Research Roadmap Lesson Plan Your Research Roadmap
Lesson Plan | Tier 3 Intervention
Audience
6th Grade
Time
30 Minutes
Approach
Direct instruction & hands-on logging.
Objective
Accurately record research from digital and physical sources using a consistent tracking method.
Why This Lesson?
Learning to track sources effectively is a fundamental skill for academic success. It helps students organize their thoughts, remember where information came from, and properly cite their work to avoid plagiarism.
Instructional Steps
5m
Introduction: Why Track Research?
Ask: "When you find cool information for a project, how do you remember where it came from?" (Think-Pair-Share).
Explain that source tracking is like creating a roadmap for your project.
10m
The Research Tracking Journal
Introduce the Journal as a personal research assistant.
Review key components: Source type, topic, title, author, and dates.
Discuss the importance of URLs for digital sources and page numbers for books.
10m
Guided Practice: Sample Logging
Use the Research Tracking Script to model filling out Entry 1 (Book).
Repeat for Entry 2 (Website) using provided sample data.
Check for accuracy in specific fields like publication dates and URLs.
5m
Wrap Up & Future Use
Reinforce that organized research leads to easier writing and zero plagiarism.
Final Q&A.
Prep & Materials
Prep Time: 10m
Review the Tracking Script for modeling.
Gather sample materials (physical book, printed article).
Print copies of the Research Tracking Journal .
Resource List
Slide Deck Research Tracking Journal Research Tracking Script Sample Books/Websites
Differentiation Tips
For students struggling with fine motor skills, allow them to record URLs using QR codes or shorten links. Provide highlighters to mark key bibliographic info in physical books.
Research Roadmap Slides Your Research Roadmap
Navigating Information Like a Pro!
Unit: Information Literacy
Why Track Your Research?
Stay Organized
No more scrambling to find that awesome fact from last week!
Avoid Plagiarism
Give credit where credit is due. Show off your honest work!
Save Time
Easily go back to sources when you need to double-check something.
Research Rockstar
Develop habits that make future projects a breeze!
Meet Your Research Tracking Journal!
A special notebook for all your sources.
Helps you remember where you found info.
Makes citing sources so much easier!
Researcher's Log
Entry #1
What Goes In Each Entry?
Source Type
Book? Website? Video?
Topic
What were you looking for?
Title
Name of the article/book.
Author
Who created it?
Date
When was it made?
Tracking Digital Sources
Websites
01
Website Name
Example: National Geographic Kids
02
Full URL
Copy and paste the entire link!
03
Access Date
Websites change! Note when you saw it.
https://www.kids.natgeo ...
Tracking Physical Sources
Books
Volume IX
The History of Space
Publisher: Who printed it?City: Where was it printed?Page Numbers: Exact location!Helpfulness: How does it fit?
Let's Practice: Book!
Project
The History of Space Travel
Source: Voyage to the Stars: A History of NASA
Author: Dr. Elena Rodriguez
Published: 2020, Stellar Press, New York
Info Found: Apollo 11 details on pages 75-80
Fill in Source Entry 1 in your Journal now!
Let's Practice: Website!
Project
Animals in the Rainforest
Source: "Amazing Adaptations of Sloths"
Site: National Geographic Kids
URL: www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/sloth
Accessed: Today!
Fill in Source Entry 2 in your Journal now!
You're a Research Pro!
Great research starts with great tracking.
Use your journal for every project you do!
Any questions? Research Tracking Journal Student Worksheet My Research Roadmap Journal
Field Agent: _________________________________
This journal is your secret weapon for awesome research projects! Use it to keep track of all the cool information you find, whether it's from a book, a website, or an article. Being organized means you'll spend less time searching and more time learning!
Entry #01
Type of Source
Book Website Article Other
Circle one above
Research Topic
Source Title
Author / Creator
Date Published
Digital (Web)
Website Name
Full URL
Date Accessed
Physical (Book)
Publisher
City
Page Numbers
Key Information & Notes
Why is this helpful?
My Research Roadmap
Entry #02
Type / Topic
Title / Author
Specific Source Details
Relevance / Helpfulness
Key Notes
Entry #03
Type / Topic
Title / Author
Specific Source Details
Relevance / Helpfulness
Key Notes
Research Tracking Facilitator Script Research Tracking Script
Teacher Facilitation Guide
5 Minutes
Introduction: Why Track Research?
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important for any research project you do, whether it's for science, history, or even just curiosity!"
Teacher: "Imagine you're working on a big project, and you find an amazing fact in a book, and then another great piece of information on a website. How do you make sure you remember where you found everything?"
Pause for student responses. Encourage a few to share their current methods.
Teacher: "Those are great ideas! Today, we're going to learn about a super effective and easy way to keep track of all your research. We're going to create a 'Research Tracking Journal.' Think of it like a roadmap—it helps you know where you've been and where you need to go next!"
10 Minutes
Introducing the Journal
Teacher: "I'm going to give each of you a Research Tracking Journal. Look at the first entry. What's the very first thing it asks for?" (Wait for "Type of Source"). "Exactly! Recording info changes if it's a book or a website."
Teacher: "Next is the 'Topic.' This helps you connect facts back to your original questions. We also need Title, Author, and Date. Knowing when something was made helps us know how current the info is—especially online where things change fast!"
For Websites:
Highlight the Full URL and the Access Date . Why both? Because content can be updated after you see it!
For Books:
Note the Publisher and Page Numbers . Page numbers prove exactly where you got the fact.
10 Minutes
Guided Practice: Modeling
Scenario 1: The Book
Teacher: "Our project is 'The History of Space Travel.' I have a book: Voyage to the Stars: A History of NASA by Dr. Elena Rodriguez, Stellar Press, New York, 2020. I found facts on pages 75-80."
Guide students to fill in Entry 1. Verify they circle 'Book' and list the page numbers correctly.
Scenario 2: The Website
Teacher: "Now for a website. Topic: 'Animals in the Rainforest.' Article: 'Amazing Adaptations of Sloths' on Nat Geo Kids. URL is `kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/sloth`. Accessed today!"
Guide students to fill in Entry 2. Emphasize copying the URL exactly.
Research Tracking Journal Answer Key Answer Key: Research Tracking Journal
Exemplar Student Responses
This key provides guidance on how students should capture bibliographic information. Note that for "Date Accessed," students should record the current date of the lesson.
Source Entry 1: Book Practice
EXEMPLAR
Type of Source
Book
Research Topic
History of Space Travel / Apollo Missions
Source Title
Voyage to the Stars: A History of NASA
Author / Date
Dr. Elena Rodriguez (2020)
Book Details
Publisher
Stellar Press
City
New York
Pages
Pages 75-80
Key Notes
Details about the Apollo 11 mission.
Names of crew: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins.
Description of the launch sequence and moon landing.
Source Entry 2: Website Practice
EXEMPLAR
Type of Source
Website
Research Topic
Animals in the Rainforest / Sloths
Source Title
"Amazing Adaptations of Sloths"
Website Details
Website Name National Geographic Kids
Full URL
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/sloth
Accessed [Current Date]
Key Notes
Sloths only come down from trees once a week to use the bathroom.
They are very slow moving to save energy.
Algae grows on their fur to help them camouflage.
Helpfulness
Gives specific animal facts that explain rainforest life.
