Literacy Research Boxes
Last year I started making Literacy Research Boxes modeled after Joanne Griffins' smart boxes. These are learning centers in a box. It takes a while to put together a box, but it is well worth the time. They can be used year after year. I try to put interesting topics for the students to research. By Friday, they need to work on finishing up the Literacy Research Box brochure and any unfinished activities. Many times the nonfiction selections are A.R. books.
Each box has three sections: READ, WRITE, and ACTIVITY
Look at the bottom of the page to see the handout students use .
This is an example of a Literacy Research Box.
Penguins
READ:
Read all the books. Some of them are AR books, and you can take a test on them. Some of them are just for you to read and enjoy.
WRITE:
-Fill out a fact sheet on several pengiuns you have read about
-Write down three questions that you want to investigate. Find out the answers and write about what you have learned.
- Write a travel brochure about where the penguins you are studying live.
- Write an article for the class newspaper using the 5 W's.
ACTIVITY:
-choose a worksheet to complete (usually from Enchanted Learning)
You can use the clear plastic containers from Target or Walmart. In this container is all the books to go with that topic. I have 5-12 books in each box. For the instructions, etc. I use a one inch notebook with clear plastic sleeve protectors inside. The first page is the directions. The following pages are the masters for word searches, worksheets, and fun things to do. There are extra handouts for the students to use. I will probably use 2 L.R. Boxes at a time with 2-3 students at each box. Students will be working first on their literacy objectives and then they can work on their smart boxes. Friday is when they need to be finished. The following pages are my directions to all my Smart Boxes. There are great places online to find word searches, and work sheets. Some I have borrowed from other websites. Other times I copy blacklines from my collection of alternative reporting about books (book).
Literacy Research Boxes are used during guided reading. My students tend to go off task when the wind blows. Whenever they get too noisy I use the three strikes and you're out rule. Which means they go back to their desks by themselves doing seat work.
