Fourth Grade · Writing · week 12

Note Cards: Gathering Facts From Two Sources

Take notes from at least two different sources, in their own words, organized by research question, with the source noted for each card.

Now the real research begins. You will find at least TWO different sources -- books, reliable websites, or encyclopedia articles -- and take notes on note cards, one fact per card. Using more than one source helps you check facts and find more detail than one book alone could give.

Write notes in YOUR OWN WORDS, not copied word-for-word from the source. On each card, jot which research question it answers and which source it came from -- that second part matters even more later, in the citations lesson.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Help your child find two age-appropriate, reliable sources -- a library book plus a trustworthy kids' reference site works well.
  • Model turning one sentence from a source into "your own words" out loud, since this is a genuinely tricky new skill.
  • Insist on the source tag on every card, even though it feels like extra work now -- it saves real trouble in the citations lesson later.
  • Aim for enough note cards to answer each research question at least once, not a fixed total number.
Talk about it:
  • What are your two sources, and how do you know they are reliable?
  • Which research question was easiest to find facts for? Which was hardest?
  • Why does writing notes in your own words matter, even at this early stage?

Mastery looks like: They take multiple note cards from at least two sources, each in their own words and tagged with its question and source.

Common stumbles: Copying sentences word-for-word from a source instead of putting the fact into their own words.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Writing for this learner.
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