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

What This Standard Means

Students need to plan and complete a short research project using more than one source. They should choose a focused topic, ask research questions, gather facts from books, articles, videos, or websites, and sort information by subtopic.

Mastery looks like a student explaining a topic using accurate details from several sources, not just copying one paragraph. They can group notes, compare information, and write or present what they learned. Students often get stuck choosing topics that are too broad, copying sentences, using weak websites, or collecting random facts that do not answer their questions.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs three short texts on animal adaptations, and have them sort sticky-note facts into headings like food, habitat, and defense.
  • Ask students to write three research questions about one natural disaster, then circle the question that would need more than one source.
  • Have students submit an exit ticket with one source title, two notes from it, and the subtopic each note supports.
  • Show a local news article, city webpage, and map about a community issue, then discuss how each source adds different information.

Before This Standard

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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