RCPS Lesson Planner TEACHER:Reiner, Carolyn

SUBJECT:Research and Design

UNIT 4: Create a Research Proposal

Lessons are subject to change.

Unit begins 3/17/16

Day / Objectives / Procedures / Materials/Resources / Standards of Learning
1 / Students will identify the components found in a research proposal in order to prepare for their own written research proposal. / Warm Up: Marriage proposal YouTube video
What was the background information that the man provided for this proposal? What should any type of proposal include?
Activity: Research project webpage – developing a research proposal
  • Answer questions about a research proposal using the provided website.
Journal Reflection: Why do you think that there is not one set form for a research proposal? Outside of being a professional researcher, when would you need to write a research proposal as an employee or even outside your employment?
Budget Practice – Excel Sheet / Computers

Activity Question Sheet
2 / Students will examine titles and abstracts from empirical research projects in order to create a title for their independent research project. / Warm Up: Look at the following research title: “Engaging students with significant mathematical content from The Simpsons.”
Questions:
  1. Is this a research paper you would read? Why?
  2. Does it give a valuable description of what the paper will be about?
  3. Why is it important to write a research title that best represents the research?
Activity: Read the provided abstracts and match them with their correct titles.
Reflection Journal: In 5-6 sentences, explain why the title is so important to a research proposal.
Activity: View the two websites with steps for writing a research proposal. Answer the questions provided on the worksheet. / Computers


3 / Students will examine the interview process in order to conduct an interview and collect data. / Warm Up: Read the list of pros and cons of the interview process. Select the three most important pros, and the three most important cons of the interview process. Explain why they are the biggest concerns.
Activity: Conducting an interview.
  • Topic
  • 10 questions
  • Responses/notes
Activity: Thank you letter / Computers
Research Course Website
4 / Students will create step-by-step procedures for their research project. / Warm Up: Write procedures to your grandmother explaining how to send a text message.
Journal Reflection: Why is it important to present all steps for collecting data in a research proposal?
Activity: Each group needs to determine how they will collect data for their research and record their procedures.
5 / Students will practice collecting quantitative data related to their research topics. / Field Trip
  • Totusky Creek water quality analysis – pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, algae analysis, heavy metal analysis

6 / Students will practice collecting quantitative data related to their research topics. / Field Trip
  • Farnham (Rappahannock River) water quality assessment – pH, dissolved oxygen, temp, turbidity, algae analysis, heavy metal analysis

7 / Students will practice collecting quantitative data related to their research topics. /
On-site “field trip”
  • Richmond County Public Schools retention pond/rainwater water quality assessment – pH, temp, turbidity, heavy metals
Application of data to research projects discussion.