This year I decided to change it up a little. I assigned Dynasties instead of landmarks to the 5th graders so the class will create a timeline of the history of China. The 4th graders would choose one of the three main landmarks to study. However, I soon realized that many students were struggling with doing the online research--finding appropriate websites, going through the information on the websites, some of them not written well, to answer the questions about their landmarks.
After helping one student with his research after school and using visual tools (like drawing a timeline on the board and then adding facts to it). I realized a very important thing about teaching...I need to MODEL what I want them to do... demonstrate by example; show them how to do the research and to organize the information. Now...why didn't I think of that earlier? SHOW them what I want to do and practice together before they do it on their own!
At least it's never too late to start modeling and demonstrating. After all, we are all learning and, reflective teachers continually tweak what we do to find ways to teach better...it's just like the old saying--"give a man a fish, he eats for a day...SHOW a man how to fish and he eats for a lifetime." When we teach, it's not just teaching the subject matter or content, but also teaching research and study skills, showing them how to analyze what they find and to learn to think critically about what they find. I am looking forward to seeing the projects this semester...and next semester, I will know to begin modeling the research methods earlier than I did this semester! Well...live and learn! Onward! :-)