online research worksheets

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Information Literacy Instruction

• Exercises to Build Research Skills
• Formulate a research topic
• Find Information
• Evaluate Information
• Use Information
• Chicago/Turabian
• Citation Tools

Exercises Overview

Library instruction exercises.

The exercises below are designed for students learning to do research. They can be done in class or assigned as homework. They are in Word format so instructors who wish to use them can easily edit or adapt them. When appropriate, they contain an answer key, so instructors should look at the full handout and remove the answer key before sharing with students.

If you would like a librarian to come to your class to lead these exercises or if you would like an exercise customized for your subject area, contact your Library Liaison!

• Formulate a topic
• Find information
• Evaluate information
• Incorporate information
• Cite information
• Writing assignment formats
• Triangulating your research This exercise guides students with a broad topic to identify search terms and narrow their topic, arriving at a research question.
• Formulating a Research Question from a Broad Topic Students often begin their research (and writing) with a very broad topic. This means they waste a lot of time looking for resources that they will never use. Before they begin to research, it is ideal to have a focused question. This 10 minute assignment teaches them how to turn a very broad topic into a focused research question.
• Identifying and Refining a Research Topic Using Concept Maps This exercise is designed to help students think of words and concepts and see how they are related. They create a concept map of their topic, which may help them see ways to narrow their topic and arrive at a research question.
• Identifying and Refining a Research Topic Using Journalistic Questions Journalistic questions are a set of questions you can use to define your topic more clearly. This exercise will help student ask questions about their topic. Having specific questions to answer makes researching the topic easier when you get to that stage.
• Defining Search Terms Students will often try one or two search terms when using a database and assume there’s no information on their topic if it doesn’t work the first time. This exercise gets them thinking about synonyms and related words. This 15 minute exercise may seem simple, but I can almost guarantee that the next time they sit down at a database they will try multiple searches before giving up.
• Identifying Keywords In this exercise, students will practice identifying keywords that might be used to research their topic. The exercise has three parts. First, they will identify the keywords from sample research questions. Then they will brainstorm synonyms for those keywords, demonstrating the need to search using more than just one keyword. Finally, they will complete the exercise for their own research question.
• Information Source Comparison This activity helps students explore the strengths and weakness of Google, Google Scholar, Academic Search Complete and topic specific databases as information sources.
• Understanding Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT In order to apply your keywords to an effective search, you must be able to employ Boolean logic. Those operators are AND OR & NOT. The object of this exercise is to practice your use of those operators by looking at an everyday experience : Ordering food from a fast food restaurant.
• Creating Keyword Searches Using Boolean Operators In this exercise, students will practice selecting search terms and combining them using boolean operators in order to create an effective search.
• Popular, Trade or Peer Reviewed? Great hands-on exercise to teach students about the differences among the 3 types of publications. Students can read the differences in the provided example, but real learning takes place when they have to sift through the actual publications and write down differences. Can be tailored to use any three sources appropriate for your discipline.
• Analyze 4 types of sources This assignment does two things: 1) it makes students find 4 different types of sources rather than just search the Web; 2) it teaches students how to evaluate ALL information and compare and contrast different types of sources.
• Pin the News Source on the Fake News Continuum This activity asks students to research a variety of news sources and place them on a continuum to define their reliability.
• Evaluating Sources Process Cards This is a group activity in which students are given cards with a variety of sources on them. They evaluate the sources based on criteria such as "authority," "ease of creation," "time to creation" etc.
• Evaluating sources writing assignment Requires the student to answer a series of questions about a source they have found. These questions are also a good basis for writing the annotation for an annotated bibliography exercise.
• Article Analysis - upper level This exercise requires students to evaluate a scholarly article for not only its relevance to their research topic but also for its potential to help them find more sources via citation mining and keyword generation.
• Evaluating Web Resources Students choose one of three websites to evaluate. After evaluating the website they must make a judgment on whether it is good or bad for academic research and explain their decision. This assignment can be tailored to use websites related to your subject area. Just ask!

Introductory level - avoid plagiarism by properly using quotes, paraphrases and summaries.

• Evaluating quotes and paraphrases (100/200 level) Students are given a sample citation and 7 easy uses. They judge if the use is appropriate or plagiarism.
• Evaluating quotes, summaries and paraphrases Students are given a sample text and 4 summaries. They judge if the summary is legitimate or plagiarism.
• Quotes, Summaries and Paraphrases from the Purdue Owl This PDF from the Purdue Owl explains what each of these are, how to use them and concludes with a hands on exercise that requires students to summarize and paraphrase several sample original texts.
• Write your own quote, summary, paraphrase Given a single sample text, students are asked to write their own quote, summary, paraphrase for the instructor's evaluation. Can be tailored for any class.

Introductory level - how to integrate quotes, paraphrases and summaries

• Integrating quotes Given a single sample paragraph, students are asked to identify several key methods quotes are integrated into the paragraph.
• Analyzing how to integrate quotes and summaries This exercise has students analyze how and why scholarly authors have integrated quotes and summaries in order to help them learn smooth methods to use quotes and summaries in their own research.
• Analyzing supporting evidence An exercise that asks students to analyze how and why evidence is used in an existing scholarly article.

Introductory level - learning how and why to use sources

• Un-research Project This exercise helps students focus on why they choose sources to support their research.
• Is your paper well supported with evidence A quick, easy and visual exercise to help students determine if their paper arguments are well supported with evidence.

Upper level - synthesizing information

• Updating a literature review This exercise is appropriate to introduce the concept of a literature review and how to synthesize information in one.
• Mini-literature review assignment An introduction to literature reviews. Scaffolded instruction for how to approach your first literature review.
• Synthesis Matrix A beginner's matrix to help students begin thinking about synthesizing their sources.
• Advanced Synthesis Matrix A source synthesis matrix for advanced level writing assignments.

Create a list of sources with improper citations. Have the students attempt to locate the sources.  This should demonstrate to students how citations are used to track down sources and how frustrating it can be for their teachers and fellow researchers when they don’t provide adequate citations. Examples to use here could include books with multiple editions or books with very generic titles.

Breaking citations down: Develop a list of citations. Break these citations down (components: author, date, publisher, title, etc). Type or write them down on larger pieces of construction paper, cardboard, etc. You can utilize a variety of colors, shapes, sizes. Have students work as groups to assemble the parts (you can use pin boards, a wall and tape, magnetic boards, etc). This can easily be turned into a competitive game.

Selecting an Effective Writing Assignment Format

In addition to the standard essay, report or full research paper formats, several other formats exist that might give students a different slant on the course material or allow them to use slightly different writing skills. Here are some suggestions:

Journals. In-class journal entries can spark discussions and reveal gaps in students’ understanding of the material. Having students write an in-class entry summarizing the material covered that day can aid the learning process and also reveal concepts that require more elaboration. Out-of-class entries involve short summaries or analyses of texts, or are a testing ground for ideas for student papers and reports.

Letters. Students can define and defend a position on an issue in a letter written to someone in authority. They can also explain a concept or a process to someone in need of that particular information. They can write a letter to a friend explaining their concerns about an upcoming paper assignment or explaining their ideas for an upcoming paper assignment. If you wish to add a creative element to the writing assignment, you might have students adopt the persona of an important person discussed in your course (e.g., an historical figure) and write a letter explaining his/her actions, process, or theory to an interested person (e.g., “pretend that you are John Wilkes Booth and write a letter to the Congress justifying your assassination of Abraham Lincoln,” or “pretend you are Henry VIII writing to Thomas More explaining your break from the Catholic Church”).

Editorials . Students can define and defend a position on a controversial issue in the format of an editorial for the campus or local newspaper or for a national journal.

Cases . Students might create a case study particular to the course’s subject matter.

Position Papers . These projects ask students to research a topic from a variety of viewpoints, and then use that research to support their own perspective. Students can define and defend a position, perhaps as a preliminary step in the creation of a formal research paper or essay.

Imitation of a Text . Students can create a new document “in the style of” a particular writer (e.g., “Create a government document the way Woody Allen might write it” or “Write your own ‘Modest Proposal’ about a modern issue”).

Instruction Manuals . Students write a step-by-step explanation of a process.

Dialogues . Students create a dialogue between two major figures studied in which they not only reveal those people’s theories or thoughts but also explore areas of possible disagreement (e.g., “Write a dialogue between Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock about the nature and uses of art”).

Collaborative projects . Students work together to create such works as reports, questions, and critiques.

Summary papers These assignments ask students to summarize a key concept from the course, or a reading or set of readings.

Compare/contrast papers Students are asked to compare/contrast theoretical positions from key scholars, reading, methods, or procedures for completing a task, etc.

Reading responses Students are asked to respond to specific questions about course readings. These can take place in reading journals that you occasionally collect, or reading responses on a discussion forum (on Moodle or elsewhere).

Position response papers Students are provided with a position that they must then defend or refute using course concepts and outside research.

Disciplinary problem papers These projects ask students to make an argument for the best solution to a disciplinary problem.

Data analysis papers Students are provided with raw data (or asked to collect raw data themselves) that they must then analyze using a particular methodology from the course.

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• Last Updated: Nov 15, 2023 2:28 PM
• Subjects: For Faculty/Staff , Library Orientation
• URL: https://library.centre.edu/ILI

Research Worksheets

Partnered Project

A Famous Person

New Questions

Internet Research

Animal Research

A Notable Invention

About Someone Popular

An Unfamiliar Ingredient

Developing Your Thesis

What Did They Do?

Relation To The Topic

Refining Your Research

Create A Working Thesis

Why Does It Matter?

All about these 15 worksheets.

This series of 15 worksheets on Research is designed to help students develop essential skills for conducting thorough and effective research on various topics. These worksheets cover a wide range of research-related topics, including partnered research projects, researching famous individuals, conducting independent research projects, utilizing internet resources, exploring animal research, and investigating notable inventions.

By engaging with these worksheets, students can enhance their information literacy, critical thinking, and research skills, enabling them to gather and analyze information, synthesize findings, and present their research in a coherent and well-supported manner. Through these worksheets, students will:

• Work in pairs to investigate a specific topic or theme, honing their collaborative research skills;
• Explore various sources, synthesize information, and present their findings in a creative and informative way;
• Be guided through the research process, including selecting a topic, formulating research questions, gathering and analyzing information, and presenting their research in a structured manner;
• Evaluate the credibility of online sources, refine search queries, and navigate through digital information effectively;
• Explore both primary and secondary sources, including scientific journals, books, and documentaries, to gather accurate and reliable information for an Animal Research;
• And critically analyze the significance of their chosen notable invention and present their research findings in a clear and engaging manner.

This series of worksheets on Research offers students a variety of engaging topics to develop and enhance their research skills. By engaging with these worksheets, they can practice gathering information from diverse sources, critically evaluating information, synthesizing findings, and effectively presenting their research. The ability to conduct research is a valuable skill that supports academic success and encourages lifelong learning. Overall, these worksheets provide students with practical guidance and opportunities to explore different research topics, fostering their intellectual curiosity and equipping them with the tools necessary for effective research.

What is Research?

Research is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information to increase knowledge, solve problems, or answer questions about a specific topic or subject. It is a crucial component of scientific inquiry, academic pursuits, and decision-making processes in various fields, such as social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, medicine, and business.

There are several types of research, including:

Basic Research

Also known as fundamental or pure research, basic research aims to expand knowledge and understanding of a subject or phenomenon without immediate practical application. It seeks to uncover new theories, principles, or concepts that can form the basis for future applied research.

Applied Research

Applied research focuses on using existing knowledge and findings to address specific, practical problems or develop new products, techniques, or solutions. It is often driven by the needs of industries, governments, or other organizations.

Qualitative Research

This type of research explores the underlying reasons, opinions, motivations, or behaviors related to a topic. It relies on non-numerical data, such as interviews, observations, or textual analysis, to gain in-depth understanding and insights.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research seeks to quantify data and draw conclusions through statistical analysis. It uses numerical data and structured methods, such as surveys, experiments, or questionnaires, to test hypotheses or examine relationships between variables.

Descriptive Research

Descriptive research aims to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon, situation, or population. It may involve the collection of data through observation, surveys, or case studies to provide an accurate representation of the subject being studied.

Experimental Research

In experimental research, researchers manipulate one or more variables to observe their effects on other variables. It is often used to establish cause-and-effect relationships and test the effectiveness of interventions or treatments.

Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal research involves the collection of data over an extended period to examine changes or trends in a particular subject or population. It can help identify patterns, relationships, or causal factors that emerge over time.

Effective research requires a well-defined research question or hypothesis, a systematic approach to data collection and analysis, and the ability to draw valid conclusions based on the evidence gathered. It also involves critical thinking, attention to detail, and adherence to ethical standards to ensure the credibility and reliability of the findings.

How to Improve Your Research Skills

Improving your research skills can enhance your academic performance, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making processes. Here are some tips to help you develop and refine your research skills:

Define Clear Research Questions or Objectives

Begin by identifying a specific topic or issue you want to explore. Develop clear, focused research questions or objectives that guide your research process and help you stay on track.

Familiarize Yourself with Various Research Methods

Learn about different research methodologies, such as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each method will help you choose the most appropriate approach for your research.

Develop a Plan

Create a structured plan outlining your research objectives, methods, data sources, and a timeline for completing your project. This will help you stay organized and ensure you allocate sufficient time and resources for each stage of the research process.

Learn to use a Range of Resources

Become proficient in using various research tools and resources, such as libraries, databases, search engines, and reference materials. Familiarize yourself with both print and digital resources to access the most relevant and up-to-date information.

Refine your Search Skills

Improve your search techniques by using advanced search options, Boolean operators, and filters to locate relevant information more effectively. Learn how to assess the credibility and reliability of sources by examining their authorship, publication date, and affiliations.

Take Notes and Stay Organized

Develop an effective note-taking system that helps you keep track of important information, sources, and ideas. Use tools like spreadsheets, citation managers, or digital notebooks to organize your research materials and make it easier to find and retrieve information when needed.

Analyze and Synthesize Information

Practice critical thinking skills by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing the information you gather. Look for patterns, trends, or relationships in the data, and evaluate the quality and relevance of the evidence to support your research questions or objectives.

Communicate your Findings Effectively

Develop strong writing and presentation skills to communicate your research findings clearly and persuasively. This includes organizing your thoughts coherently, using proper citation styles, and presenting your work in a visually engaging manner.

Collaborate

Engage in collaborative research projects, join study groups, or attend workshops and conferences to learn from others and broaden your perspective on research topics.

Seek Feedback and Continuously Learn

Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or instructors to identify areas for improvement and refine your research skills. Continuously update your knowledge and stay informed about new research methods, tools, and best practices in your field.

By following these tips and practicing regularly, you can improve your research skills and become a more effective researcher, which will benefit you in various aspects of your academic, professional, and personal life.

• Research Skills

How to Teach Online Research Skills to Students in 5 Steps (Free Posters)

Please note, this post was updated in 2020 and I no longer update this website.

How often does this scenario play out in your classroom?

You want your students to go online and do some research for some sort of project, essay, story or presentation. Time ticks away, students are busy searching and clicking, but are they finding the useful and accurate information they need for their project?

We’re very fortunate that many classrooms are now well equipped with devices and the internet, so accessing the wealth of information online should be easier than ever, however, there are many obstacles.

Students (and teachers) need to navigate:

• What search terms to put into Google or other search engines
• What search results to click on and read through (while avoiding inappropriate or irrelevant sites or advertisements)
• How to determine what information is credible, relevant and student friendly 
• How to process, synthesize, evaluate , and present the information
• How to compare a range of sources to evaluate their reliability and relevancy
• How to cite sources correctly

Phew! No wonder things often don’t turn out as expected when you tell your students to just “google” their topic. On top of these difficulties some students face other obstacles including: low literacy skills, limited internet access, language barriers, learning difficulties and disabilities.

All of the skills involved in online research can be said to come under the term of information literacy, which tends to fall under a broader umbrella term of digital literacy.

Being literate in this way is an essential life skill.

This post offers tips and suggestions on how to approach this big topic. You’ll learn a 5 step method to break down the research process into manageable chunks in the classroom. Scroll down to find a handy poster for your classroom too.

How to Teach Information Literacy and Online Research Skills

The topic of researching and filtering information can be broken down in so many ways but I believe the best approach involves:

• Starting young and building on skills
• Embedding explicit teaching and mini-lessons regularly (check out my 50 mini-lesson ideas here !)
• Providing lots of opportunity for practice and feedback
• Teachers seeking to improve their own skills — these free courses from Google might help
• Working with your librarian if you have one

💡 While teaching research skills is something that should be worked on throughout the year, I also like the idea of starting the year off strongly with a “Research Day” which is something 7th grade teacher Dan Gallagher wrote about . Dan and his colleagues had their students spend a day rotating around different activities to learn more about researching online. Something to think about!

Google or a Kid-friendly Search Engine?

If you teach young students you might be wondering what the best starting place is.

I’ve only ever used Google with students but I know many teachers like to start with search engines designed for children. If you’ve tried these search engines, I’d love you to add your thoughts in a comment.

💡 If you’re not using a kid-friendly search engine, definitely make sure SafeSearch is activated on Google or Bing. It’s not foolproof but it helps.

Two search engines designed for children that look particularly useful include:

These sites are powered by Google SafeSearch with some extra filtering/moderating.

KidzSearch contains additional features like videos and image sections to browse. While not necessarily a bad thing, I prefer the simple interface of Kiddle for beginners.

Read more about child-friendly search engines

This article from Naked Security provides a helpful overview of using child-friendly search engines like Kiddle.

To summarise their findings, search-engines like Kiddle can be useful but are not perfect.

For younger children who need to be online but are far too young to be left to their own devices, and for parents and educators that want little ones to easily avoid age-inappropriate content, these search engines are quite a handy tool. For older children, however, the results in these search engines may be too restrictive to be useful, and will likely only frustrate children to use other means.

Remember, these sorts of tools are not a replacement for education and supervision.

Maybe start with no search engine?

Another possible starting point for researching with young students is avoiding a search engine altogether.

Students could head straight to a site they’ve used before (or choose from a small number of teacher suggested sites). There’s a lot to be learned just from finding, filtering, and using information found on various websites.

Five Steps to Teaching Students How to Research Online and Filter Information

This five-step model might be a useful starting point for your students to consider every time they embark on some research.

Let’s break down each step. You can find a summary poster at the end.

Students first need to take a moment to consider what information they’re actually looking for in their searches.

It can be a worthwhile exercise to add this extra step in between giving a student a task (or choice of tasks) and sending them off to research.

You could have a class discussion or small group conferences on brainstorming keywords , considering synonyms or alternative phrases , generating questions etc. Mindmapping might help too.

2016 research by Morrison showed that 80% of students rarely or never made a list of possible search words. This may be a fairly easy habit to start with.

Time spent defining the task can lead to a more effective and streamlined research process.

It sounds simple but students need to know that the quality of the search terms they put in the Google search box will determine the quality of their results.

There are a LOT of tips and tricks for Googling but I think it’s best to have students first master the basics of doing a proper Google search.

I recommend consolidating these basics:

• Type in some simple search terms using only the important keywords
• If the initial results aren’t what you want, alter the search terms and get more specific  (get clues from the initial search results e.g. you might see synonyms that would work or get ideas from the “People Also Ask” section)
• Use quotation marks if you want your keywords in an exact order, e.g. “raining cats and dogs”
• use your best guess with spelling (Google will often understand)
• don’t worry about punctuation
• understand that everyone’s results will be different , even if they use the same search terms (depending on browser history, location etc.)

📌 Get a free PDF of this poster here. 

Links to learn more about Google searches

There’s lots you can learn about Google searches.

I highly recommend you take a look at  20 Instant Google Searches your Students Need to Know by Eric Curts to learn about “instant searches”.

Med Kharbach has also shared a simple visual with 12 search tips which would be really handy once students master the basics too.

The Google Search Education website is an amazing resource with lessons for beginner/intermediate/advanced plus slideshows and videos. It’s also home to the  A Google A Day classroom challenges. The questions help older students learn about choosing keywords, deconstructing questions, and altering keywords.

Useful videos about Google searches

How search works.

This easy to understand video  from Code.org to explains more about how search works.

How Does Google Know Everything About Me?

You might like to share this video with older students that explains how Google knows what you’re typing or thinking. Despite this algorithm, Google can’t necessarily know what you’re looking for if you’re not clear with your search terms.

What about when the answer comes up in Google instantly?

If you’ve been using Google for a while, you know they are tweaking the search formula so that more and more, an answer will show up within the Google search result itself. You won’t even need to click through to any websites.

For example, here I’ve asked when the Titanic sunk. I don’t need to go to any websites to find out. The answer is right there in front of me.

While instant searches and featured snippets are great and mean you can “get an answer” without leaving Google, students often don’t have the background knowledge to know if a result is incorrect or not. So double checking is always a good idea.

As students get older, they’ll be able to know when they can trust an answer and when double checking is needed.

Type in a subject like cats and you’ll be presented with information about the animals, sports teams, the musical along with a lot of advertising. There are a lot of topics where some background knowledge helps. And that can only be developed with time and age.

Entering quality search terms is one thing but knowing what to click on is another.

You might like to encourage students to look beyond the first few results. Let students know that Google’s PageRank algorithm is complex (as per the video above), and many websites use Search Engine Optimisation to improve the visibility of their pages in search results. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most useful or relevant sites for you.

As pointed out in this article by Scientific American ,

Skilled searchers know that the ranking of results from a search engine is not a statement about objective truth, but about the best matching of the search query, term frequency, and the connectedness of web pages. Whether or not those results answer the searchers’ questions is still up for them to determine.

Point out the anatomy of a Google search result and ensure students know what all the components mean. This could be as part of a whole class discussion, or students could create their own annotations.

An important habit to get into is looking at the green URL and specifically the domain . Use some intuition to decide whether it seems reliable. Does the URL look like a well-known site? Is it a forum or opinion site? Is it an educational or government institution? Domains that include .gov or .edu might be more reliable sources.

When looking through possible results, you may want to teach students to open sites in new tabs, leaving their search results in a tab for easy access later (e.g. right-click on the title and click “Open link in new tab” or press Control/Command and click the link).

Searchers are often not skilled at identifying advertising within search results. A famous 2016 Stanford University study revealed that 82% of middle-schoolers couldn’t distinguish between an ad labelled “sponsored content” and a real news story.

Time spent identifying advertising within search results could help students become much more savvy searchers. Looking for the words “ad” and “sponsored” is a great place to start.

4) Evaluate

Once you click on a link and land on a site, how do you know if it offers the information you need?

Students need to know how to search for the specific information they’re after on a website. Teach students how to look for the search box on a webpage or use Control F (Command F on Mac) to bring up a search box that can scan the page.

Ensure students understand that you cannot believe everything you read . This might involve checking multiple sources. You might set up class guidelines that ask students to cross check their information on two or three different sites before assuming it’s accurate.

I’ve written a post all about teaching students how to evaluate websites . It includes this flowchart which you’re welcome to download and use in your classroom.

So your students navigated the obstacles of searching and finding information on quality websites. They’ve found what they need! Hooray.

Many students will instinctively want to copy and paste the information they find for their own work.

We need to inform students about plagiarism  and copyright infringement while giving them the skills they need to avoid this.

• Students need to know that plagiarism is taking someone’s work and presenting it as your own. You could have a class discussion about the ethics and legalities of this.
• Students also need to be assured that they can use information from other sources and they should. They just need to say who wrote it, where it was from and so on.

All students can benefit from learning about plagiarism, copyright, how to write information in their own words, and how to acknowledge the source. However, the formality of this process will depend on your students’ age and your curriculum guidelines.

Give students lots of practice writing information in their own words. Younger students can benefit from simply putting stories or recounts in their own words. Older students could investigate the difference between paraphrasing and summarising .

There are some free online tools that summarise information for you. These aren’t perfect and aren’t a replacement from learning the skill but they could be handy for students to try out and evaluate. For example, students could try writing their own summary and then comparing it to a computer summary. I like the tool SMMRY as you can enter text or a URL of an article. Eric Curts shares a list of 7 summary tools in this blog post .

Students also need a lot of practice using quotation marks and citing sources .

The internet can offer a confusing web of information at times. Students need to be shown how to look for the primary source of information. For example, if they find information on Wikipedia, they need to cite from the bibliography at the bottom of the Wikipedia article, not Wikipedia itself.

There are many ways you can teach citation:

• I like Kathy Schrock’s PDF document which demonstrates how you can progressively teach citation from grades 1 to 6 (and beyond). It gives some clear examples that you could adapt for your own classroom use.

Staying organised!

You might also like to set up a system for students to organise their information while they’re searching. There are many apps and online tools to curate, annotate, and bookmark information, however, you could just set up a simple system like a Google Doc or Spreadsheet.

The format and function is simple and clear. This means students don’t have to put much thought into using and designing their collections. Instead, they can focus on the important curation process.

Bring These Ideas to Life With Mini-Lessons!

We know how important it is for students to have solid research skills. But how can you fit teaching research skills into a jam-packed curriculum? The answer may be … mini-lessons !

Whether you teach primary or secondary students, I’ve compiled 50 ideas for mini-lessons.

Try one a day or one a week and by the end of the school year, you might just be amazed at how independent your students are becoming with researching.

Become an Internet Search Master with This Google Slides Presentation

In early 2019, I was contacted by Noah King who is a teacher in Northern California.

Noah was teaching his students about my 5 step process outlined in this post and put together a Google Slides Presentation with elaboration and examples.

You’re welcome to use and adapt the Google Slides Presentation yourself. Find out exactly how to do this in this post.

The Presentation was designed for students around 10-11 years old but I think it could easily be adapted for different age groups.

Recap: How To Do Online Research

Despite many students being confident users of technology, they need to be taught how to find information online that’s relevant, factual, student-friendly, and safe.

Keep these six steps in mind whenever you need to do some online research:

• Clarify : What information are you looking for? Consider keywords, questions, synonyms, alternative phrases etc.
• Search : What are the best words you can type into the search engine to get the highest quality results?
• Delve : What search results should you click on and explore further?
• Evaluate : Once you click on a link and land on a site, how do you know if it offers the information you need?
• Cite : How can you write information in your own words (paraphrase or summarise), use direct quotes, and cite sources?
• Staying organised : How can you keep the valuable information you find online organised as you go through the research process?

Don’t forget to ask for help!

Lastly, remember to get help when you need it. If you’re lucky enough to have a teacher-librarian at your school, use them! They’re a wonderful resource.

If not, consult with other staff members, librarians at your local library, or members of your professional learning network. There are lots of people out there who are willing and able to help with research. You just need to ask!

Being able to research effectively is an essential skill for everyone . It’s only becoming more important as our world becomes increasingly information-saturated. Therefore, it’s definitely worth investing some classroom time in this topic.

Developing research skills doesn’t necessarily require a large chunk of time either. Integration is key and remember to fit in your mini-lessons . Model your own searches explicitly and talk out loud as you look things up.

When you’re modelling your research, go to some weak or fake websites and ask students to justify whether they think the site would be useful and reliable. Eric Curts has an excellent article where he shares four fake sites to help teach students about website evaluation. This would be a great place to start!

Introduce students to librarians ; they are a wonderful resource and often underutilised. It pays for students to know how they can collaborate with librarians for personalised help.

Finally, consider investing a little time in brushing up on research skills yourself . Everyone thinks they can “google” but many don’t realise they could do it even better (myself included!).

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How To Evaluate Websites: A Guide For Teachers And Students

14 Replies to “How to Teach Online Research Skills to Students in 5 Steps (Free Posters)”

Kathleen, I like your point about opening up sites in new tabs. You might be interested in Mike Caulfield’s ‘four moves’ .

What a fabulous resource, Aaron. Thanks so much for sharing. This is definitely one that others should check out too. Even if teachers don’t use it with students (or are teaching young students), it could be a great source of learning for educators too.

This is great information and I found the safe search sites you provided a benefit for my children. I searched for other safe search sites and you may want to know about them. http://www.kids-search.com and http://www.safesearch.tips .

Hi Alice, great finds! Thanks so much for sharing. I like the simple interface. It’s probably a good thing there are ads at the top of the listing too. It’s an important skill for students to learn how to distinguish these. 🙂

Great website! Really useful info 🙂

I really appreciate this blog post! Teaching digital literacy can be a struggle. This topic is great for teachers, like me, who need guidance in effectively scaffolding for scholars who to use the internet to gain information.

So glad to hear it was helpful, Shasta! Good luck teaching digital literacy!

Why teachers stopped investing in themselves! Thanks a lot for the article, but this is the question I’m asking myself after all teachers referring to google as if it has everything you need ! Why it has to come from you and not the whole education system! Why it’s an option? As you said smaller children don’t need search engine in the first place! I totally agree, and I’m soo disappointed how schooling system is careless toward digital harms , the very least it’s waste of the time of my child and the most being exposed to all rubbish on the websites. I’m really disappointed that most teachers are not thinking taking care of their reputation when it comes to digital learning. Ok using you tube at school as material it’s ok , but why can’t you pay little extra to avoid adverts while teaching your children! Saving paper created mountains of electronic-toxic waste all over the world! What a degradation of education.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Shohida. I disagree that all schooling systems are careless towards ‘digital harms’, however, I do feel like more digital citizenship education is always important!

Hi Kathleen, I love your How to Evaluate Websites Flow Chart! I was wondering if I could have permission to have it translated into Spanish. I would like to add it to a Digital Research Toolkit that I have created for students.

Thank you! Kristen

Hi Kristen, You’re welcome to translate it! Please just leave the original attribution to my site on there. 🙂 Thanks so much for asking. I really hope it’s useful to your students! Kathleen

[…] matter how old your child is, there are many ways for them to do research into their question. For very young children, you’ll need to do the online research work. Take your time with […]

[…] digs deep into how teachers can guide students through responsible research practices on her blog (2019). She suggests a 5 step model for elementary students on how to do online […]

Writing lesson plans on the fly outside of my usual knowledge base (COVID taken down so many teachers!) and this info is precisely what I needed! Thanks!!!

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Research Worksheet: Research Worksheet

Research worksheet printable versions.

• Rersearch Worksheet Printable Word document. Feel free to download and print.
• Research Worksheet Printable PDF version. Feel free to download and print.

How to do Research

Systematic Serendipity

Read this in conjunction with the Research Worksheet in the next box to develop your research skills; learn to work smarter, not harder; and ensure your research efforts are efficient and effective.

In a phrase, research is the process of  “USING SOURCES TO FIND MORE SOURCES” (aka Systematic Serendipity) . Here you will find a brief explanation of the basic steps involved in research while applying this principle.

Select and Focus a Topic :

Select a topic . If you can select your own topic, pick something that is of interest to you and for which there are sufficient resources available. Be careful not to select a topic that is too broad or too narrow but make sure you limit your topic to just  one  concept. Use this focusing exercise to guide you in the early stages of your search.

Turn your topic into a title . Allow yourself the freedom to change the title, outline and even the topic as your research informs your ideas.

Write a thesis statement or statement of purpose : what one question do you want to answer about this one topic. Asking yourself who, what, when, where and why about the topic will help you focus where you want to go with it. 

Develop a Preliminary Outline . Use the keywords from the title and thesis statement as key search terms and as the basis for a preliminary outline. This will help guide you in the early stages of your research. It will inevitably change as you gather information and refocus your topic.

Identify terminology:   Make a list of what you already know from off the top of your head:  authors, titles, and keywords. Think about synonyms, broader terms, narrower terms and related terms, alternate spellings, scientific or technical terms as well as common terms.

An extremely valuable tool to further assist you in identifying good search terms is the  Library of Congress Subject Headings Online  (LCSH) <https://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects.html> search platform. Here you can look up your common, colloquial concepts to find universally recognized subject headings. Also, use LCSH Online to discover how your selected terms fit within their related subject hierarchies (click on <Church work> below).

For example a search for <ministry> leads to <Lay ministry> which in turn retrieves this useful information:

·  Variants

·         Ministry, Lay

·         Volunteer workers in church work

·  Broader Terms

·          Church work

·  Narrower Terms

·          Lay preaching

·          Lay readers

·          Lord's Supper--Lay administration

·          Lord's Supper--Lay celebration

·  Related Terms

·          Laity

·          Priesthood, Universal

·          Volunteer workers in Christian education

Get Background Information:    Get acquainted with your topic by searching broad range tools like encyclopedias and dictionaries. In addition to general information on the subject, these will give you a basic outline, the broad parameters of your topic, a bibliography of highly recommended sources as well as a recognized expert in the field. This will help you focus your research topic as well as enhance your understanding of the topic as you read more detailed resources.  The bibliographies and authors of encyclopedia articles are excellent sources for further research, which is a prime example of Systematic Serendipity , i.e., using sources to find more sources . To easily identify encyclopedias and dictionaries on any topic, use the Discovery Catalog with this formula: <su:encyclopedias OR dictionaries> *  then whatever your topic, either as a subject or as a keyword. Like this:

su:encyclopedias OR dictionaries AND “lay ministry”

su:encyclopedias OR dictionaries AND kw:”lay ministry”

If you can’t find anything on your specific topic, try searching its broader context (e.g. search the broader concept of “church work” if “lay ministry” doesn’t retrieve any results). Use the  LCSH Online   to identify broader, narrower, related terminology.

*NOTE :  the terms "encyclopedias" and "dictionaries"  must  be plural; OR  must  be in all caps

Tools to search .  Using the authors, titles and terminology you now have:

Go to the  Online Public Access Catalog  (OPAC) (i.e.  WorldCat Discovery   and  WorldCat Discovery Advanced  to locate library materials related to your topic.  Apply “Using sources to find more sources” to your search results (hit list) by examining the Subject field in the Description portion of each record. This will provide more appropriate terms with which to find more relevant resources. When you locate materials that are helpful, use their respective bibliographies to identify even more sources; another example of “Systematic Serendipity”

In addition to searching books, you may want current information not yet published in book form. Periodicals will need to be searched for the most current scholarly information available on a subject. Searching periodical indexes and abstracting sources will identify for you the articles available on your topic. These can be accessed through the  Discovery Catalog   by limiting the Resource Format to “Articles” or Content Type to “Peer Reviewed”. Better still, use “ Find Databases ” for a more focused search of specialized indexes and databases related to the selected category, i.e., ATLA Religion with Serials Plus, BAS Online, Christian Periodical Index. Use the authors, keywords and subject headings you discovered from your reading of encyclopedia articles, the records that you found in your Discovery catalog search and the bibliographies from the books you’ve discovered. 

Recommended Reading for help in Library Research:  Badke, William.  Research Strategies:  Finding Four Way Through the Information Fog, 5 ed. Bloomington, IN: IUniverse, Inc., 2021.  ISBN: 9781663218742. Call # 001.42/B142r/2021.

Use the Research Worksheet below to guide the early stages of your research. It is not necessary to fill in all the blanks; use only those that are relevant.

Last updated February 2024.

Research Worksheet

Use the Research Worksheet to help you walk through each step of the Research Process without losing your way.  Each step is designed so you can add any new information that you may find; No need to repeat the same information over and over again.  The lines are merely prompts.  Include as much or as little information as is needed for the research project.

  napkinwriter.wordpress.com 4322 × 2007   February 26,  2013

Select & Focus your Topic 1.  Select a topic: ___________________________________________ 2.  Turn your topic into a title:  _________________________________ 3.  Write a thesis/purpose statement: ___________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________

4.  Prepare a preliminary outline:  I.  Introduction II.  ___________________________________________________    A.  _________________________________________________    B.  _________________________________________________ III.  __________________________________________________    A.  _________________________________________________    B.  _________________________________________________    C.  _________________________________________________ IV.  __________________________________________________    A. __________________________________________________    B.  _________________________________________________ V.  Conclusion

 5.  List known terminology:  Authors: ______________________________________________  Titles of books or articles: ________________________________  Keywords: ____________________________________________

 5.1 LC Subject Headings ( click here to access): select a term(s) representative of your topic and search LCSH Online for universally recognized subject headings. Variants: ______________________________________________ Broader Terms: ________________________________________ Narrower Terms: _______________________________________ Related Terminology: ____________________________________

6.  Get background information from general/specialized encyclopedias: Discovery catalog: su:encyclopedias OR dictionaries AND [your topic].

Before you go any further, analyze your search results to retrieve the best sources: Use   Analyzing Search Results Worksheet

   Titles used:  1.  ___________________________________________________                        2.  ___________________________________________________                        3.  ___________________________________________________                        4.  ___________________________________________________                        5.  ___________________________________________________

Use Sources to find other sources :  Record here any newly discovered pertinent or relevant information gleaned from encyclopedia articles: Persons; article author: _____________________________________________ Places:  _________________________________________________________ Events:  _________________________________________________________ Keywords:  ______________________________________________________

Prepare a Bibliography adding selected titles from encyclopedias & dictionaries; put citations in proper style.

7.  Refocus topic based on information learned from encyclopedias and dictionaries as needed: Change Title: ____________________________________________________ Rewrite Thesis/Purpose Statement: __________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Adjust Outline: I.  Introduction II.  _________________________________________________________    A.  ________________________________________________________       1. _______________________________________________________       2.  _______________________________________________________ B.  ________________________________________________________       1.  _______________________________________________________       2.  _______________________________________________________    C.  ________________________________________________________       1.  _______________________________________________________       2.  _______________________________________________________ III.  _________________________________________________________    A.  ________________________________________________________       1.  _______________________________________________________       2.  _______________________________________________________    B.  ________________________________________________________       1.  _______________________________________________________       2.  _______________________________________________________    C.  ________________________________________________________       1.  _______________________________________________________       2.  _______________________________________________________ IV.  _________________________________________________________    A.  ________________________________________________________    B.  ________________________________________________________    C.  ________________________________________________________ V.  Conclusion

Tools to Search  8.  Search the Discovery catalog: use searchable access points identified from 5 & 6 above. 

Analyze your search results to retrieve the best sources: Use  Analyze Search Results Worksheet

 Use Sources to find other sources:  Record any new relevant searchable access points gleaned from bibliographic records:  Dewey Decimal number(s): _________________________________________  Subject Headings:  ___________________________________  Authors:  ______________________________________________  Keywords/Descriptors (from Tables of Contents, Notes, Titles):  __________________________________

Bibliography :  Add selected citations to bibliography (in proper style); very briefly annotate each title; indicate why each title has been chosen and which part of the outline it will support:

9.  Select appropriate Periodical Indexes:  from the Library’s Web site select Find Databases. Use A-Z Databases list       _______________________________________________________       _______________________________________________________       _______________________________________________________

Devise Boolean Search Strategies for each database * and index (as needed):        _______________________________________________________       _______________________________________________________

*NOTE : online databases use these field codes: SU , AU ,TI , and TX  for subject, author, title and keyword respectively. Include a space after each code and before the search terms.

Apply Limits peculiar to each database and index:        _______________________________________________________       _______________________________________________________

Bibliography :  Add titles to the bibliography (in proper style); very briefly annotate each title; indicate why each title has been chosen and which part of the outline it will support. 

10.  Select appropriate Web sites.  Use Scholarly Internet Search Engines compiled and maintained by librarians and scholars (work smarter not harder):         

11.  Use Sources to find other sources:  Record any new relevant additional searchable access points gleaned from each article, book, bibliographic record, Web site used:    Authors: __________________________________________________    Persons:  _________________________________________________    Places:  __________________________________________________    Events:  __________________________________________________    Keywords:  ________________________________________________    DDC/LC numbers: __________________________________________    LC Subject Headings:  _______________________________________    Bibliographies; Cited References - add to your own bibliography if useful.

12. Evaluate each resource found (use Evaluating Sources ).

Work smarter not harder. Ask Miss T

• Last Updated: Apr 6, 2024 12:46 PM
• URL: https://masters.libguides.com/worksheet

Online Research Skills Modules and Digital Worksheets

Research Skills are critical for today’s students. This complete 7 lesson unit will teach your upper elementary or middle school students everything they need to be successful online researchers. Updated 9/17/17 with an answer key.

Description

• Reviews (0)
• Copyright and Fair Use
• Evaluate a Website
• Judging Online Information
• Putting Info. Together
• Search Better
• Search Engines and Strategies
• Intro to Searching Online
• Get More Out of Google Search
• Hidden Features of Google Search

This resource is digital worksheets with questions to answer about these research topics. Each worksheet links to an online interactive learning module, where students can find the answers to the questions. Each lesson should take between 30-45 minutes for a student to complete. This is ideal for a computer lab teacher or media specialist who has access to a class set of computers. If you’re a classroom teacher, check out the laptop cart or sign up for the computer lab.

This is a full crash course in online research and you will have an assessment piece for each lesson. The questions included are “right there” questions. Students can move through the learning modules and find the answers easily. By the end of the complete unit, they will know specific answers for what to do if their search isn’t showing the results they expected, how to cite a source, how to know if a website is a good source, and so much more. This download also includes an editable rubric and standards alignment page.

I use these with 5th grade students. Depending on background experience and expectations, they could be useful for several grade levels of students.

I DO allow these Word documents (digital worksheets) to be uploaded to a password protected page of a teacher website or onto a learning management system like Edmodo, that requires students to log in to access. These worksheets aren’t cute or exciting, but they get the job done when it comes to students learning research skills. When the lesson is done, students can print the worksheet or save it to their file (I recommend saving even if they do print).

If your students need work on their Microsoft Office Skills, I have a complete unit for PPT Skills in my store. If you are a computer lab teacher or media specialist and you don’t have the  Technology Teacher Planning and Data Binder  yet, you’re missing out on an opportunity to be more organized than you’ve ever been before. Register today for my  FREE Email Course for Technology Teachers .

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Internet Research Skills Worksheets

These worksheets are great to help students learn more about the Internet. If you would like to test your students ability to use the Internet as a Research tool we have a great set of Internet Research worksheets .

• Acrostic Poem
• Computer Monitor
• Internet Access Bank On It! Worksheet
• Internet Word Scramble Worksheet
• Do The Research! : The Numbers
• Group Creative Writing
• The Internet and Real World Venn Diagram
• Internet Sources and Library Catalogs Venn Diagram
• Internet Wording
• Monitors Around the World
• Mouse Around the World
• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary List & Definitions
• Vocabulary Quiz
• Word Search
• Word Search Answer Key

Internet Research Teacher Resources

• Five Secrets for Parents to Help Encourage Responsible Use of the Internet
• Internet Acronyms Every Teacher & Parent Needs to Know
• Kids' Browsers: To Block or not to Block?
• The Internet Lesson Plans
• The Internet Teaching Theme

How to Improve Your Internet Research Skills

Research is one of the essential functions required in today's day and age. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, we research multiple things every day. Remember how your friend asked you which place to hang out next?

When you were looking for places to go in your city, that's research. Remember when your colleague asked you your opinion on a particular celebrity and their best performances, and you went to Wikipedia to look up their filmography? That's research. Of course, you already realize you have to do tons of research in school and colleges and even on your job. It makes for a major part of the research you have to do.

How the Internet Has Changed Research: Importance of Learning Internet Research

The internet's ubiquity has made research both difficult and easy at the same time. Let's look at the positives first. The internet has given us one of the complete repositories of information humanity has ever known. You can find vast armadas of information from all ages on almost all topics on the internet. All this information is accessible to us at the click of a button, and this is the most significant achievement of the internet.

Another big plus is that the Internet is accessible anywhere at any time. The previous restrictions of finding a good library, finding a book, then adhering to the times of issue and library's opening and closing times are now meaningless. Also, with the availability of interviews, tutorials, and classes online of subject matter experts, access to high-quality information has never been this easy.

On the other hand, there are also multiple challenges that the internet presents that were not present to the researcher of yesteryears.

Too much available information presents a unique task of differentiating helpful information from useless information. Skimming through all this information and separating useful from useless is a time-consuming and skill-testing task that requires much effort.

The ability to separate useful from the highly abundant irrelevant material is indeed an art and a skill in addition. Another unignorable fact is that there are innumerable instances where false and inaccurate information is displayed on the internet. These reasons make it pertinent for modern-day researchers to acquire internet research skills.

You can develop this skill like any other skill in the world. If you want to improve your internet research skills, you'll find the following five points quite pertinent. These tips will assist you in refining your research skills. If done properly, your research will be faster and require less effort. Read on to find out!

Five Essential Tips for Improving Your Internet Research Skills

1. Plan Bottom Up

There is a tendency to get first intimidated when you see the sheer quantum of information available to a user when they embark on online research. This issue is compounded by the fact that the information's authenticity is more often than not questionable. You might have to sift to separate fact from fiction and valuable from useless. In this scenario, a recommended way forward would be to break down your required research topic into sub-topics that can be researched individually.

This allows you to go into the depth of the information and leads you to accurate sources on which you can base your remaining research. It also helps you research important topics now that you have broken them down into smaller bits, and it is doable in smaller and more manageable chunks.

2. Organize Your Sources

While you will see that it is possible to research essential topics by doing so in smaller doable chunks, you will also feel that it often gets confusing once you've collected a lot of information. The key here is to organize your information so that required information is available to us when we want it without too much effort being placed into retrieving it. You can organize your internet sources in many ways. For example, you can save helpful research links by adding them to your web browser's bookmarks.

Adding useful links to bookmarks will keep a record and keep you organized. In addition, you can keep an annotated bibliography of material you require keeping for your research when you can use it at will when you require it. You can also make folders as per the subtopics of your research. Bookmark folders will help you find the source of whatever you are quoting in your research while maintaining a complete record. These tips should not be foregone at any cost, especially for an academic researcher.

3. Understand How to Use the Web Brower Properly

The first and foremost thing you need to master to improve your internet research skills is using the web browser properly. Over time, web browsers have evolved, and to be a good researcher, you must be aware of those changes and know how to handle them.

You need to know all the key shortcuts like:

- Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4 to close the current tab - Ctrl + Shift + W or Alt + F4 to close the current window altogether - Alt + Left arrow open the last page from your browsing history

These shortcuts increase your internet searching speed and make the process easy and hassle-free.

4. Using Keywords

Using keywords is a great way to narrow down your search on the internet. Using keywords allows the internet to produce relevant hits on the search bar from which you can choose your desired search. Keywords work to limit your search and show only the related topic in the results. By enclosing the critical words with quotation marks, the search engine will streamline your search showing you the exact information you need.

Using keywords saves a lot of time and effort. It helps you avoid going off-topic or getting distracted or overwhelmed by the sheer volume of irrelevant data available on the internet.

5. Find Subject Matter Experts

The Internet has made industry leaders and subject matter experts more accessible than ever. Before the internet was widely available, people accessed their ideas through books, lectures, seminars, letters, and even in-person meetings.

While those things are still useful today, with the internet, you can search their research papers, interviews, and video lectures and join them for virtual meetings. The use of varied sources will enable your research to go to unprecedented heights and assist you in achieving your goals.

Our Concluding Thoughts

The Internet is one of the best tools available to us humans today. The scope of research has been broadened since a wealth of information is now available at a researcher's fingertips. You can overcome some challenges with the effective use of organization and ingenuity. If properly used, the internet can be the most significant assist that a researcher can ever use if they want to take his research to an optimal level.

. Bookmark this site. You can type the address of a hunt page in the browser location bar. Answer forms: Print the hunt for an answer sheet. OR Use the printer friendly worksheets. OR Have the students number down a lined sheet of paper. OR : Safari - Go: View .. Make Text bigger or Mac - hold down the command key do the same, but choose smaller or Mac - The Electoral College - grow your know - Air and Air Pollution facts updated 1/2024 Basic Body Internet Hunt 4th up Bats are our Buddies - about bats Bats Compare Contrast Activity Bats - Frayer facts model - doc | pdf Bio diversity Exploration Plant Investigation Birds - learn about our feathered friends Birds - Frayer facts model - doc | pdf Oviparous Frayer model - doc . | pdf Compare Contrast Bluebirds with another bird Birds Exploration 6-9th revised Birds of Wetlands Facts Table Activity Bugs Hunt - 3-6 What's bugging you? Invertebrates - Frayer Model doc . | pdf . 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Spring Internet Hunt Sun - renewable energy source Tree Facts Internet Activity - Leaf it to me! utd 2015 Trees Frayer Model - doc | pdf Trees lineage activity | Tree Mapping activity Water cycle, Groundwater, Fresh water activity 4-8 Learn about Watershed Activity - Try Lentic or Lotic Ecosystems Weather Internet Hunt Weather Event Frayer Model - doc | pdf Women of Science Internet Hunt Hunts: Arts / Social Studies / Months & Holidays / Literature / Civics Projects and Essays / Problem and Project Based Learning I do not accept requests to add links. A mind stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes All trademarks, copyright and logos belong to their respective owners. Updated August 31, 2024, Originally Posted 3/1999 Frequently Asked Questions Copyright ©1999-2024 Cynthia J. O'Hora. Feel free to link to or bookmark any individual web page. Educators and individuals may print a hunt, for use in a classroom setting. January 7th, 2007 - I have decided to release some of my works to public domain. Look at the bottom of a page to find the notice of copyright. I continue to retain a full copyright protection on the majority of my work. That is noted on the individual works. Use of the materials here constitutes an agreement with the Terms of Use. Terms of Use: I am providing some of the hunts in PDF. You'll need a free pdf program to use them like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Preview. You may print the web page or the pdf copy for an answer sheet in a class. Filter Results clear all filters Resource Type Worksheets  Guided Lessons Lesson Plans Hands-on Activities Interactive Stories Online Exercises Printable Workbooks Science Projects Song Videos middle-school Fine arts  Foreign language  Math  Reading  Writing Process  Writing Organization and Structure  Genre Writing Fiction Writing  Reflective Writing Research Writing  Informational Writing Opinion Writing Persuasive Writing Argument Writing Narrative Writing Essay Writing Response to Literature Handwriting  Research Strategies  Grammar  Science  Social emotional  Social studies  Typing  Holidays  Seasonal  Teacher Resources  Common Core  Printable Research Writing Worksheets My Storyboards Research Writing Templates Customize research writing templates. If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template! What is Research? Research is the systematic process of gathering and analyzing information to establish facts, gain knowledge, and draw new conclusions. It involves a methodical approach to collecting data from various sources and critically examining it to generate insights and deepen understanding. When conducting research, individuals seek to explore a chosen topic or question and find relevant information to answer it. This may involve investigating existing knowledge, gathering data through surveys or experiments, analyzing statistical information, or reviewing scholarly literature. The goal is to uncover new insights, validate existing theories, or contribute to the advancement of knowledge in a particular field. Collecting information requires careful consideration of reliable sources. These sources can include books, scholarly articles, reputable websites, and expert interviews. By utilizing trustworthy and credible sources, researchers can ensure the accuracy and validity of their findings. Research allows individuals to go beyond surface-level knowledge and delve into a subject in depth. It involves critically examining different perspectives, analyzing data, and interpreting results to form evidence-based conclusions. Individuals can contribute to the body of knowledge, inform decision-making processes, and make meaningful contributions to their respective fields. Utilizing Research Worksheets to Improve Research Skills and Enhance Writing Abilities These skills are essential for students to develop a better understanding of various subjects and effectively explore topics. Our templates offer valuable guidance and resources to assist middle school students in their journey of conducting research and writing papers. They provide a structured framework that helps students navigate the process, explore different subtopics, generate ideas, and avoid plagiarism. By utilizing these worksheets, students can enhance their skills, improve their writing abilities, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics they are studying. One of the key aspects of the research process is identifying suitable topics. Our templates offer prompts and exercises that help students brainstorm ideas and select topics that align with their interests and academic goals. By engaging in these activities, students can explore various subjects and narrow down their focus to a specific area. Once students have chosen their topics, the templates guide them through the process of conducting research. They provide helpful tips on utilizing search engines effectively, evaluating the credibility of sources, and organizing information. Kids can use these worksheets to record their findings, take notes, and develop a comprehensive understanding of their chosen topics. Furthermore, they cater to the unique needs of students by providing age-appropriate activities and resources. They are designed to foster engagement, critical thinking, and independent learning. By utilizing these worksheets, students can develop essential skills that will benefit them not only in their academic journey but also in their future educational pursuits. In conclusion, research worksheets serve as valuable tools for middle school students to enhance their skills, streamline the process, and gain a better understanding of various topics. By incorporating these handouts into their learning, students can develop valuable skills, foster a deeper appreciation for education, and excel in their academic endeavors. Examples of Classroom Activities to Use Research Worksheets Social Studies Exploration: Introduce students to the world of research by assigning a country project. Provide them with templates that guide them through the process of gathering information about their chosen country. These worksheets can include sections for collecting statistical information, identifying reliable sources, and establishing facts about the country. College-Level Research: Prepare middle school students for higher education by incorporating college research worksheets into their curriculum. These worksheets can focus on developing skills such as utilizing search engines effectively, avoiding plagiarism, and critically evaluating sources. Students can practice these skills by exploring different subtopics related to their areas of interest. Writing a Research Paper: Help students navigate the process of writing a research paper by providing them with specialized worksheets. These worksheets can assist them in organizing their research, outlining their paper, and citing sources. By using writing a research paper worksheets, students can gain a better understanding of the process and develop strong academic writing skills. Interactive Research Activities: Engage students in hands-on activities using printable country research worksheets. These worksheets can include prompts and questions that guide students in collecting specific information about a country, such as its geography, history, culture, and economy. Students can work individually or in groups to complete these activities, fostering collaboration and critical thinking. In addition, we offer a wide selection of other educational materials to support your teaching. Our worksheet templates section provides a wealth of resources, including phonological awareness activities, making connections worksheets , and active reading worksheet templates . These resources can be seamlessly integrated into your lessons to strengthen students' understanding of cardinal directions while building essential reading and comprehension skills. How to Make a Research Writing Worksheet Choose one of the premade templates. We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration! Click on “Copy Template” Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator. Give Your Worksheet a Name! Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future. Edit Your Worksheet This is where you will include directions, specific images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless! Click "Save and Exit" When you are finished, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard. From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more! Happy Creating! Frequently Asked Questions About Research Writing Worksheets Where can i find research worksheets for different topics. You can find a variety on Storyboard That. They offer activities and college research worksheets that cater to various subjects and grade levels. Can I use Storyboard That for research activities? Yes, Storyboard That offers a range of resources and tools to support research activities. We offer handouts and college research worksheets that assist students in organizing their findings, creating visual representations, and writing research papers. Additionally, their free printable country research worksheet is a helpful resource for studying and exploring different countries. Are the research worksheets from Storyboard That suitable for college-level research? Yes, Storyboard That offers college research worksheets that are designed to meet the research requirements of college-level students. They cover various aspects of the research process, including topic selection, gathering statistical information, using reliable sources, and drawing new conclusions. They provide a comprehensive framework for conducting thorough research and writing academic papers. Can I access the research worksheets from Storyboard That for free? While Storyboard That offers a range of resources and tools, some of the premium content may require a subscription or purchase. However, we also provide free printable country research worksheets and offer trial periods and discounts for educators and students. Pricing for Schools & Districts Limited Time 5 Teachers for One Year 1 Hour of Virtual PD 30 Day Money Back Guarantee • New Customers Only • Full Price After Introductory Offer • Access is for 1 Calendar Year Thousands of images Custom layouts, scenes, characters And so much more!! Create a Storyboard Introductory School Offer 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. New Customers Only. Full Price After Introductory Offer. Access is for 1 Calendar Year Generating a Quote This is usually pretty quick :) Quote Sent! Email Sent to Rating Count Price (Ascending) Price (Descending) Most Recent Online research worksheet Online Research Skills Unit Digital Worksheets and Modules What's My Job Occupation Titles Online Research Webquest Worksheet Career Cluster Worksheets | 16 Clusters | Online READY!!! | Research Activity Spanish-Speaking Countries Geography Research Worksheets and Online Games Fabric and Textiles Online research worksheet FREE Tropics Online Research Worksheet (4th grade geography) Continent Online Research Writing Worksheet Test Homework Geography Bundle Internet Safety Finance Life Skill Worksheet - Research Before Shopping Online Helping Students to Research Online Effectively PowerPoint & Worksheet Researching Online Extension Worksheets Bolivia Research Online Writing Worksheet or Test Quiz Geography Lesson Work Belgium Research Online Writing Worksheet or Test Quiz Geography Lesson Work Brazil Research Online Writing Worksheet or Test Quiz Geography Lesson Work Barbados Research Online Writing Worksheet or Test Quiz Geography Lesson Work Bhutan Research Online Writing Worksheet or Test Quiz Geography Lesson Work US History: ABC Online Research Worksheet for Jefferson Research Notes Online Worksheet (Editable!) Electronic Components Online Research Worksheet Internet Research : How to Search, Select, Cite Credible Sources Career Research Pennant Project Effective Online Research Skills Evaluating Websites Credible Sources Unit Country Research Project Posters - Africa Online Encyclopedia Research Activities Matter Worksheets | Matter and Energy | What is Matter | Classifying Matter We're hiring Help & FAQ Privacy policy Student privacy Terms of service Tell us what you think Z204 Women Musicians Popular Music/Non-Classical Research Classical Music Research Types of Articles: Popular vs Trade vs Scholarly Newspapers, newsy-websites, and current events blogs In-class activity: Brainstorming Broad Topics How to Evaluate Websites Turabian/Chicago Citation Guide This link opens in a new window Other citation guides This link opens in a new window Librarian Help Download Worksheet Assignment Library worksheet due 9/14 << Previous: Librarian Help Last Updated: Sep 11, 2024 12:26 PM URL: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/womenmusicians Social media Instagram for Herman B Wells Library Facebook for IU Libraries Additional resources Featured databases. Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) OneSearch@IU Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Academic Search (EBSCO) Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) ERIC (EBSCO) Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Nexis Uni Resource available without restriction HathiTrust Digital Library Databases A-Z Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Google Scholar Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) JSTOR Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Web of Science Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Scopus Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) WorldCat IU Libraries Diversity Resources About IU Libraries Alumni & Friends Departments & Staff Jobs & Libraries HR Intranet (Staff) IUL site admin 157 COMMENTS Research Worksheets and Handouts These handouts and worksheets can get you past that initial hurdle. This graphic organizer will help you understand your assignment, identify and focus your topic, create a search strategy and find sources in 6 easy steps! An infographic of journalistic questions that can help you brainstorm potential research questions. Exercises to Build Research Skills Before they begin to research, it is ideal to have a focused question. This 10 minute assignment teaches them how to turn a very broad topic into a focused research question. Identifying and Refining a Research Topic Using Concept Maps. This exercise is designed to help students think of words and concepts and see how they are related. 50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills It outlines a five-step approach to break down the research process into manageable chunks. This post shares ideas for mini-lessons that could be carried out in the classroom throughout the year to help build students' skills in the five areas of: clarify, search, delve, evaluate, and cite. It also includes ideas for learning about staying ... Research Worksheets All About These 15 Worksheets. This series of 15 worksheets on Research is designed to help students develop essential skills for conducting thorough and effective research on various topics. These worksheets cover a wide range of research-related topics, including partnered research projects, researching famous individuals, conducting ... PDF Exercises for an Introductory Research Methods Course RESEARCH_METHODS_13RM - Writing Research Reports You have permission to use these exercises and to revise them to fit your needs. Each exercise has a set of keywords describing what is covered in that exercise. There is a spreadsheet that allows you to quickly see the topics covered in each exercise. Research Skills Worksheets Research Skills Worksheets Listed By Specific Topic Area. Research skills are important to a person's educational, professional, and personal life. Did you ever hear a story, but wasn't sure if it was true? Or maybe you saw a word phrase that you didn't quite understand. Researching helps to locate information, and then use that information ... How to Teach Online Research Skills to Students 5 simple steps to teaching Google search tips and internet research skills for students. This updated 2020 post and free eBook shows how to research effectively online for kids in primary school, middle school and high school. These tips are summarized in a free online research skills poster for your classroom. Research Worksheet Recommended Reading for help in Library Research: Badke, William. Research Strategies: Finding Four Way Through the Information Fog, 5 ed. Bloomington, IN: IUniverse, Inc., 2021. ISBN: 9781663218742. Call # 001.42/B142r/2021. Use the Research Worksheet below to guide the early stages of your research. Online Research Skills Modules and Digital Worksheets Online Research Skills Modules and Digital Worksheets. $ 5.50. Add to cart. Add to wishlist. Research Skills are critical for today's students. This complete 7 lesson unit will teach your upper elementary or middle school students everything they need to be successful online researchers. Updated 9/17/17 with an answer key. PDF Topic Development: Getting Started with Your Research 2. What will be the specific focus of your research? your topic and/or connect it t. 3. Write your topic as a question. y, where) to brainsto. researchable questions 4Google your question. Review the resul. ) Online Research Skills Unit Digital Worksheets and Modules Hidden Features of Google Search. This resource is digital worksheets with questions to answer about these research topics. Each worksheet links to an online interactive learning module, where students can find the answers to the questions. Each lesson should take between 30-45 minutes for a student to complete. PDF Research Project Guide Handbook for Teachers and Students. research project encompasses the collection of relevant information from a variety of sources with the intention of becoming thoroughly informed about an engaging topic for the purpose of communicating knowledge to an audience. The purpose of this guide is to provide a sequential plan for the research process ... Online Research & Worksheets Students will practice their research skills using these task cards. The questions were created using the World Book Online Encyclopedia Kids Edition. They come in both print and Student Research Skills Worksheets Research Skills Worksheets Related To History and Social Studies. Abolition of slavery in America. Adolph Hitler becomes dictator after coup. America buys Alaska. American Constitution Drafted. Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Berlin Wall built between East and West Germany. "Bloody Sunday" massacre in Ireland. Internet Research Skills Worksheets Internet Research Skills Worksheets. These worksheets are great to help students learn more about the Internet. If you would like to test your students ability to use the Internet as a Research tool we have a great set of Internet Research worksheets. Internet Access Bank On It! Worksheet. Do The Research!: Internet Scavenger Hunts & Problem Research Activities The Internet is an enormous collection of answers. The challenge is to find them. Completing an Internet hunt will develop your web browsing skills. You will learn lots of interesting stuff. You will harness powerful web site tools like databases to obtain fresh information. You will use this data to answer challenging, thinking required questions. PDF 8th Grade Research Packet In 8th grade, we will conduct THEMATIC RESEARCH - that is research that is based on an overarching theme. Your goal is to create a 2 - 3 "magazine-type- page" academic essay that presents information and illustrations (pictures, charts, graphs, etc.) that supports your group's theme by exploring a specific topic within the theme. Printable Research Writing Worksheets Worksheet. Integrate writing and science with this research graphic organizer in which students research and record information about an invasive species in their local region. 1 2 3. Browse Printable Research Writing Worksheets. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now! Quiz & Worksheet Print Worksheet. 1. Jim is writing a report on the Washington Monument. When he uses a search engine, he is pointed to resources about various monuments throughout Washington, DC, and the state of ... PDF COLLEGE RESEARCH WORKSHEET Prior to submitting a college application, you need to research the various college options you have available. During your research, there are three important things for you to consider: fit, match, and cost. This worksheet will help you think through each of them. 3. IMPORTANT THINGS: FIT. MATCH COST. DOES THE COLLEGE FIT WITH YOUR PREFERENCES? PDF Research Essay Worksheet Research Essay Worksheet. Putting Content into Structure. This outline is designed to help you write a research paper. In your thesis statement, you must let the reader know the main focus of your essay. You will express an opinion as to what you believe about your research topic. Both of these objectives must appear in your thesis. Research Worksheets: Free Printable Templates In conclusion, research worksheets serve as valuable tools for middle school students to enhance their skills, streamline the process, and gain a better understanding of various topics. By incorporating these handouts into their learning, students can develop valuable skills, foster a deeper appreciation for education, and excel in their ... online research worksheet Get the kids excited about a trip to the library with this fun word search worksheet. They will have to look in all directions to find the 29 library vocabulary words. Stock word Download Worksheet Assignment Popular Music/Non-Classical Research; Classical Music Research; Types of Articles: Popular vs Trade vs Scholarly; Newspapers, newsy-websites, and current events blogs ... Download Worksheet Assignment; Library worksheet due 9/14 << Previous: Librarian Help; Last Updated: Sep 11, 2024 12:26 PM; URL: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu ... assignment homework phd report resume review speech thesis