NY Next Generation ELA 4W6

ELA4th GradeResearch to Build and Present Knowledge

The Standard

Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, and to build knowledge through investigating multiple aspects of a topic.

New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students investigate a question, including one they generate, by examining several aspects of a topic. They combine findings to build a fuller answer.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student asks a focused question, identifies useful aspects to investigate, and gathers information about each one. The final answer connects the findings to the question.
Common Misconceptions: Students may collect facts before defining a clear question or treat each source as a separate summary. They may keep an unworkable question even when the evidence suggests a better focus.
How to Assess It: Name a topic such as local wetlands. Ask students to write one question, list two aspects to investigate, and select relevant facts from two short sources.

Lesson moves

Arrange question, subtopic, and source cards into a research plan, then remove one irrelevant source.
Ask students how new evidence should change an inquiry and require a revised question.
Run a source scavenger hunt in which teams earn points for facts that directly answer the question.
Investigate a school concern and prepare an evidence-based answer for classmates or administrators.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4W6, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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

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