Crossroads librarians and teachers under the leadership first of Jan Gleim, former LA/SS Supervisor, and then Dr. Maribeth Edmunds, together developed this Research and Inquiry Framework, now being used in grades 3-12 in South Brunswick schools. We created the process, brainstormed topic ideas, and submitted examples of worksheets and lesson plans that would support this work. Materials and lesson ideas are housed in a shared folder:
North students engaged in their research.
Note that research is giving way to an inquiry approach. "Inquiry is an approach to learning that involves a process of exploring the ...world, that leads to asking questions and making discoveries in the search for new understandings." (http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/inquirydesc.html)
8th grade students explored periods in history and wrote questions that led to first-person historical fiction with embedded historical details.
The first two steps--Explore and Question-- distinguish the Inquiry process from research as usual. Inquiry provides opportunities for students to become more engaged as they develop and answer their own questions. Inquiry lessons are differentiated as teachers work with students to develop questions that best reflect their interests and abilities.