Unit Plan 16 (Grade 6 ELA): Mini-Research – Reading Across Sources
Grade 6 research unit: students craft focused questions, evaluate credible sources, take organized notes, and synthesize ideas across texts. They use tech tools to cite, draft, and publish a clear, well-supported mini-report.
Focus: Focused questions; note-taking; assessing credibility; tech tools
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Writing—Research; Reading Informational; Technology)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students will run a mini-research cycle from question to product. They’ll craft focused research questions, find and evaluate sources (credibility, relevance, purpose), take organized notes with proper paraphrasing and citation, then synthesize across two or more sources—using tech tools to draft and share. By week’s end, each student produces a short, well-cited write-up or slide that clearly combines ideas from multiple texts.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Formulate focused research questions and plan steps for a short inquiry (W.6.7).
- Gather relevant information from multiple print/digital sources; assess credibility/accuracy; paraphrase and avoid plagiarism; track bibliographic info (W.6.8).
- Compare and contrast how two authors present the same event/idea (details, emphasis, point of view) (RI.6.9).
- Use technology to draft, collaborate, insert visuals/links, and publish a brief product (W.6.6).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 6
- Writing 6.7 (W.6.7): Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
- Writing 6.8 (W.6.8): Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism; provide basic bibliographic information for sources.
- Reading Informational 6.9 (RI.6.9): Compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of another (e.g., a memoir written by and about the same person).
- Writing 6.6 (W.6.6): Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can write a focused question and locate reliable sources that answer it.
- I can take organized notes in my own words and cite where ideas came from.
- I can synthesize: explain how two authors present the same idea/event similarly or differently.
- I can use tech (docs/slides) to create and share a clear, polished mini-product.