Conducting Research for Science Research Papers

[Eric Larimer]

Does anyone have some advice for how to help my students find appropriate sources of information for a science research paper? The biggest problem for my students is that they don't understand the vast majority of material they find on the internet because it is written at a reading level designed for college students or professional scientists. How can I guide them to sources written at a middle school level and still have the experience of searching for information on their own? Does anyone have any experience in this area? I teach 6th grade science (a survey of biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and oceanography), 7th grade life science, and 8th grade earth science.