Common Core Standards

Grade 7

Writing W.7.7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

It's still a research project, but the Common Core asks for seventh graders' research projects to be a little more in-depth than those of sixth graders. Whereas sixth graders can stop once they've answered their initial questions, seventh graders have to press onward to the Promised Land of even more research. Whether they actually reach the Promised Land or a higher plane of existence once they've finished that additional research remains to be seen, but hey, the option's there.

Example 1

Here's an example lesson to include when students are studying Africa's history and literature.

Have students research the life events of Nelson Mandela and turn their notes into a digital timeline.

Aligned Resources

Teacher Guides

More standards from Grade 7 - Writing

If I'd had to teach to the Common Core, I would have used Shmoop, too.

Aristotle

The observed gravitational effect between Common Core activities results from their warping of Shmooptime.