lesson plans 5th grade research paper

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Finally, a guide for upper elementary teachers that will show you how to teach research reports in a step-by-step format!

If you are struggling with teaching the research report process, you are not alone. Seriously, we’ve all been there!

I spent several years avoiding research reports for my 5th grade writers or simply depending on the Library-Media Specialist to teach the research process.

One year, I decided to take the plunge and teach my students how to research a topic and write a research report.

The process was clunky at first, but I learned a lot about how students approach research and how to guide them from choosing a topic to completing their final copies.

Before we discuss the HOW , let’s talk about the WHY .

Why You Should Be Assigning Research Reports to Your 5th and 6th Grade Students

I have three main reasons for assigning research reports to my students.

First, the skill involved in finding reliable sources and citing sources is valuable.

Beginning in 5th grade, and possibly even before, students need to be able to discern the reliability of a source . They should be able to spot propaganda and distinguish between reputable sources and phony ones.

Teaching the procedure for citing sources is important because my 5th grade students need to grasp the reality of plagiarism and how to avoid it.

By providing information about the sources they used, students are consciously avoiding copying the work of authors and learning to give credit where credit is due.

Second, by taking notes and organizing their notes into an outline, students are exercising their ability to find main ideas and corresponding details.

Being able to organize ideas is crucial for young writers.

Third, when writing research reports, students are internalizing the writing process, including organizing, writing a rough draft, proofreading/editing, and writing a final draft.

When students write research reports about topics of interest, they are fine-tuning their reading and writing skills.

How to Teach Step-By-Step Research Reports in Grades 5 & 6

As a veteran upper elementary teacher, I know exactly what is going to happen when I tell my students that we are going to start research reports.

There will be a resounding groan followed by students voicing their displeasure. (It goes something like this…. “Mrs. Bazzit! That’s too haaaaaaard!” or “Ugh. That’s boring!” *Sigh*  I’ve heard it all, lol.)

This is when I put on my (somewhat fictional) excited teacher hat and help them to realize that the research report process will be fun and interesting.

Step 1: Help Students to Choose a Topic and Cite Sources for Research Reports

Students definitely get excited when they find out they are allowed to choose their own research topic. Providing choice leads to higher engagement and interest.

It’s best practice to provide a list of possible research topics to students, but also allow them to choose a different topic.

Be sure to make your research topics narrow to help students focus on sources. If students choose broad topics, the sources they find will overwhelm them with information.

Too Broad: American Revolution

Just Right: The Battle of Yorktown

Too Broad: Ocean Life

Just Right: Great White Shark

Too Broad: Important Women in History

Just Right: The Life of Abigail Adams

Be sure to discuss appropriate, reliable sources with students.

I suggest projecting several examples of internet sources on your technology board. Ask students to decide if the sources look reliable or unreliable.

While teaching students about citing sources, it’s a great time to discuss plagiarism and ways to avoid it.

Students should never copy the words of an author unless they are properly quoting the text.

In fact, I usually discourage students from quoting their sources in their research reports. In my experience, students will try to quote a great deal of text and will border on plagiarism.

I prefer to see students paraphrase from their sources because this skill helps them to refine their summarization skills.

Citing sources is not as hard as it sounds! I find that my students generally use books and internet sources, so those are the two types of citations that I focus on.

How to cite a book:

Author’s last name, First name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Date.

How to cite an internet article:

Author’s last name, First name (if available). “Title of Article or Page.” Full http address, Date of access.

If you continue reading to the bottom of this post, I have created one free screencast for each of the five steps of the research process!

Step 2: Research Reports: Take Notes

During this step, students will use their sources to take notes.

I do provide instruction and examples during this step because from experience, I know that students will think every piece of information from each source is important and they will copy long passages from each source.

I teach students that taking notes is an exercise in main idea and details. They should read the source, write down the main idea, and list several details to support the main idea.

I encourage my students NOT to copy information from the source but instead to put the information in their own words. They will be less likely to plagiarize if their notes already contain their own words.

Additionally, during this step, I ask students to write a one-sentence thesis statement. I teach students that a thesis statement tells the main point of their research reports.

Their entire research report will support the thesis statement, so the thesis statement is actually a great way to help students maintain a laser focus on their research topic.

Step 3: Make a Research Report Outline

Making an outline can be intimidating for students, especially if they’ve never used this organization format.

However, this valuable step will teach students to organize their notes into the order that will be used to write the rough draft of their reports.

Because making an outline is usually a new concept for my 5th graders, we do 2-3 examples together before I allow students to make their outlines for their research reports.

I recommend copying an outline template for students to have at their fingertips while creating their first outline.

Be sure to look over students’ outlines for organization, order, and accuracy before allowing them to move on to the next step (writing rough drafts).

Step 4: Write a Research Report Draft

During this step, each student will write a rough draft of his/her research report.

If they completed their outlines correctly, this step will be fairly simple.

Students will write their research reports in paragraph form.

One problem that is common among my students is that instead of writing in paragraphs, they write their sentences in list format.

I find that it’s helpful to write a paragraph in front of and with students to remind them that when writing a paragraph, the next sentence begins immediately after the prior sentence.

Once students’ rough drafts are completed, it’s time to proofread/edit!

To begin, I ask my students to read their drafts aloud to listen for their own mistakes.

Next, I ask my students to have two individuals look over their draft and suggest changes.

Step 5: Research Reports – Students Will Write Their Final Drafts! 

It’s finally time to write final drafts!

After students have completed their rough drafts and made edits, I ask them to write final drafts.

Students’ final drafts should be as close to perfect as possible.

I prefer a typed final draft because students will have access to a spellchecker and other features that will make it easier to create their final draft.

Think of a creative way to display the finished product, because they will be SO proud of their research reports after all the hard work that went into creating them!

When grading the reports, use a rubric similar to the one shown in the image at the beginning of this section.

A detailed rubric will help students to clearly see their successes and areas of needed improvement.

Once students have completed their first research projects, I find that they have a much easier time with the other research topics assigned throughout the remainder of the school year.

If you are interested in a no-prep, step-by-step research report instructional unit, please click here to visit my Research Report Instructional Unit for 5th Grade and 6th Grade. 

This instructional unit will guide students step-by-step through the research process, including locating reliable sources, taking notes, creating an outline, writing a report, and making a “works cited” page.

I’d like to share a very special free resource with you. I created five screencast videos, one for each step of the research report process. These screencasts pair perfectly with my Research Report Instructional Unit for 5th Grade and 6th Grade! 

Research Report Step 1 Screencast

Research Report Step 2 Screencast

Research Report Step 3 Screencast

Research Report Step 4 Screencast

Research Report Step 5 Screencast

To keep this post for later, simply save this image to your teacher Pinterest board!

Hi, If i purchase your complete package on grade 5/6 writing does it come with your wonderful recordings on how to teach them? Thanks

Hi Gail! The recordings on this blog post can be used by anyone and I will leave them up 🙂 The writing bundle doesn’t come with any recordings but I did include step-by-step instructions for teachers. I hope this helps!

Thank you for sharing your information with everyone. I know how to write (I think, haha), but I wanted to really set my students up for success with their research and writing. Your directions and guides are just what I needed to jar my memory and help my students become original writers. Be blessed.

You are very welcome, Andrea! Thank you for this comment 🙂

Hi Andrea, I am a veteran teacher who has taught nothing but primary for 25 years. However, this is my first year in 5th. I’m so excited to have found your post. Can you direct me to how I can purchase your entire bundle for writing a 5-paragraph essay. Thanks, Sue

Sure, Susan, I can help with that! Here is the link for the 5th Grade Writing Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/5th-Grade-Writing-Bundle-3611643

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• Research Skills

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!

You Might Also Enjoy Reading:

How To Evaluate Websites: A Guide For Teachers And Students

Five Tips for Teaching Students How to Research and Filter Information

Typing Tips: The How and Why of Teaching Students Keyboarding Skills

8 Ways Teachers And Schools Can Communicate With Parents

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.

Comments are closed.

Writing Research Papers

This research writing unit of study is designed to guide your students through the research writing process. 

This is a free writing unit of study from the curriculum corner..

This research writing collection includes mini lessons, anchor charts and more.

Mention the words “research writing” in an intermediate classroom and you might be met with moans & groans or perhaps even see fear in the eyes of some students. 

In all seriousness though, writing can be intimidating for many children in our classrooms.

Guided and focused your mini-lessons can be helpful for students. Also, the more examples you can get students to interact with, the more they will understand the expectations. Finally, the more modeling that you do for them, the more they can view writing as less overwhelming.

Download the free resources to accompany this unit of study at the bottom of this post.

Lesson Ideas for Writing Research Papers:

Lesson 1: Noticings

• Begin by getting your students familiar with what research writing looks like.
• Have them work in pairs or small groups to read pieces of research writing. They will record their “noticings” about the writing.
• Then, come together in a community circle to discuss and create a class anchor chart.
• You will find a blank anchor chart and one with noticings already recorded.
• Here is a link we found that contains some student-created examples of research writing: Student Writing Models .  Simply scroll through the grade levels for different samples.

Lesson 2: Opinion vs. Facts

• Begin with a brief review of opinions vs. facts.
• Use the six paragraphs we share in our resources to give your students some practice differentiating between the two.
• Each of the paragraphs contains both opinions and facts.
• Students will read the paragraphs and record the facts and opinions from their paragraph onto the recording page.

Lesson 3: Choosing a Topic

• We know that providing choice will allow for greater engagement and success.  We want to help students to narrow their choices by giving them some guidance.
• Gather students and begin a discussion about choosing a research topic.
• Ask them to think of topics they already know a little about, have interest in or is important/relevant to their lives.
• You might pose the question “Why is that important in research writing?” and discuss their thoughts.
• For this lesson we have provided a page where students can individually brainstorm topics. You can circulate the room during this process to help students to narrow their topic.
• If you feel your class may need help to narrow their choices, think about giving them a broad topic, such as animals, and then have them choose a sub-topics from the bigger umbrella topic.
• If you feel like your students need an added level of support you might think about creating an anchor chart from a class brainstorming session about possible appropriate topics and then display this in your room.

Lesson 4: Where to Find Accurate Information about a Topic

• Help students to begin to understand where they might find accurate information about their topics.
• Where are the places you can begin to look for information about your topic?  
• Why would the copyright date on a book be important in doing research?  
• Is everything on the internet true?
• Why is it important for your research to contain accurate information?  
• Where do you begin to look for information that will accurate
• One way to help students think through appropriate sites on the internet is to pass out the ten cards provided in our resources.
• Have students read the cards and discuss what kind of a website it is.
• Talk about whether they know or have heard of the sites. Would they consider the sites “trusted” enough to gain knowledge about their topics.  Then have them talk about why or why not these sites would be trusted.

Lesson 5: Double Check Your Facts

• We want our students to get into the habit of double checking their facts. This will help ensure what they are learning is correct.
• To do this, you might want them to practice this skill.  In this lesson use the page provided to have each student find and record a fact about a topic of their choice on the internet.
• The page then has students write where they found the fact, and also has them list a corresponding fact from a different source.
• Finally they determine if the facts are the same or different. You may have to further the lesson by discussing approximations.  For example one site might say that an animal can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, while another might state that the animal weighs between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds.
• You will need to talk about how those facts might both be accurate even though they are stated differently. If they seem to check out, then help students generalize the information for a research paper.

Lesson 6: Taking Notes

• Sometimes giving students resources and a blank sheet of notebook paper can be too overwhelming. You have students who simply copy everything from the text or you have others who have no idea where to start.
• We need to guide them to read to pull out facts & relevant information.
• For this lesson we have provided various templates for note-taking. Whatever method or template you choose for helping your students learn to take notes, model it several times in front of the class Demonstrating for them how to write the notes as they read about a topic will be helpful.
• After initial teaching, you may find that you need to pull small groups for extra practice. Some might need a one-on-one conference.

Lesson 7: Paraphrasing vs. Plagiarism

• Students will need to learn how to paraphrase their research. This will help them avoid plagiarizing words from their resources.
• Discuss why plagiarizing is something that they shouldn’t do in their writing because it is “stealing” another’s words.
•  Tell the students that there is a way to use another author’s ideas in an appropriate way without copying their words. First, they need to paraphrase and then they need to cite the source where they found the information.
• Display the anchor chart “What is Paraphrasing” and discuss the definition.
• Next, pass out copies of “My Own Words” to pairs of students. Explain that their task will be to find a paragraph or passage in a nonfiction book. They will paraphrase the author’s words, keeping the same ideas.
• Finally, gather students together to share their paraphrasing efforts. Each pair of students can read the paragraph/passage from the book and then the paraphrasing that they wrote.  Discuss the words and decisions the students made in their paraphrasing.

Lesson 8: Word Choice in Research Writing

• To help students think about making their writing more interesting, have them brainstorm words that could add voice to their writing.
• After working independently on the word choice page provided, have them meet with partners. They can talk about nouns, verbs and adjectives that relate to their topic.

Lesson 9: Writing Sketch

• This graphic organizer can be used for students to plan their writing.
• If your writers are more advanced you might choose to skip this step, It could be a big help for students who have taken notes and have too many facts.  
• Be sure to model how to write the facts & ideas from your notes onto your planner. Students will see first hand how to make sure to only add what is relevant and important to their writing.
• Some questions you can pose: What will be the focus of each paragraph in your research writing?  What do you want to include from your notes?  Why is it important to the research?  What facts don’t quite fit into the paragraphs you’ve decided upon? Should you change some of the paragraphs so that they better support the research and what you want your readers to learn?
• Once the planner is finished, they can use it as a guide to help their writing stay focused.

Lesson 10: Writing Introductions to Research

• Teach students how to think about their introduction as a way to grab their readers’ attention.
• Our anchor chart has some ideas to get writers started. You might also extend the anchor chart to include ideas from your students. (We have included some blank anchor charts at the very bottom of the download.)
• Discuss the parts that need to be included in the introductory paragraph first. Then, move on to some of the ways that might engage readers. As always be sure to model how you would go about writing an introductory paragraph using your Writing Sketch.

Lesson 11: Developing Your Paragraphs

• Next, help students stay focused and develop complete paragraphs.The next graphic organizer will get them to think through the specifics of each paragraph.
• Again, this may not be needed for all of the students in your classroom, but it might be something to think about using with all of them for at least their very first attempts at writing research papers.
•  Model how to use the Writing Sketch planner to develop their paragraphs more fully on this organizer.

Lesson 12: Writing a Conclusion to Research 

Providing a solid concluding paragraph is also something that needs modeled for your students.

Use the anchor chart with ideas to get you started with the modeling of this as well.

***If you would like for your students to write their first drafts on something that continues to support organization for them, you will find guided lined paper.

Lesson 13: Research Rendezvous Celebration

We love ending a unit of study with a celebration.

For this particular celebration, you might invite students to bring in a visual to help illustrate their topic.  

Invite parents and other special adults from your building to the celebration and think about providing a snack.  

You can also print out our “Congrats Author!” certificates to give to each student during the celebration.

All the research writing resources described above can be found in one download here:

Writing a Research Paper Resources

As with all of our resources, The Curriculum Corner creates these for free classroom use. Our products may not be sold. You may print and copy for your personal classroom use. These are also great for home school families!

You may not modify and resell in any form. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Dulce Hernandez

Thursday 8th of April 2021

Thank you so much. I tutor non-English speakers from K-9th grade. These resources are a God send!!

Monday 25th of May 2020

I cant download it, where do you download it?

Jill & Cathy

Wednesday 2nd of September 2020

Here is the link: https://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner456/wp-content/pdf/writing/research/researchwriting.pdf

Graphic Organizer for Research Papers - The Curriculum Corner 4-5-6

Tuesday 19th of November 2019

[…] You might also like our unit of study for writing research papers:How to Write a Research Paper […]

Planning a Dynamic Writing Workshop - The Curriculum Corner 123

Thursday 14th of November 2019

[…] Writing Research Papers […]

Language Arts in the Middle School and High School Years

Thursday 11th of May 2017

[…] The middle school years can also be a good time to introduce writing a short research paper if your student is ready.  Introduce how to do research, how to make an outline, and how to write a short research paper, including how to cite sources. Here’s a website that has a free introduction to writing research papers: https://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner456/writing-research-papers/. […]

Research Writing (Grades 4-6)

Our Research Writing lesson plan for grades 4-6 teaches students how to write a thoroughly researched and factually accurate five paragraph essay. Students write an essay based on research they conduct in order to practice this type of writing.

Description

Additional information.

Our Research Writing Lesson Plan for grades 4-6 teaches students about the importance of researching and reporting findings accurately and effectively. Being able to clearly and accurately inform and communicate findings through writing is a valuable skill that students will need in many areas of their lives. Gathering and summarizing key information will also be a powerful tool for academic reading and writing throughout upper grades and higher education. In this lesson, students are asked to use the information they have learned to research and write a research paper from start to finish, including brainstorming and outlining.

At the end of the lesson, students will have written an essay based on a topic of their choosing with sources cited.

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Awesome! I was encouraged to find this as I develop my own writing curriculum for my homeschooled middle schoolers.

Nice resource

I haven't used this resource yet, but at first glance it looks helpful!

Research Writing

I have not started this with my child yet, but I have looked over the information. I am really looking forward to using this. Very informative.

I absolutely love the blended

I absolutely love the blended lesson plan structure that accommodates for all types of learners. you all ROCK!!!

Excellent curriculum

Lots of subjects and ways to teach kids. Love the packets

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Printable 5th Grade Research Writing Worksheets

Research Building Blocks: "Organize This!"

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Children are naturally curious—they want to know "how" and "why." Teaching research skills can help students find answers for themselves. In this minilesson, students organize the information they have compiled through the research process by using sentence strips. Students first walk through the process using information on Beluga whales as a model. Students match facts written on sentence strips to one of four categories: appearance, behavior, habitat, and food. Sentence strips are color-coded to match each category. The sequence of notes (sentence strips) under each category are placed in an indented outline form, and regrouped so that similar facts are placed together. Next, the appropriate Roman numerals and letters are added to the outline. Finally, students use the same process to create outlines for the research topics they are working on.

From Theory to Practice

Teaching the process and application of research should be an ongoing part of all school curricula. It is important that research components are taught all through the year, beginning on the first day of school. Dreher et al. explain that "[S]tudents need to learn creative and multifaceted approaches to research and inquiry. The ability to identify good topics, to gather information, and to evaluate, assemble, and interpret findings from among the many general and specialized information sources now available to them is one of the most vital skills that students can acquire" (39). In her article "Rethinking Research," Eileen A. Simmons agrees: "We can't expect students to produce outstanding research papers unless we teach them strategies for gathering information, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating that information through critical thinking." (115) Further Reading

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
• 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
• 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
• 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
• 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

Colored paper (four different colors)

• Example Outline Format
• Sample Outline for Beluga Whale

Preparation

Before beginning this lesson, students should be familiar with the research skills covered in the following lessons:

• Research Building Blocks: Hints about Print
• Research Building Blocks: Examining Electronic Sources
• Research Building Blocks: Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments
• Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll
• Research Building Blocks: “Cite Those Sources!”

Student Objectives

Students will

• create and use graphic organizers.
• work with students to brainstorm category labels.
• generate categories and subheadings.
• sort note cards into categories or subheadings.
• practice outlining skills.

Instruction & Activities

The way in which the following example is used to “discover” outlines can be adapted to any research topic. Modeling a topic in which all the class is involved will demonstrate the step-by-step procedure that can then be applied later by small groups or individuals as they work on their own projects.

Research Topic: Beluga Whales

Big questions/Categories:

• What do Beluga whales look like? (Appearance)
• How do Beluga whales behave? (Behavior)
• Where do Beluga whales live? (Habitat)
• What do Beluga whales eat? (Food)
• Hand out the Example Outline Format and explain that students will be making sentence strips for their research topic.
• Model the activity by making a sentence strip and placing it on the board using the Beluga whale topic or one of your own choosing.
• Record each big question or category on a different colored sentence strip and place it on the board.
• Give members of the group or class colored sentence strips.
• Remind students to match the color of the sentence strip on which the fact is written to that of the big question (category) it is about, recording only ONE fact fragment (note) on each strip. These do not have to be complete sentences.
• Students bring their fact strips to the board and place them under the appropriate big question/category (same color strip) indenting them as in outline form.
• After all strips are placed on the board, the sequence of the notes under a big question/category may be changed to place similar facts together. This will help the facts flow once the students start writing.
• Add the appropriate Roman Numerals (categories) and letters (notes) to create an outline form. (See Sample Outline on the Beluga whale.)
• Remind the students that an outline highlights the essential information they want to include in their final product and helps organize their information. Modeling for students how to use an outline enables them to determine the sequence of their report. It is important for students to learn that they decide which information is most important for their readers to know at the beginning of the report, and to think about ways to make the report flow from section to section.
• Have students practice outlines for the research topics they are working on.
• Mini-lessons can be repeated for different topics until students become comfortable with the skill of outlining.
• If this method of outlining and organizing information is not appropriate for your students, other graphic organizers are available online.

Student Assessment / Reflections

As this is only one step in teaching the research process, students need not be graded on the activity. Continued practice using outlines and other graphic organizers on different topics, with teacher and peer feedback on in-process and finished outlines, would best benefit the student researcher. Final outlines turned in with the research report could then be graded based on accurate information and logical organization.

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CommonLit 360 How to Teach a CommonLit 360 Research Unit

Olivia Franklin

Engage students with interesting research topics, teach them skills to become adept independent researchers, and help them craft their end-of-unit research papers.

CommonLit 360 is a comprehensive ELA curriculum for grades 6-12. Our standards-aligned units are highly engaging and develop core reading and writing skills.

Want to engage students in independent research? Looking to hook students with interesting research questions and informational texts? CommonLit has your back.

CommonLit’s 360 curriculum provides research units for grades 6-10 that will help students complete independent research and craft evidence-based research papers.

Get students excited about their research with Essential Questions designed around timely topics

Each research unit has an Essential Question that students analyze and discuss throughout the unit. The topics for each research unit are designed to be interesting, timely, and relevant to students’ lives.

Students will learn about the status of the world’s oceans, discuss if social media is beneficial or risky, argue if contact sports are worth the risk, research how branding influences purchasing behavior, and learn about the human costs of clothing.

Here are the research units and their Essential Questions:

Get students excited about the research topic with introductory slide decks

Each unit comes with introductory slide decks that preview what students will be learning about over the course of the unit. The slide decks spark classroom discussion, hooking students from the very first lesson.

In Our Changing Oceans (6th grade), students discuss what it would be like to be an oceanographer, preview the texts they will be reading about issues facing our oceans, and hear about the key skills they will be learning throughout the unit.

Informational texts anchor each research unit

CommonLit’s research units are centered around informational texts that provide students with key background information and research to eventually support their end-of-unit essay.

Four core texts make up the Essential Reading Lessons for 6th grade. These texts teach students about the need to protect Antarctica and how plastic debris, sea level rise, and overfishing are affecting the world’s oceans. These texts teach students important facts they will need to cite in their end-of-unit research papers.

Supplemental texts allow students to dig deeply into independent research

Each unit comes with a large selection of supplemental texts to provide students with more facts and information to use in their research paper.

In middle school, students use the provided supplemental texts to further inform their research. In high school, students learn about finding reliable sources and can use both provided supplemental texts on CommonLit and texts from additional sources in their research.

For example, in Our Changing Oceans, 6th graders choose to research one of three topics related to ocean changes.

In high school, students are taught about the beginning of the research process, including developing a research question, finding reliable sources, and reading and taking notes. Students in 9th and 10th grade can use the supplemental texts as well as texts found in books or on other online learning platforms.

Students learn about the research process and how to craft research papers throughout the unit

Each unit includes lessons about conducting research so students can be prepared for the end-of-unit research paper. Scaffolded supports help students move through the research process. In lower grades, certain steps in the process, like developing a research question and finding reliable sources, are provided for students.

Students learn about writing research papers during writing lessons. In 8th Grade, students learn how to discuss and outline research papers. Then, they learn how to write a counterclaim, format a Works Cited page, and use in-text citations properly. Each of these research-paper focused writing lessons will prepare students to answer the end-of-unit essay.

Students also explore how to conduct independent research in research-specific lessons. In 8th Grade, teachers explain that they have provided the first two steps of the research process for students: developing a research question and finding reliable sources.

In the lesson, students are taught how to use a graphic organizer to take notes on each text they read in preparation for their research paper. Students also engage in an Introduction to Independent Research lesson, where they learn about steps of the research process and begin reading and taking notes on supplemental texts. Later, students engage in a discussion lesson that will help them synthesize all the information they have learned throughout the unit by discussing the research question with classmates.

Related Media Explorations provide even more background information for students

Related Media Explorations are a unique cornerstone of our ELA curriculum. These interactive tasks bring our research units to life and provide background information for students to use in their research.

In 8th Grade,  students learn about the way football culture has changed over the past few decades as scientists learn more about the long-term effects of repeated concussions. Students watch three videos that explain the culture of football in the past and present, and analyze statistics about concussions before discussing the question: “Who is most responsible for shaping mindsets about tackling in football: players, coaches, parents, or fans?”

Discussion lessons help students synthesize information in preparation for their research paper

Discussion lessons in each research unit provide students with the opportunity to practice citing evidence from sources, explain their evidence to classmates, and practice synthesizing information. These conversations give students the chance to gain new perspectives, receive feedback on their ideas, and boost their confidence before delving into the research paper.

In 8th Grade, students synthesize their ideas about the research question through a class discussion. After the discussion, students have an opportunity to outline their research paper using both their discussion notes and the note-taking graphic organizer they have used throughout the unit.

Participate in an optional final project that fosters creative thinking and collaboration

Each research unit comes with an optional end-of-unit project to further engage students through project based learning. These optional projects help foster student creativity and collaboration. Students can work with a partner or group to complete the task.

In 8th grade, students must make a brochure providing prospective parents and student athletes with factual information about the benefits and risks about contact sports so families can make an informed decision about participating. Students must work with a peer with an opposing view on the topic so the brochure is factual and unbiased. This task encourages teamwork and collaboration between peers with differing views.

Vocabulary and grammar lessons build student comprehension and writing skills

Each 360 unit comes with vocabulary and grammar lessons. Vocabulary activities help students internalize high-impact academic vocabulary words they will see in the texts they are reading. Grammar activities help students improve their writing skills, teaching students valuable skills to construct carefully crafted, grammatically correct paragraphs.

Want to learn more about research units and CommonLit 360? Register for a free, 30-minute webinar today!

Interested in learning about our affordable support packages? For just $6,500 per school, School Essentials PRO Plus provides teachers with three  benchmark assessments, two unit skill assessments per 360 unit, personalized professional development, school-wide data reports, LMS integrations, and more.

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Free Printable Research Writing Worksheets for 5th Grade

Research Writing: Discover a collection of free printable worksheets for Grade 5 Reading & Writing teachers, designed to enhance students' research writing skills and spark their curiosity.

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Explore printable Research Writing worksheets for 5th Grade

Research Writing worksheets for Grade 5 are an essential tool for teachers looking to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets focus on various aspects of nonfiction writing, helping students to develop their abilities to analyze, synthesize, and present information in a clear and concise manner. By incorporating these worksheets into their lesson plans, teachers can provide their students with targeted practice in areas such as identifying main ideas, supporting details, and organizing information. Additionally, these worksheets can help students build their vocabulary and improve their grammar, ultimately leading to stronger overall writing skills. As students progress through their Grade 5 curriculum, the use of Research Writing worksheets will prove invaluable in preparing them for more advanced reading and writing tasks in the future.

Quizizz is a fantastic resource for teachers who want to supplement their Research Writing worksheets for Grade 5 with engaging and interactive activities. This platform offers a wide range of quizzes and games that can be easily integrated into the classroom, providing students with a fun and effective way to practice their reading and writing skills. In addition to quizzes focused on nonfiction writing, Quizizz also offers resources for other aspects of the Grade 5 curriculum, such as grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. Teachers can even create their own custom quizzes to align with their specific lesson plans and objectives. By incorporating Quizizz into their teaching strategies, educators can provide their Grade 5 students with a well-rounded and enjoyable approach to improving their reading and writing abilities.

Lesson Plan Sections

• English/Language Arts (11)
• Environmental (6)
• Science (4)
• Social Studies (8)

5th Grade Lessons

In 5th grade, many new and exciting concepts are learned and mastered. The lesson plans below can help guide your instruction. Many of the Math and Language Arts lessons are aligned with the Common Core State Standards - making integration into an existing curriculum very simple. The lessons come from the talented teachers in our Teacher.org community. The 5th grade section will continuously grow as more teachers submit their work. Contact us if you have lessons that you would like to share . You have the power to inspire our future!

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5th grade arts lesson plans, camouflage and environment.

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Christmas Around the World Part 1

This lesson combines Visual Arts with Social Studies. Students will read about how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world and draw a scene depicting that location.

Christmas Around the World Part 2

This lesson combines Music and Social Studies. Students will listen to and learn Christmas songs from around the world and analyze.

Fairy Tale Fun

In this performing arts lesson, students will rewrite a well-known fairy tale to include a great deal of dialogue and then act out that fairy tale (creation of props is optional as is taping the performance).

Kwanzaa Art

Students will discuss the 7 principals of Kwanzaa and then draw pictures of an example of each.

Making a Menorah

Students will make a beautiful vibrant menorah using art supplies while learning about the background.

Mini Diorama

This visual arts lesson will allow students to share some personal interests in the form of a diorama. Sample rubric included.

Paper Mache Zoo

In this visual arts lesson, students will create zoo animals (or any animals) using paper mache. The ‘zoo’ can be displayed in the classroom or in a localized area of the school.

Theater in Action

Students will write and perform a scene from the story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Upside Down Art

This lesson will allow students to practice creating art from a unique perspective while learning about Michelangelo.

5th Grade English/Language Arts Lesson Plans

Collaborative questioning.

Students will read a teacher selected, standards-based science or history text. Students will then develop questions based on Costa’s levels of questioning to encourage collaborative discussion of the reading.

Explain Those Idioms

Students will recognize idioms for their actual as well as realized meaning.

Fable Lesson: What is a Fable?

In this  fable lesson, students will use Internet sources, graphic organizers and group activities to analyze and discuss the characteristics and story lines of two different fables, "The Owl and The Grasshopper" and "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse." After students read and brainstorm story elements of the folktales, they will then write a fable of their own.

Hiding Homophones

This lesson offers a simple introduction or refresher course in homophones, words that are pronounced the same, but spell and mean differently. Students will create a visual reminder of some of the more common homophones.  

Moody Reading: Reading with Expression

This lesson will be used to help students understand how to read with expression by choosing an expression to read with regardless of what is written.

Parts of Speech BINGO

Students will recognize and identify basic parts of speech: preposition, noun, verb, adjective through a simple game.

Short Stories

This lesson is designed to help students ask questions and support answers by connecting prior knowledge with literal information found in, and inferred from, the text.

Tearing Into Vocabulary

This is a quick activity to allow students to work cooperatively while increasing awareness of vocabulary for a given lesson.

Writing Narratives

In this lesson, students will use a graphic organizer for narrative writing.

Writing to a Photograph

Students will develop a plan for a fictional story based on a picture.

5th Grade Environmental Lesson Plans

Angles in nature.

Students will take a walk outside with their protractor and measure the angles in nature. They will record the angles that they find in branches, trees, bushes, flowers, etc… and then determine the supplementary angle.

This lesson will allow students to create a self sustaining biosphere.

Ozone Layer

Students will think about how people affect the environment and what they can do to help it and prevent further damage.

Rainfall Gauge

This lesson will allow students to learn about the rain amounts in their area as well as offer a hands-on science experiment that could lead to discussions about the water cycle.

Save the World

This lesson is intended to motivate students to become environmental superheroes.

5th Grade Math Lesson Plans

Comparing decimals game.

Students will play a game in which they choose cards and choose the best place to put the number they have chosen in order to get the highest answer possible.  This should not be the first introduction to the topic.

Comparing Multiplication Facts (Hey Tocayo!)

Students will be assigned a number that has various factors and they will find partners with different factors that have the same product.

Fractions, Decimals, Percents, & Graphs

This lesson is designed to explore fractions, decimals, percent’s, and graphs with TRIX cereal.

Order of Operations

This lesson is designed to help students solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.

Roll the Dice - Probability & Statistics

Students will learn about probability and statistics while rolling dice and flipping a coin carefully recording their results.

Symmetry Search

The students will locate manmade objects or things in nature that are symmetrical.

The Value of a Number

The students will work in groups of 4-6 physically learning and reviewing place value.

5th Grade P.E. Lesson Plans

Aces and exercise.

Using a deck of playing cards, the students will pick the number of reps for various exercises.  

And Freeze!

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class. Students will also work on balance and coordination.

Basketball Relay

Students will practice teamwork, dribbling, and shooting a basketball.

Boom Over Movement Game

Students will play a game in which they need to change direction quickly. Students are to pretend that they are on a sailboat that is in the middle of a storm. They will have to run and change direction based on verbal commands and duck quickly to avoid being hit by the imaginary boom.

Coordination Course

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical.

Music Movement

The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.

PE Immigration

The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.

Pass It Off

This lesson will allow students to practice passing, dribbling, and bouncing skills using basketballs

Race to the Answer

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork, basic math skills, and get exercise through a relay race. Note: Problems/difficulty level can be altered by grade

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork and trust building, as well as working on directionality for younger students.

What Time is it FOX?

The students play a game where they practice different movements including jumping, galloping, skipping, running, jogging, leaping, and walking. Based on National Physical Education Standards, students should have been learning these skills for the last 4 years.

5th Grade Science Lesson Plans

Engineering design.

This lesson is designed to generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Layers of the Earth

This lesson is designed to help students understand that the Earth has a layered structure.

Solar System

The students will learn about the Solar System, the  order of the 8 planets, special words such as orbit and asteroid.

5th Grade Social Studies Lesson Plans

A city saved by a volcano.

Students will learn how the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy preserved two Roman towns.

A Day in the Life of a Roman Girl and Boy

Students will research the topic of daily life for children of ancient Rome.

Exploring the West

The lesson will teach the students why there was an expansion to what is now the western half of the United States, as well as the displacement of Native Americans.

History of Hanukkah

Students will read a passage about the history of Hanukkah and “talk to the text” to understand the story better. Students will answer questions individually and then with a partner to understand the text better.

Kwanzaa Socratic Seminar

Students will discuss the cultural roots of Kwanzaa and analyze why the holiday has been brought to the United States.

The History of Thanksgiving

Students will research the history of Thanksgiving based on the perspective of the Native Americans and the Pilgrims and then interview each other to learn about each story.

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Enhancing Learning Outcomes with the 5E Lesson Plan Framework

Afia Siddiqui

Afia, a writer at Suraasa, is a literary explorer who dives deep into stories, navigating the vast ocean of words. When not immersed in books, she finds serenity in swimming, gliding through the water with grace.

What is the 5E Lesson Plan?

The 5 phases of the 5e lesson plan, sample 5e lesson plans for different subjects, tips for implementing the 5e model lesson plan in your classroom, benefits of using the 5e model lesson plan in the classroom.

Think about it: teaching methods have come a long way from the days of chalkboards and rote memorization. Today’s classrooms are buzzing with interactive, hands-on learning that connects real-world experiences with academic concepts. As educators, you’re likely on the lookout for effective 5E lesson plan models to make your teaching more engaging and impactful.

So, what is 5e lesson plan? This innovative framework, also known as the 5E model lesson plan, is designed to align with modern teaching practices by focusing on interactive and inquiry-based learning.  It helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application through real-life examples and exploratory activities. By adopting the 5E lesson plan, you can create more dynamic lessons that resonate with your students and enhance their learning experiences. Embrace this evolution in education to make your classroom a more engaging and effective place for learning. In this blog, you’ll discover how the 5E lesson plan can elevate your teaching practice.

Table of Contents:

• What is 5E Lesson Plan?  
• The 5 Phases of the 5E Lesson Plan: A structured approach with phases—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate
• 5e lesson plan Science
• 5e lesson plan English
• 5e model lesson plan Social Science, and
• 5e lesson plan examples Math
• Tips: Practical advice and tools like Suraasa’s AI tool for planning.
• Benefits: Increases student engagement, understanding, and effective learning
• ‍ Conclusion: By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for designing lessons that captivate and engage your students, leading to better learning outcomes and a more rewarding teaching experience.

Free 5E Lesson Plan Template!

The 5E lesson plan is a powerful framework designed to make teaching more engaging and effective. This model offers a structured approach to lesson planning that centers on student interaction and inquiry.  But what exactly is the 5E model lesson plan, and how can it benefit your classroom?

At its core, the 5E lesson plan is all about creating a dynamic learning environment. The framework includes five phases—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate—that guide the teaching process.  Each phase plays a crucial role in ensuring that students are not only exposed to new information but also actively involved in their learning journey. The purpose of the 5E based lesson plan is to enhance student engagement and comprehension. By starting with engaging activities, students are motivated to explore and investigate the topic.  You then provide explanations to help clarify and solidify their understanding. The model encourages students to apply their new knowledge in various contexts and concludes with an evaluation to assess their learning progress. The 5E model lesson plan has become a valuable tool for educators like you looking to create more engaging and effective lessons.  By implementing this approach, you can transform your teaching practice and foster a more interactive and successful learning environment.

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Now, let's delve into each of these phases in detail to see how they contribute to a comprehensive and engaging lesson plan.

The 5E lesson plan framework includes five distinct phases, each playing a crucial role in creating an engaging and effective learning experience. Let’s break down each phase, exploring its purpose and how you can implement it in your classroom.

Phase 1 : Engage

This initial phase is designed to spark students' interest and connect the new lesson to what they already know. It’s all about grabbing attention and setting the stage for deeper learning.

Objective ‍

Capture students' interest and connect the lesson to their prior knowledge. ‍

• ‍ Questions: Pose intriguing questions that challenge students and provoke curiosity. ‍ ‍
• ‍ Multimedia: Show a short video, image, or animation related to the lesson topic to draw students in. ‍
• Hands-On Activities: Introduce a fun and interactive activity that relates to the lesson content to create excitement. ‍
• ‍ Interactive Question: Start with a question like, “What happens if we mix these two substances?” to get students thinking. ‍
• Multimedia Clip: Play a video that introduces the topic in a visually engaging way. ‍
• Mystery Box: Use a box filled with objects related to the lesson and have students guess what they are and how they relate to the topic. ‍

Phase 2: Explore

In this phase, students dive into hands-on activities that allow them to investigate the topic more deeply. It’s all about discovery and interaction.

Allow students to investigate the topic through hands-on activities and collaborative tasks.

• ‍ Group Work: Organize students into groups to work on experiments or explore concepts together. ‍
• Experiments: Provide materials and guidance for students to conduct their own investigations. ‍
• Interactive Tasks: Design tasks that require students to engage with the material actively, such as building models or solving problems. ‍
• ‍ Science Experiment: Have students test different materials to see which one is the best insulator.
• ‍ Exploration Stations: Set up stations with various activities related to the lesson, like hands-on experiments or interactive simulations.
• ‍ Role-Playing: Let students act out scenarios related to the lesson to explore concepts in a practical way. ‍

Phase 3: Explain

After exploration, this phase focuses on clarifying and consolidating students' understanding. Direct instruction and discussion are key components here.

Facilitate understanding through direct instruction and student explanation. ‍

• ‍ Discussions: Lead a class discussion where students share their findings and ask questions. ‍
• Lectures: Provide clear and structured explanations of the key concepts using visual aids and examples. ‍
• Multimedia Presentations: Use slideshows or digital tools to present information in an engaging manner. ‍ ‍
• ‍ Concept Mapping: Create a visual diagram that shows the connections between key concepts. ‍
• Direct Instruction: Use a demonstration to clearly explain a scientific principle or concept. ‍
• Interactive Whiteboard: Allow students to contribute to a digital whiteboard to build and explain ideas together. ‍

Phase 4: Elaborate

This phase encourages students to extend their learning by applying concepts in new and varied contexts. It’s about deepening their understanding and fostering critical thinking.

Extend students' understanding and apply knowledge in new contexts.

• ‍ Projects: Assign projects that require students to use what they’ve learned in creative ways. ‍
• Real-World Applications: Provide scenarios or problems that show how the concepts can be applied outside of the classroom. ‍
• Further Research: Encourage students to research related topics or delve deeper into areas of interest. ‍
• ‍ Design Challenge: Have students create a prototype or design a solution based on principles learned in the lesson. ‍
• Case Studies: Analyze real-world examples related to the lesson’s concepts, like studying sustainable practices. ‍
• Extended Research: Assign a research project where students investigate a related topic and present their findings. ‍

Phase 5: Evaluate

‍ The final phase involves assessing students' grasp of the material. This includes evaluating their understanding through various assessment tools and techniques.

Assess students' understanding and skills to gauge their progress and mastery of the lesson. ‍

• ‍ Formative Assessments: Use quick quizzes, exit tickets, or observations to monitor student understanding throughout the lesson. ‍
• Summative Assessments: Implement tests, presentations, or major projects to evaluate overall learning at the end of the lesson. ‍
• Self-Assessment and Peer Review: Allow students to assess their own work and provide feedback to their peers. ‍ ‍
• ‍ Quiz: Administer a short quiz to test students’ comprehension of the key concepts. ‍
• Project Presentation: Have students present their projects and explain how they applied what they learned. ‍
• Reflection Activity: Ask students to write a reflection on their learning experience and how they can use the new knowledge.

By following these phases, the 5E lesson plan framework helps create a comprehensive, engaging, and effective learning experience. Each phase builds on the previous one, ensuring that students are actively involved and able to grasp and apply the material effectively.

Let's dive into our sample section featuring lesson plans across various subjects.

Here are templates that showcase 5E lesson plans across different subjects. Each template is designed to help you with structuring your lessons according to the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Note: We have different images for each subject and a downloadable template at the end for you to customize and use in your own classroom .

Science Lesson Plan

Here’s a detailed “5e lesson plan Science” on the water cycle using the 5E Model:

English Lesson Plan

Here’s a detailed “5e lesson plan examples English” on narrative writing, using the 5E Model:

Social Studies Lesson Plan

Here’s a detailed “5e model lesson plan Social Science” on Ancient Civilizations, using the 5E Model:

Maths lesson plan

Here’s a detailed “5e lesson plan examples Math” on fractions, using the 5E Model:

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Next, let’s dive into some practical tips for implementing the 5E model lesson plan effectively in your classroom.

Successfully integrating the 5E model lesson plan into your teaching practice can greatly enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.  Here are some practical tips and tricks to help you overcome common challenges and make the most of this dynamic teaching model:

1. Plan Ahead

Effective implementation of the 5E model lesson plan requires thorough planning. Before you start, take time to outline each phase of the lesson. Think about how you will engage students, what exploratory activities you’ll use, how you’ll explain concepts, and the kinds of elaborative tasks you’ll assign.  By planning ahead, you can ensure that each phase flows smoothly and that you’re prepared for any unexpected challenges.

2. Start with Clear Objectives

For each phase of the 5E lesson plan, set clear and achievable objectives. Define what you want your students to learn and how each phase contributes to these goals.  This will help you stay focused and ensure that your lesson is aligned with your learning outcomes.

3. Use Varied and Interactive Resources

Incorporate a mix of resources to keep students engaged. Use multimedia elements, hands-on activities, and interactive tools to make the lessons more dynamic.  For example, you might use videos and simulations in the Engage phase, or hands-on experiments in the Explore phase. Variety keeps students interested and caters to different learning styles.

4. Encourage Collaboration and Communication

The 5E model emphasizes active learning and student interaction. Promote collaboration through group work and discussions, especially during the Explore and Elaborate phases. Encouraging students to share their ideas and work together helps deepen their understanding and builds a supportive learning environment.

5. Be Flexible and Adapt

While the 5E model provides a structured approach, flexibility is key. Be prepared to adapt your lesson based on student needs and responses.  If an activity isn’t working as planned, be ready to make adjustments to keep students engaged and ensure they achieve the learning objectives.

6. Incorporate Formative Assessments

Throughout the lesson, use formative assessments to gauge student understanding and provide feedback. This can include quick quizzes, exit tickets, or informal observations.  These assessments help you identify areas where students may need additional support and adjust your instruction accordingly.

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7. reflect and refine.

After each lesson, take time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Gather feedback from your students and consider their responses when planning future lessons.  Continuous reflection and refinement will help you enhance your implementation of the 5E model and better meet the needs of your students. In the next section, we’ll dive into the benefits of using the 5E model in the classroom and how it can enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

The 5E lesson plan model offers several compelling advantages that can significantly enhance your teaching and students' learning experiences. Here’s a closer look at the key benefits of implementing the 5E model lesson plan in your classroom:

1. Flexible Evaluation Opportunities

The 5E lesson plan allows for both formal and informal evaluation methods. This flexibility means you can assess students' understanding through various techniques—whether through structured tests or more informal observations during activities.  This approach accommodates real-life teaching scenarios and provides a more comprehensive view of student progress.

2. Bridges Knowledge Gaps

One of the major advantages of the 5E lesson plan is its ability to address and fill knowledge gaps. By guiding students through engaging activities and explorations, the model ensures that foundational concepts are solidified before moving on to more complex topics.  This step-by-step approach helps build a strong knowledge base and supports better overall learning.

3. Fosters a Scientific Approach to Learning

The 5E model encourages a scientific approach to learning, emphasizing inquiry and investigation. Students actively explore and experiment, which cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  This method not only helps students understand concepts more deeply but also prepares them to approach new challenges with a scientific mindset.

4. Strengthens Teacher-Student Connections

The 5E lesson plan framework helps teachers connect with students on a deeper level. By engaging students in interactive and hands-on activities, teachers can better understand their needs and interests.  This connection fosters a more supportive and responsive learning environment, where students feel valued and understood.

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5. promotes individuality and personal growth.

The 5E model encourages students to explore their interests and develop a sense of individuality. Through phases like Elaborate, where students apply their knowledge in varied contexts, students have the opportunity to pursue their interests and express their creativity.  This approach helps students build confidence and a personal connection to their learning.

6. Expands Students’ Areas of Interest

By incorporating diverse activities and applications, the 5E lesson plan broadens students’ areas of interest. The model exposes students to various aspects of a topic and connects learning to real-world applications.  This exposure helps students discover new interests and encourages a lifelong love of learning.

7. Utilizes Diverse Teaching Aids

The 5E model often involves a variety of teaching aids and methods. Teachers can integrate hands-on learning experiences, multimedia resources, and choice boards to cater to different learning styles.  This variety keeps students engaged and supports diverse ways of understanding and interacting with the material.

Overall, the 5E lesson plan model offers a range of benefits that enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement.  By incorporating this model, you can create a more dynamic and responsive learning environment that supports students' academic and personal growth. 

In summary, the 5E lesson plan model is a powerful tool for enhancing teaching and engaging students. By following the phases of Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate, you can create dynamic and effective lessons across various subjects.  Whether you're working with a 5E lesson plan for English, Science, Social Science, or Math, understanding what the 5E lesson plan is and how it can be applied will help elevate your teaching practice.  Embrace this model to see how it can transform your classroom and improve student learning outcomes. Use these 5E model lesson plan examples to create engaging and effective lessons. Download our 5E lesson plan template for a head start!

The 5 E's of a lesson plan refer to the phases of the 5E model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Each phase plays a crucial role in guiding students through an interactive and effective learning process.

To write a 5E model lesson plan, start by outlining activities for each of the five phases: Engage (capture interest), Explore (hands-on investigation), Explain (direct instruction), Elaborate (apply knowledge), and Evaluate (assess understanding). Ensure that each phase is designed to build on the previous one, creating a cohesive learning experience.

The 5E model of teaching is a framework developed to enhance student learning through a structured approach. It includes five phases—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate—that aim to foster deeper understanding and active participation in the learning process.

A 5-step lesson plan typically includes these components: 1) Engage: Capture students' interest. 2) Explore: Allow hands-on investigation. 3) Explain: Provide direct instruction. 4) Elaborate: Extend understanding with real-world applications. 5) Evaluate: Assess student comprehension and skills.

The 5E model lesson plan is a teaching framework developed by BSCS that structures lessons into five phases: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. This approach helps create interactive and effective learning experiences by involving students in various ways throughout the lesson.

The 5E lesson plan model was developed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) in 1987. It was created by Rodger W. Bybee and Nancy M. Landes as part of the "Science for Life and Living" program.

A 5E lesson plan is an instructional model that organizes lessons into five distinct phases—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. This model aims to create a more engaging and effective learning environment by involving students in active inquiry and application of knowledge.

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Fifth graders practice writing research papers by investigating U.S. history. In this Revolutionary War lesson, 5th graders identify the British and American roles in the historic war by researching the Internet. Students prepare a research paper on the Revolutionary war by following a guideline checklist as they research.

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