Astronomy

Research

Report

Mrs. Riggle

5th Grade

January/February 2015

Astronomy Project

Research Ideas

Planets

Astronomy tools

Black Holes

The Sun / Stars / Life of a Star

Famous Astronomers

Dwarf Planets

Challenger

Space Travel

An Apollo Mission

Galaxies / The Milky Way

Constellations

Space Stations

Meteors, Asteroids, Comets

Satellites

NASA

The Hubble Space Telescope

Auroras

Other ideas – see me

Astronomy Websites:

Astronomy Research Report

This is our one BIG research paper we will write in 5th grade. Key assignments not completed on a given day in class will be finished at home as homework. Remember, when you’re typing something at home or school, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! You will be turning in key parts of your report as you go, for review by Mrs. Riggle. Take her suggestions, if any are given, and use them to revise before you print everything out to turn in with your final report.

JANUARY 12th-16TH

  1. Choose a topic from Astronomy to research. Do not do any research yet, as your introduction assumes you have not researched the topic.
  2. Write a rough draft of your two introductory paragraphs:
  3. Paragraph #1: Introduction to your report (make it engaging). Name the topic you chose and explain why you have chosen it. Make it exciting and get your reader interested!
  4. Paragraph #2: Needs to tell how much, if anything, you already know about your topic. Please share what you guess, assume, or think you know. Don’t be afraid to be wrong! Then, briefly describe how you will find your information on your topic: what resources you will use, where you will go to find information, etc.
  5. Rough draft due Friday, January 16th.
  6. Final copy of introduction due Wednesday, January 21st.

JANUARY20th-23rd

  1. You will choose 5 subtopics from your main topic. Example: If your main topic is the sun, 5 subtopics could be: What is a Sun?, The Sun’s Atmosphere, The Mystery behind the Sun Spots, The life of a Sun, The Death of a Sun. These 5 topics will be what you write your 5 paragraphs on.
  2. Find information on your chosen topic. You will need to find information from at least THREE sources. Sources will be due by January 23rdand should include: books, magazine or newspaper articles, and Internet sites. A resource cart of books provided by the library will be available daily but these materials CANNOT be taken home. If you have resources from the public library or home, please bring them to school daily.
  3. Work on final copy of your Introduction page (due1/21).
  4. Title page due Friday, January 23rd.

JANUARY 26th-30th

Monday in class:

  1. We will go over how to set up WORKS CITED and how to “get it done as you go!”
  2. Rough draft of Works Cited due Friday, January 30th.

Tuesday-Thursday, both in class and at home:

  1. You will spend some time researching your topic (remember to use at least THREE sources) and take notes.
  2. At the top of each page, write a topic sentence that explains what the paragraph is about. Remember to do this in your own words.
  3. Then take notesin bullet form (read information and write down, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, the most important details).
  4. Record notes in bullet form.
  5. NOTES SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN YOUR OWN WORDS, not just copied from the source.
  6. 4-5 facts are required PER PARAGRAPH.
  7. Repeat the above steps for each paragraph.

Monday-Thursday at home:

  1. Continue taking notes on your topic using your THREE sources (recording them on the appropriate papers).

FEBRUARY 2nd-FEBUARY 6th:

Monday-Friday, both in class AND at home:

  1. Complete all of your note taking.
  2. Start writing your 5 paragraphs using the facts you’ve already collected. Rough drafts are due FEBRUARY 4th.
  3. Write the rough draft of your conclusion paragraph. In 1 or 2 paragraphs:
  4. Compare what you thought about your topic BEFORE you did your research to what you found out AFTER you finished your research.
  5. Share the most interesting discovery, and tell which information is most meaningful to you.*You will need to go back & reflect on your introduction paragraph! Rough drafts of conclusiondue FEBRUARY 6th.

FEBRUARY 10th – 13th:

Monday-Friday, both in class AND at home:

  1. Finalize all written work.
  2. Insert pictures, charts, or graphs into the report.
  3. All graphics must include a caption (in your own words).
  4. FINAL REPORTS are DUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13th!
  5. The report components need to be in order: Title page, Introduction, Research paragraphs, Conclusion, and Works Cited.
  6. Bind in a report folder.
  7. Prepare for the 5-minute oral presentation, telling us about the topic your researched.
  8. Be sure to include main points, have at least ONE visual aid, and be prepared to answer questions. You will NOT be simply reading your report to the class.
  9. Practice for your presentation and be ready to present on the day you are assigned!
  10. ORAL PRESENTATIONS: February 18th, 19th, 20th, and 23rd.

Astronomy Research Report

Summary of Important Due Dates

January 16th:

Introduction to research report (rough draft)

January 21st:

Introduction final draft due

January 23rd:

Have 3 sources ready

Title page final draft due

January 30th:

Works Cited due (rough draft)

February 4th:

Research paragraphs rough draft due

February6th:

Rough draft conclusion due

February 13th:

FINAL DRAFT DUE

February 18th, 19th, 20th, and 23rd:

Oral presentations

------Cut and return bottom ------

I have read the above information and understand that this is a major project and will do my best to meet all guidelines and due dates. This report as well as the regular homework needs to be checked on a nightly basis. Please sign and return this section only and keep the rest in a safe place.

Child______Parent ______

Oral Report Presentation Date______

(font 26) Title

(Basic topic name)

(font 20) Subtitle

(Your creative addition)

Photo/drawing/illustration

(font 16) By ____________

Astronomy Research Report

Mrs. Riggle

Grade 5

February 13, 2015

(Please use size 14 fonts throughout the report!)

(add a picture here)

Title

Subtitle

Introduction

Paragraph one: Youwill begin with an interesting topic sentence to catch the reader’s attention. You will include the name of the subject you are researching and why you chose to research it.

Paragraph two: You will tell at least 5 things of what you know, think you know, wonder, or assume about the subject before you begin researching. It is OK if you are wrong or just guessing!! Briefly describe how you will find your information on your topic. End this paragraph with a good transition sentence.

Research Paragraphs

(5 paragraphs)

Topic Paragraphs:

The research section of your report should consist of 5 paragraphs. Each paragraph should begin with an introductory sentence stating what the topic of the paragraph is about in an interesting way. It should be followed by 4-5 sentences on the same topic. The final sentence should wrap up the paragraph and transition into the next.

Example:

Topic Paragraph:

Venus is the brightest star of all the stars and planets in the sky. It was named after the goddess of love because of its lovely brightness. Venus never gets far from the Sun; therefore it can only be seen just before sunset and sunrise. When it is to the east of the Sun, Venus shines in the evening sky. That is why it is called the evening star. When Venus is to the west of the Sun, it shines before dawn as the Morning Star. As you can see, Venus is a special planet; read on to find out why it is so hot!

Conclusion

The conclusion section is the most important part of your report. In one or more paragraphs, you’ll compare what you thought, assumed or imagined with what you actually discovered, having researched your subject. Following this, you’ll share your most interesting discoveries as well as tell which information is most meaningful to you. Be sure to include your reactions and feelings about what you learned.

End with a strong, culminating statement about something valuable you’ve learned from doing your research that you feel is very important to share! This main point is what you want your reader to ponder after he’s put down your report.

Works Cited Note Taking Sheet

Book:

Author(s): First and Last Name______

Title of Book:______

City of Publisher:______

Publisher:______

Year of Publication:______

Book:

Author(s): First and Last Name______

Title of Book:______

City of Publisher:______

Publisher:______

Year of Publication:______

Online Source:

Author: First and Last name (if there is one)______

Title of Work:______

Title of Website:______

Publisher, or publisher date, or name or all three:______

Date you accessed the material: ______

Online Source:

Author: First and Last name (if there is one)______

Title of Work:______

Title of Website:______

Publisher, or publisher date, or name or all three:______

Date you accessed the material: ______

Encyclopedia:

Title of Topic:______

Title of Encyclopedia:______

Edition and Year:______

Works Cited (MLA format)

You will fill in the Works Cited note taking sheet while you are researching your topic. This will help you to type up your Works Cited in the MLA format.

When creating your Works Cited Page, remember to:

  • Begin the Works Cited on a new page.
  • Alphabetize each entry by author.
  • Underline or italicize all titles of books, magazines, films, etc.
  • Put quotation marks around the titles of poems, short stories, and articles.
  • Indent the 2ndline, the 3rd line, and all subsequent lines of each citation (5 spaces in).
  • Double-space all entries.

Works Cited Examples

Book with one author: example

1. Author(Daniel Cohen)
2. Title of book- underlined OR in italics (America's Very Own Ghost)
3. City of publication: (New York)
4. Publisher, date of publication. (1985)
Cohen, Daniel.America's Very Own Ghosts.New York: Doubleday, 1985.

Book with two authors: example

1. Authors-in the order they are given in the book. (Liza Smith and David Wright)
2. Title of book -underlined or in italics. (Rocks and Minerals)
3. City of publication: (Chicago)
4. Publisher, date. (1995)

Smith, Liza, and David Wright.Rocks and Minerals. Chicago: Macmillan, 1995.

Encyclopedia and other reference books: example

1. Author of article if available.
2. "Title of article."
3. Title of book - underlined or in italics.
4. Date of edition.

Eiselen, Malcolm R. "Franklin, Benjamin." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1994."France." Compton's Encyclopedia. 1992.

Electronic Sources

For an article from an encyclopedia found online: example

1. Author, if shown
2. "Title of the article."
3. Name of encyclopedia (underlined or in italics)
4. Name of publisher, date of publication, if available
5. Name of the online service you used.
6. Date of your visit, in parentheses

"Animal Rights." Compton's Living Encyclopedia.Compton's Learning Company, 1996. America Online. (22 August 1996).

World Wide Web : example

1. Author (if known)
2. "Title of article."
3. Title of complete work, in italics or underlined
4. (date of visit in parentheses)

Arnett, Bill. "Neptune." The Nine Planets: A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System.(26April 2005).

Astronomy Research Report Outline

I. TITLE PAGE: title, subtitle, picture, your name, Astronomy Research Report, teacher’s name, grade (5th), due date

II. INTRODUCTION

  1. First paragraph
  2. Engaging beginning
  3. Why you chose your topic (a few sentences)
  1. Second paragraph
  2. Five things you already know, think you know, wonder about, etc.
  3. What you will do to find out more (books, magazines, Internet, etc.)

III. RESEARCH

  1. First paragraph
  2. Engaging beginning
  3. Topic sentence
  4. Body of paragraph (4+ sentences about the topic)
  5. Conclusion sentence and transition to next topic (1 or 2 sentences)
  1. Second, third, and fourth paragraphs
  2. Topic Sentence
  3. Body of paragraph (4+ sentences about your topic)
  4. Conclusion sentence and transition to next topic
  1. Fifth paragraph
  2. Topic sentence
  3. Body of paragraph (4+ sentences about the topic)
  4. Conclusion sentence

*Remember to include pictures, diagrams, charts, etc. with your research. (Either within your report or at the end of your research.)

IV. CONCLUSION

  1. In one or two paragraphs:
  2. Compare what you thought about your topic before you did your research to what you found out after you finished your report.
  3. Share the most interesting discovery and tell what information is most meaningful to you.

V. WORKS CITED

Astronomy Research Report

Grading Rubric

Student Name:______

Report Contents (85 points)

Professional cover & title page (5 points) ______

Introduction (15 points) ______

Research (30 points) ______

Conclusion (10 points) ______

Works cited (10 points) ______

Quality (neatness, final editing) (10 points) ______

Pictures/Graphs/Charts (5 points) ______

TOTAL: ______/85 points

------

Oral Presentation (15 points)

Content ______

Voice______

Fluency ______

Body Language ______

Content/Organization______

Visual Aides______

TOTAL: ______/15 points

Research Report

Classroom Oral Presentation Ideas

Now that you have finished researching and becoming an expert on your topic, it is time to present what you know to your class! You can have as much creative freedom with this project as you would like. However, you need to include the Main Ideas that you have learned. Here is a list of ideas you might consider. Your report should be both oral and informal (not read from a paper) AND you should also have a graphic item or two to help share your ideas.

Power Point

Poster

Skit

Movie

Comic

Poem

Rap (song)

Guidelines to think about when preparing for your oral presentation:

Voice: Used a public voice with expression; everyone in the room could clearly hear what was being said and was engaged

Fluency – Used complete sentences, with few or no unnecessary fillers (ie. uh, like, well, okay, repeated phrases/pauses)

Body Language: Eye contact, facial expression, hand and arm gestures, (little or no fidgeting)

Content/Organization: Presented topic facts in an organized and logical sequence; smooth flow of ideas; might have used notes to be sure to cover all topic material; able to clarify information when asked questions

Visual Aides: Created one or more visual aide(s) to help audience understand/follow topics