CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7

ELA5th GradeResearch to Build and Present Knowledge

The Standard

Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students ask a focused question, gather information from several reliable sources, and investigate more than one part of the topic. They take notes, group related facts, and write a clear report that combines what they learned.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use books, articles, and approved websites to find relevant facts without copying whole sentences. The final piece covers distinct aspects, connects information across sources, and names each source.
Common Misconceptions: Students often treat research as copying facts from the first website they find. They may repeat the same information from every source, ignore conflicting details, or cover only one part of a broad topic.
How to Assess It: Give students three short sources about school gardens. Ask them to record one useful fact from each, sort facts under two headings, and write one conclusion.

Lesson moves

Set out three texts about bees, then have pairs sort fact cards under headings for habitat, behavior, and environmental impact.
After reading sources on plastic waste, write how causes, effects, and solutions connect, then identify which source supports each claim.
Play Source Match, where teams pair note cards with source cards, discard unrelated facts, and explain how each fact answers the research question.
Research a proposed school change by reading the handbook, surveying classmates, and interviewing staff, then present findings to the principal.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

See the whole path on the Writing progression map.

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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