Unit 3

Survivors!

Assignment

Research Step 1: Plan a Habitat

Click on the colored rows to view information about the assignment.

You will be led through the research steps so that you can do your own research a little at a time.

This lesson will probably take several days to complete.


Read page 142 of Literacy in Action 4A, which is all about getting started in research.

You will do the same things to get started as the students in your textbook.
You need to do three things: choose a habitat, ask questions, and search for resources.

Choose a habitat that is interesting to you.


You may research any of the habitats you read about in the unit (pond, woodland, arctic, desert, ocean, grasslands, wetlands) or you can choose a different one, anywhere in the world (rainforest, coniferous forest, mountains). You may want to talk to a family member or friend, or to your teacher, to help you decide what your habitat will be. When you have decided on your topic, write it on your Research Plan.




Document: Research Plan
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  1. Download the document Research Plan.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
      • Click the "Open with" button.
      • Select "Adobe Reader".
      • Click "OK".
      • You will then be able to view the document Research Plan.
      • Can't view the file? View Skill Builder: Saving Dynamic PDFs.

Think of questions regarding your chosen habitat; your research will answer those questions.


You might have questions about the following:

  • how plants and animals survive in the habitat
  • how the habitat is changing
  • is the habitat endangered and why
  • the life of a particular animal that lives in the habitat
  • what people are doing to save the habitat
  • any other related topics

Write all your questions in your Research Plan. Then, read them over.


What is the Main Question – the one that all the other questions relate to?

If you have a question like that, mark it as your Big Idea question. If you don’t, write a Big Idea question in your plan.

When you have chosen your habitat and written your questions, submit your Research Plan to your teacher and wait for feedback.

Save

How to save a file:

  1. Have the file open and select Save As from the File menu.
  2. Name your Research Plan file in this format: jsmith_researchplan and save the file to your Documents folder.
  1. This Research Plan is an opportunity to plan your research and is NOT for marks.
  2. Submit your Research Plan to your teacher and wait for feedback.
  3. You may proceed to Step 2 (research) but do not begin Step 3 (writing) until you received feedback from your teacher.
Don’t go any further until you have received feedback from your teacher. You may call your teacher to speed up this process.