Cat fact-finding project

Cat fact-finding project

Start with a question about cats. Use the contents and index to locate a useful spread, then compare it with one adult-approved source. Separate evidence from guesses.

1. My research question is ...
2. Which spread or diagram helps? Record its printed pages.
3. What do the two sources agree about? What still needs checking?

Source 1: author, title, pages and two facts in my own words

Source 2: organisation, title, date accessed and two facts

Presentation: my answer, evidence and one open question

Teacher notes Fact-finding

Purpose and preparation

30 minutes plus reading. Co-authored nonfiction should be credited to Bernard Mensah and Mara Grunbaum. Use actual pages and source dates.

Suggested responses

1. A suitable anatomy question is how whiskers help a cat; pages 12-13 give a starting diagram.
2. A useful answer explains the fact and identifies the source. Facts copied without a reference are not a finished research result.
3. Suggested US links: W.4.2 informative writing, W.4.7 research and W.4.8 source notes; use RI for nonfiction reading, not fictional theme standards.

Support and stretch

Support: choose one caption and dictate notes. Stretch: identify a disagreement, inspect dates and avoid deciding by popularity.

Teaching links

Suggested England English: discussing reading and explaining ideas. US literacy links apply only to the stated school age group, not automatically to babies. Adapt to the learner; these materials are not an accredited curriculum.