Lesson 5

• Understand the concept of secondary research and its importance in gathering information.
• Learn how to conduct secondary research to gather relevant information for writing a rationale.
• Learn the basics of citing sources in APA format
• Practice citing sources using simple examples

• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers or chalk
• Writing materials (paper, pencils, etc.)
• Sample APA citation guide or poster  Here is the PIKTOCHART

• Begin the lesson by explaining what secondary research means. Internet sites are secondary sources (What is secondary research research notes are in red)
• Discuss the purpose of a rationale, which is to provide an explanation and justification for the choices made in the story.
• Explain that rationale must be based on research evidence (See explanation in the notes below in green colour)
• Emphasise the importance of using secondary research to gather accurate and reliable information.

Resources:Why Cite sources – Youtube or  Why Cite Sources from Research Ready

• Discuss the significance of giving credit to the original creators of the information. (notes in orange)
• Explain that citing sources is like saying “thank you” to the people who wrote the books or created the websites you used for research.
• Help students understand that citing sources also shows that they have done their homework and found trustworthy information.

• Display an APA citation guide or poster (APA Chart)
• Explain that APA is a specific format used to cite sources in research papers.
• Simplify the concept of APA format by mentioning that it includes the author’s name, the title of the source, and other information to help people find the source.
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• Provide simple examples, such as citing a book or a website, suitable for the age group.
• Guide students in creating citations together, step-by-step, using the APA format.
• Write an example citation on the board or chart paper, breaking it down into components (e.g., author, title, date, etc.), and ask students to help fill in the information. (Resources link APA format) I suggest students use the eFormat using : BIBME citation generator  OR Citefast
• •  

Give students a chance to practice citing a source using a book, an encyclopedia or an online source.

• Review the main points discussed in the lesson: the importance of secondary research and citing sources in APA format.
• Ask students if they have any questions or if there is anything they found interesting or challenging.
• Remind students to give credit to the sources they use in their future research, using the APA format or a simplified version suitable for their grade level.
• Reinforce the concept of academic honesty and the importance of giving credit to the original creators of information.
• Go over the Story Rubric so kids understand that they will lose points  if they don’t cite correctly

Secondary research involves finding information from sources like books, websites, or encyclopedias created by other people who have studied a topic.

Youtube video to explain primary and secondary sources

Research Notes:

When we do research, we want to make sure we use good and reliable information. This is because we want our ideas and reasons to be strong and trustworthy, just like when we build a sturdy tower with strong blocks. 

Credible resources are like the strong blocks that give us the right information. They come from places like books written by experts or websites that are trusted by grown-ups. We call these resources ‘credible’ because they have been checked and proven to be accurate. Evidence is like the proof or facts that show our ideas are true. 

It’s just like when we show a picture or a video to support what we’re saying. So, when we use credible researched evidence, it means we have found good information from trusted sources to make our ideas strong and reliable, like building a solid tower!

Some credible sources are: 

1. National Geographic Kids (kids.nationalgeographic.com): This website offers educational content on animals, nature, science, geography, and more. It provides accurate and engaging information suitable for children.
2. Smithsonian Kids (www.si.edu/kids): Smithsonian Kids is the official website of the Smithsonian Institution, offering resources on art, history, science, and culture. It provides trusted information and interactive activities for children.
3. NASA Kids’ Club (www.nasa.gov/kidsclub): NASA’s Kids’ Club provides space-related information and activities for young learners. It offers reliable resources about space exploration, planets, astronauts, and more, directly from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Citation Notes:

Citing tells your reader where you found your information. Citing allows your reader to learn more, beginning with your sources. Citing gives credit to the people whose words or ideas you are using. Citing protects you from plagiarizing.