Digging Deeper Into Endangered Animals (and Applying Our Research Skills Too!)

This morning, we discussed our 2nd grade, basic academic vocabulary:

• knowledge
• comprehension
• research
• independent
• plagiarism 

We went to the D Day SAGE blog to watch a video of a lesson I taught last year to a group of kindergarten and first grade students on plagiarism.  I loved the response of the students that day.  It is very clear they want credit for their own work and they do not want someone else taking credit for their work.  What better way to help students understand plagiarism.  Our second graders understand now too!

Next, we discussed what it means when we refer to digital or print sources.  We also discussed how students in college sometimes use highlighters to mark important information in a textbook they purchased.  I showed them some of my own textbooks with colored highlighting and notes in the margins.  

I matched the students up with a partner and gave them a printed copy of an online encyclopedia article.  They worked together to highlight the article from World Book Encyclopedia Online, "Endangered Species."  It contains important information they need to be able to answer the questions in our research packet:  

• What is the difference between an extinct and an endangered animal?
• Why are some animals endangered?
• How are we helping to save endangered animals?
• Why should we work to save endangered animals?

photo credit: tropicaLiving - Jessy Eykendorp via photopin cc

I want them to be able to prove their answers by by showing me where they located their information.  While  schema or background knowledge is very important, in this case, they can only record what they can prove out in their resources.  I want the students to understand this kind of research is about using quality, current informational sources, accuracy in their note taking, avoiding plagiarism and documenting their sources with a bibliography.

After completing their highlighting, we worked together to locate the answers in their article.  The highlighting helped them to locate the information we needed.  (It also holds them accountable for actually reading the article carefully :-)

I was really pleased with their focus, effort and ability to work cooperatively.  
Bravo B Day 2nd Graders!


Next, the students worked at their own pace on TOPS Math.  We ended our day working in our Exploratory centers.... and yes, I got busy and forgot to take their pictures today!  Ugh!

I hope the students and your family have a wonderful and relaxing holiday season!  I will look forward to seeing the students when we return from winter break!