I will be sending home a letter informing you of our last project - a research report on dinosaurs. Please look at the information, sign the letter, and send the folder back the next day with your child. We will attempt to finish this by the first week of June. Much of the work will be done in class, but some of it may have to be completed at home. Thank you for any support that you can give your child. (See letter and evaluation sheet below.)
May 13, 2008
Dear Students and Parents,
Over the next several weeks we will be working on a research project involving dinosaurs. Most of the work will be done in school, but the rough draft and final copy will be written at home.
Students should keep these directions in their dinosaur folder and follow the steps with me. Parents should read and sign off on the directions tonight. The directions and the folder should be sent back to school tomorrow so that the student may begin this project. The completed research report will be due within 2-3 weeks. I will give you an exact date as we progress in our research and get closer to that time.
DINOSAUR RESEARCH PROJECT DIRECTIONS
We will be following the steps below:
1. Select a dinosaur to research.
2. Look through several books or use the computer to see if there is
sufficient information on your dinosaur. If not, select another dinosaur.
3. Give the name of your dinosaur to me. You may be
asked to choose another dinosaur if too many others have
chosen the same one.
4. In class we will learn about finding information and taking
notes.
5. Take notes from various sources (books, computer, etc.). Gather
the following information about your dinosaur:
· Appearance
· Length, height, weight
· Meaning of its name
· Time period in which it lived
· Places where its fossils have been found
· Classification by group and subgroup
· What type of food it ate
· How it moved around
· Unique habits
· Interesting facts
6. Include a bibliography telling where you got the information.
I will give you an example to follow.
7. In class we will learn about outlining.
8. You will then create a simple outline using your dinosaur notes.
to be checked.
9. In class we will learn about writing a report from an
outline.
**THESE FINAL STEPS WILL BE DONE AT HOME: **
10. Write a rough draft of your report using the material from your
outline. You may do this on your computer.
11. Proofread your rough draft for errors and clarity. Edit for:
Punctuation
Complete sentences
Clear meanings
Indented paragraphs
Correct spelling
Capitalization
12. Write your final copy. (Rewrite or type your rough draft
neatly for a final copy to be handed in to your teacher.)
13. Make an illustration of your dinosaur to include with your
report. THIS ILLUSTRATION GOES INSIDE YOUR REPORT.
14. Make a cover for your report. It should include:
Title: The name of your dinosaur
Your name in the bottom left-hand corner
Decorate your cover in a way that is related to your
topic.
Please have a parent or guardian sign this letter. I hope you enjoy this wonderful learning experience.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Zall
I have read the instructions for the dinosaur report and understand my
child’s responsibility at home.
--------------------------------------
Parent’s signature
Cover:
Title –name of dinosaur ____ (2 points)
Decorated in a way that is related to your topic ___ (3 points)
Total ____(5 points)
Report:
Did you include all the areas required?
Appearance
Length, height, weight
Meaning of its name
Time period in which it lived
Places where its fossils have been found
Classification by group and subgroup
What type of food it ate
How it moved around
Unique habits
Interesting facts
_____(30 points)
Did you do a good job with your written language?
Punctuation
Complete sentences
Clear meanings
Indented paragraphs
Correct spelling
Capitalization
_____ (25 points)
Was the quality of your report excellent?
_____ (30 points)
Did you include an illustration of your dinosaur and a bibliography with
your report?
_____ (10 points)
Total points __________ Grade _____________