tables working together to find information.

On Wednesday we had to spend a little more time looking through the articles but not a lot. When the class had finished we had the students create a pro/con list. No matter which side of the debate the students were on they had to find three reasons and three reasons not to get a fourth grader a cell phone. We had created pro/con list earlier this year when we made our back to school claims.

Today in class we looked at a group of articles that I like to call "List Claims." List Claims are just a claim in the form of a list. They have become quite popular in magazines and websites lately. The first List Claim that we shared was 8 Reasons that Frozen is Unstoppable. Then we looked at the article 7 Reasons Not To Buy Your Child an iPad. Students made a list of all things that they noticed about the list claims. We have done this idea of looking at types of writing and seeing what we notice a lot this year.

The whole week has been leading up to the students writing their list claim tomorrow in class. I love how little bits of what we have done all year long have allowed students to accomplish this work. What we asked students to do this week was not easy, but since we had practiced and played with the ideas already I think the students felt comfortable. Hopefully I will be proven correct tomorrow when we read some great List Claims.

Hope you are having a great day.