School Library Based Research Projects
The school library provides a wealth of information for students to discover and learn. School projects based on library research give students an opportunity to explore the library and learn how to use its many resources. Give students creative research projects that make library time exciting and thought-provoking.
Other People Are Reading
-
Do Martians Exist?
-
This research project may be done by students individually or in small groups of two or three. Present students with the following question: Is there life on Mars? Ask the students to visit the school library and research the necessary conditions for life to exist such as food, water and air. Ask them to examine research from Mars space explorations as well. Based on the research conducted in the school library, the students must decide whether or not life exists or did exist on Mars. Instruct the students to present their findings to the class.
Library Hunt
-
For younger students in elementary school, provide an enjoyable research activity that takes place in the school library. Ask the librarian to set aside books and materials on age-appropriate subjects such as animals, holidays and food. Assign each child with one topic he must research at the school library. Give the students pencils and paper to take to the library to take notes or draw pictures to remind them of their research. Allow the students to search through the books and other library materials to find information on their particular topics. At the end of the period, ask each student to share something she learned about her research topic.
-
Country Research
-
Allow students to explore the different research materials at the library with a geography project. Assign each student with a different country to research. Give them each a worksheet to be completed with research done at the school library. The worksheet can have questions such as: On which continent is this country located? What are typical holidays and festivals celebrated in this country? What is the weather like in this country? After the worksheet is complete, ask each student to share the information he found with his classmates in a small group.
Famous Historical Figures
-
Assign each student, or small group of students, a famous historical figure such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. or Marilyn Monroe. Instruct the students to visit the school library to research the life of the person they were assigned: important facts, family life and accomplishments. Based on the research they find, instruct the students to write a newspaper or magazine article and poem or journal entry about this person or from his perspective. For example, a student may choose to write a journal entry from the perspective of Abraham Lincoln at the start of the Civil War. This project will allow students to perform library research and combine it with a creative writing exercise.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
