Too often computer and book research involves students completing tasks that have little meaning to them. When information is researched, it is often simply copied and presented as evidence of work done. For the most part, this work has not been “processed” by the students. It is not understood, and no connections have been made.

The Really Helpful Research Book aims to provide students with a process for research which allows them to have ownership for what they are reading. This process will help them to ask their own research questions and to seek answers that are meaningful. This kind of approach creates learners who have the skills to understand and complete research tasks themselves. Mastering the research process is more than simply completing a page of questions!

The Really Helpful Research Book provides classroom teachers with a progressive collection of generic activities that sets out a pathway through an effective research process. The activities can be used with non-fiction, encyclopedias, CD-Roms, or any Internet site.

Note: the word source is used here to refer to books, encyclopedias, CD-Roms and Internet sites.

Download the Table of Contents page here.

Grades 4–6.