Writing Standards: Conducting Short Research Projects (CCSS.W.4.7)
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Common Core 4th Grade ELA › Writing Standards: Conducting Short Research Projects (CCSS.W.4.7)
Research question: How do bees help plants make seeds? Student notes:
- Note 1: Bees carry pollen from flower to flower, which helps plants make seeds.
- Note 2: Honey tastes sweet on toast.
- Note 3: Some bees can fly up to 15 miles per hour.
Which note best supports the research question?
Note 1
Note 2
Note 3
None of these
Explanation
Note 1 explains pollination, which directly answers how bees help plants make seeds. Notes 2 and 3 are unrelated details about honey and bee speed.
Research question: What adaptations help desert plants survive with little water? Student notes:
- Note 1: Many desert plants have a waxy coating on leaves to keep water in.
- Note 2: Deserts can be very hot during the day.
- Note 3: One type of cactus grows pink flowers in spring.
Which note best supports the research question?
Note 2
Note 1
Note 3
None of these
Explanation
Note 1 describes a water-saving adaptation, which directly supports the question. Note 2 is background about desert weather, and Note 3 is a too-specific detail about flowers.
Research question: Why are recycling bins important at school? Student notes:
- Note 1: Recycling bins keep paper and plastic out of the trash so materials can be reused.
- Note 2: The student council met last Tuesday.
- Note 3: Ms. Lee's class collected 327 bottles in October.
Which note best supports the research question?
Note 2
Note 3
Note 1
None of these
Explanation
Note 1 explains the purpose of recycling bins—keeping materials out of trash so they can be reused. Note 2 is unrelated, and Note 3 is a narrow statistic that doesn't explain why bins are important.
Research question: How do owls hunt at night? Student notes:
- Note 1: Owls have soft-edged feathers that make their flight very quiet so they can surprise prey in the dark.
- Note 2: A barn owl may eat up to four mice in one night.
- Note 3: Some forests have many kinds of trees.
Which note best supports the research question?
Note 3
Note 2
None of these
Note 1
Explanation
Note 1 tells how owls hunt—silent flight helps them sneak up on prey in the dark. Note 2 is a specific amount eaten, and Note 3 is off-topic. 'None of these' is incorrect because Note 1 fits.
Research question: How do bees help plants? Which note best supports the research question?
Bees move pollen from flower to flower, which helps plants make seeds and fruit.
Honey can be different flavors depending on the flowers bees visit.
A beekeeper in Arizona keeps 47 hives behind his barn.
Some bees make a loud buzzing sound by vibrating their wings.
Explanation
The note about bees moving pollen directly explains how bees help plants reproduce. The other notes are off-topic or too specific and do not tell how bees help plants.
Research question: What helps sea turtles survive and grow? Which note best supports the research question?
Some sea turtles can weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
A sea turtle named Myrtle lives at a large aquarium.
Sea turtles need clean, sandy beaches to lay their eggs safely.
Sharks are fish that live in the ocean.
Explanation
Clean, sandy beaches for nesting help sea turtles reproduce and keep populations healthy, directly supporting survival. The other notes are unrelated or overly specific.
Research question: How do recycling programs help the environment? Which note best supports the research question?
Our class puts paper in the blue bin on Fridays.
Paper was invented in ancient China.
One aluminum can can be made into a new can in about two months.
Recycling reduces trash in landfills and saves natural resources.
Explanation
Reducing landfill trash and saving resources explains how recycling helps the environment. The other notes are off-topic or too narrow to answer the research question.
Research question: Why should people wash their hands before eating? Which note best supports the research question?
Washing dishes helps keep the kitchen clean.
Washing removes germs from hands that can cause illness.
Some soaps smell like flowers or fruit.
Doctors often wear coats and use stethoscopes.
Explanation
Removing germs that can make you sick directly explains why handwashing before eating is important. The other notes are unrelated details.
Research Question: How do honeybees help plants grow? Student notes:
- Bees carry pollen from flower to flower, helping plants make seeds.
- The queen bee can lay thousands of eggs in a day.
- Some flowers open at night, like evening primrose.
Which note best supports the research question?
Bees carry pollen from flower to flower, helping plants make seeds.
The queen bee can lay thousands of eggs in a day.
Some flowers open at night, like evening primrose.
Honey is stored in wax hexagon cells called comb.
Explanation
The first note explains pollination, which is how bees help plants grow. The other notes are bee or plant facts that do not show how bees help plants.
Research Question: What do sea turtles need to survive in the ocean? Student notes:
- Sea turtles eat seaweed, jellyfish, and crabs for energy.
- Baby sea turtles hatch on beaches at night to avoid predators.
- A sea turtle shell has scutes arranged in patterns.
Which note best supports the research question?
A sea turtle shell has scutes arranged in patterns.
Sea turtles eat seaweed, jellyfish, and crabs for energy.
Baby sea turtles hatch on beaches at night to avoid predators.
Some sea turtles migrate thousands of miles each year.
Explanation
Food provides energy, which turtles need to survive. The other notes are about shell patterns, hatching behavior, or migration, not basic survival needs.