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How to Help Middle School Students Develop Research Skills

As the research skills you teach middle school students can last them all their lives, it’s essential to help them develop good habits early in their school careers.

Research skills are useful in nearly every subject, whether it’s English, math, social studies or science, and they will continue to pay off for students every day of their schooling. Understanding the most important research skills that middle school students need will help reach these kids and make a long-term difference.

The research process

It is important for every student to understand that research is actually a process rather than something that happens naturally. The best researchers develop a process that allows them to fully comprehend the ideas they are researching and also turn the data into information that is usable for whatever the end purpose may be. Here is an example of a research process that you may consider using when teaching research skills in your middle school classroom:

Form a question : Research should be targeted; develop a question you want to answer before progressing any further.
Decide on resources : Not every resource is good for every question/problem. Identify the resources that will work best for you.
Gather raw data : First, gather information in its rawest form; do not attempt to make sense of it at this point.
Sort the data : After you have the information in front of you, decide what is important to you and how you will use it. Not all data will be reliable or worthwhile.
Process information : Turn the data into usable information. This processing step may take longer than the rest combined. This is where you really see your data shape into something exciting.
Create a final piece : This is where you would write a research paper, create a project or build a graph or other visual piece with your information. This may or may not be a formal document.
Evaluate : Look back on the process. Where did you experience success and failure? Did you find an answer to your question?

This process can be adjusted to suit the needs of your particular classroom or the project you are working on. Just remember that the goal is not only to find the data for this particular project, but to teach your students research skills that will help them in the long run.

Research is a very important part of the learning process as well as being useful in real-life once the student graduates. Middle school is a great time to develop these skills as many high school teachers expect that students already have this knowledge.

Students who are well-prepared as researchers will be able to handle nearly any assignment that comes their way. Finding new ways to teach research skills to middle school students need will be a challenge, but the results are well worth it as you see your students succeed in your classroom and set the stage for further success throughout their schooling experience.

10 Ways To Develop Research Skills in Middle School Students

developing research questions middle school

Helping students develop research skills in middle school is useful and necessary for students to thrive later in life. In this blog post, Marypat Mahoney from Just Add Students and I explore practical ways to guide students in their journey to develop research skills through various methods.

From determining citation methods and scaffolding each skill to embracing information literacy and integrating hands-on experiences, the post offers a comprehensive roadmap for educators to encourage and educate students on their research journey.

Whether through prewriting activities, interview practice, small-scale exercises, or the analysis of primary sources, these strategies aim to equip students with the tools they need to navigate the research world confidently.

Get The Librarian Involved (Kristy)

If your school is fortunate enough to have a school librarian or media specialist, get them involved in helping your students develop research skills. School librarians can show the students what resources the school and/or the school board or district have and use hands-on activities to engage them in the research process.

In this blog post, 12 Ways a School Librarian Can Help Teachers , Barbara Paciotti, retired School Librarian and Science teacher, shares how school librarians can be an asset to classroom teachers.

Determine How You Want Students To Cite Sources (Marypat)

Before even jumping into research skills, decide how you want students to cite their sources. This can be as simple as students creating a list with clickable links or as complex as a works cited list that is in compliance with the MLA’s 9th edition .

If you want a combo of the two, teach your students how to create an annotated works cited list. This is a great way to get students thinking about why they are choosing sources and what the sources have to offer.

Scaffold Each Skill (Kristy)

When seeking to develop research skills in middle school students, it is important to start with a small research project and work towards bigger, more independent projects. These mini-research projects help students develop the key skills needed for more intricate and self-directed assignments.

Once students are ready for more independence, it is still important to break down larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks. Guide students through the process of selecting topics, conducting research, and presenting findings. I love to work on each step as a class and then give students more independence once they have demonstrated they are on the right track.

For an example of how I scaffold for my students, check out this Article of the Week framework .

Student Driven – Use The Scientific Method – Start With A Question (Marypat)

Students will be more engaged and excited about starting a research project when they are curious and invested in the topic. And, even more importantly, when they can choose their own topic.

But helping students choose that topic can be a challenge. One thing that helps is using the scientific method . This starts with asking a question. The more questions students ask, the easier the research topic will be to choose. Students will end up with a list of questions they want to know more about.

Teach Information Literacy (Kristy)

In today’s digital world, not everything is as it seems online. Focus on teaching students how to evaluate sources, spot bias, and differentiate between reliable and unreliable information/sources – this can be a key element when striving to help students develop research skills.

Emphasize to students that going beyond surface-level acceptance of digital content is key. Teach them how to analyze information and think critically about the content they consume. The goal is to nurture students to be capable of confidently navigating the digital world.

If you want help with lesson ideas on these topics, read my posts, Why Teach Fake News in the Middle School ELA Classroom? – 2 Peas and a Dog and Engaging Middle School Digital Citizenship Lessons – 2 Peas and a Dog .

Generate Prewriting Ideas (Marypat)

Prewriting is often a quickly completed activity, but with research, prewriting can help students flesh out ideas, generate more questions, and dig into deeper research.

Encourage students to “follow the questions” they have about their topic by generating more questions that they want answered. A simple graphic organizer like a KWL chart is a good place to start. But don’t stop there. Offering multiple prewriting activities helps students not only get excited to get started but they’ll develop a plan forward.

Interview Practice (Kristy)

Conducting primary research is a key skill that some people require in their careers. It does not have to be formal research conducted by a university or a think tank. People need to acquire information by talking to other people and then making informed decisions.

Teach students basic interview techniques and have them conduct interviews with school staff, local experts, or community members, then present their findings to their peers. When I taught Grade 6 Social Studies, students had to interview someone who had immigrated to Canada from another country.

They could interview a family member or a friend of the family. They were also permitted to get the story from their parents if no direct contact could be made with the relative who immigrated to Canada. This helped students learn how to talk to adults and gather information that they made into a presentation to share with the class.

A project that will help students learn the interview process and further develop research skills is my Biography Symbolism Assignment . Student can create a life map outlining the important events in their chosen interviewee’s life. It doesn’t have to be huge, but something to get students heading in the right direction when it comes to the interview process.

How can you incorporate interviews into your lessons? Check out this list of 32 Fun Project Ideas That Aren’t Overused For Middle School Students to think of different ways to change up your lessons.

Small Scale Practice With Note Taking, Summarizing, And Quoting (Marypat)

Once students have their idea and their research sources – the next big step is recording information. Summarizing material is often challenging for students. Make this easier by using texts that students are already familiar with: fairy tales, fables, popular movies, or even songs.

Take out the writing aspect and allow them to share a short summary with a partner. Can they do this in less than 30 words? You’ll be able to add new texts as students build confidence. Use this summarizing skills freebie to help you get started .

Analyze Primary Sources (Kristy)

Another way to develop research skills is to introduce historical primary sources (letters, diaries, speeches) and guide students in interpreting and analyzing these documents.

This is something I try to do with my students in my Canadian history lessons as well as when I am teaching a novel if I can find sources that align with the concepts or events. Students need to understand that not all content comes from secondary sources. Sometimes, they can use primary sources as a way to gather information.

Create a sharing wall (Marypat)

Provide a “Did You Know?” wall for students to share information about their topic that they think is interesting. Sometimes, students find information that doesn’t quite fit into their research topic, but it is still interesting to them. A sharing wall is the perfect spot for that random information. As a side benefit, students are sharing their research!

The journey to help students develop research skills can be a collaborative effort that involves educators, librarians, and the entire school community. Developing these skills is not a one-size-fits-all process but rather a multifaceted approach that encompasses citation methods, scaffolding, information literacy, and hands-on experiences.

By incorporating strategies like prewriting, interview practice, small-scale exercises, and the analysis of primary sources, educators can empower students to confidently navigate their research. I hope you can use some of these ideas to develop research skills in middle school students.

Marypat has been a classroom teacher for over fifteen years and a mentor teacher for over ten. Her experience ranges from fourth grade to college, but the majority of her time has been in middle school teaching ELA. She created Just Add Students to support busy teachers who may be struggling with teaching reading and writing to upper elementary and middle school students. She also sells teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers and on her website .

Kristy has taught ELA and other subjects to middle school students for over 17 years in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. She is guilty of always having a book in her hand – even at the dinner table! She shares teaching content on her website, 2 Peas and a Dog , and sells middle school education resources on Teachers Pay Teachers or Shopify .

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Research Activities For Middle School: Discussions, Tips, Exploration, And Learning Resources

February 6, 2024 // by Josilyn Markel

Learning to research effectively is an important skill that middle-school-aged students can learn and carry with them for their whole academic careers. The students in question will use these skills for everything from reading news articles to writing a systematic review of their sources. With increased demands on students these days, it’s never too early to introduce these sophisticated research skills.

We’ve collected thirty of the best academic lessons for middle school students to learn about sophisticated research skills that they’ll use for the rest of their lives.

1. Guiding Questions for Research

When you first give a research project to middle school students, it’s important to make sure that they really understand the research prompts. You can use this guiding questions tool with students to help them draw on existing knowledge to properly contextualize the prompt and assignment before they even pick up a pen.

Learn More: Mrs. Spangler in the Middle

2. Teaching Research Essential Skills Bundle

This bundle touches on all the writing skills, planning strategies, and so-called soft skills that students will need to get started on their first research project. These resources are especially geared towards middle school-aged students to help them with cognitive control tasks plus engaging and active lessons.

Learn More: Pinterest

3. How to Develop a Research Question

Before a middle school student can start their research time on task, they have to form a solid research question. This resource features activities for students that will help them identify a problem and then formulate a question that will guide their research project going first.

Learn More: YouTube

4. Note-Taking Skills Infographic

For a strong introduction and/or systematic review of the importance of note-taking, look no further than this infographic. It covers several excellent strategies for taking the most important info from a source, and it also gives tips for using these strategies to strengthen writing skills.

Learn More: Word Counter

5. Guide to Citing Online Sources

One of the more sophisticated research skills is learning to cite sources. These days, the internet is the most popular place to find research sources, so learning the citation styles for making detailed citations for internet sources is an excellent strategy. This is a skill that will stick with middle school students throughout their entire academic careers!

Learn More: Educator’s Technology

6. Guided Student-Led Research Projects

This is a great way to boost communication between students while also encouraging choice and autonomy throughout the research process. This really opens up possibilities for students and boosts student activity and engagement throughout the whole project. The group setup also decreases the demands on students as individuals.

Learn More: The Thinker Builder

7. Teaching Students to Fact-Check

Fact-checking is an important meta-analytic review skill that every student needs. This resource introduces probing questions that students can ask in order to ensure that the information they’re looking at is actually true. This can help them identify fake news, find more credible sources, and improve their overall sophisticated research skills.

Learn More: Just Add Students

8. Fact-Checking Like a Pro

This resource features great teaching strategies (such as visualization) to help alleviate the demands on students when it comes to fact-checking their research sources. It’s perfect for middle school-aged students who want to follow the steps to make sure that they’re using credible sources in all of their research projects, for middle school and beyond!

9. Website Evaluation Activity

With this activity, you can use any website as a backdrop. This is a great way to help start the explanation of sources that will ultimately lead to helping students locate and identify credible sources (rather than fake news). With these probing questions, students will be able to evaluate websites effectively.

10. How to Take Notes in Class

This visually pleasing resource tells students everything they need to know about taking notes in a classroom setting. It goes over how to glean the most important information from the classroom teacher, and how to organize the info in real-time, and it gives tips for cognitive control tasks and other sophisticated research skills that will help students throughout the research and writing process.

Learn More: Visualistan

11. Teaching Research Papers: Lesson Calendar

If you have no idea how you’re going to cover all the so-called soft skills, mini-lessons, and activities for students during your research unit, then don’t fret! This calendar breaks down exactly what you should be teaching, and when. It introduces planning strategies, credible sources, and all the other research topics with a logical and manageable flow.

Learn More: Discover Hub Pages

12. Google Docs Features for Teaching Research

With this resource, you can explore all of the handy research-focused features that are already built into Google Docs! You can use it to build activities for students or to make your existing activities for students more tech-integrated. You can use this tool with students from the outset to get them interested and familiar with the Google Doc setup.

13. Using Effective Keywords to Search the Internet

The internet is a huge place, and this vast amount of knowledge puts huge demands on students’ skills and cognition. That’s why they need to learn how to search online effectively, with the right keywords. This resource teaches middle school-aged students how to make the most of all the search features online.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

14. How to Avoid Plagiarism: “Did I Plagiarize?”

This student activity looks at the biggest faux pas in middle school research projects: plagiarism. These days, the possibilities for students to plagiarize are endless, so it’s important for them to learn about quotation marks, paraphrasing, and citations. This resource includes information on all of those and in a handy flow chart to keep them right!

Learn More: Twitter

15. 7 Tips for Recognizing Bias

This is a resource to help middle school-aged students recognize the differences between untrustworthy and credible sources. It gives a nice explanation of sources that are trustworthy and also offers a source of activities that students can use to test and practice identifying credible sources.

Learn More: We Are Teachers

16. UNESCO’s Laws for Media Literacy

This is one of those great online resources that truly focuses on the students in question, and it serves a larger, global goal. It offers probing questions that can help middle school-aged children determine whether or not they’re looking at credible online resources. It also helps to strengthen the so-called soft skills that are necessary for completing research.

Learn More: SLJ Blogs

17. Guide for Evaluating a News Article

Here are active lessons that students can use to learn more about evaluating a news article, whether it’s on a paper or online resource. It’s also a great tool to help solidify the concept of fake news and help students build an excellent strategy for identifying and utilizing credible online sources.

Learn More: Valencia College

18. Middle School Research Projects Middle School Students Will Love

Here is a list of 30 great research projects for middle schoolers, along with cool examples of each one. It also goes through planning strategies and other so-called soft skills that your middle school-aged students will need in order to complete such projects.

Learn More: Madly Learning

19. Teaching Analysis with Body Biographies

This is a student activity and teaching strategy all rolled into one! It looks at the importance of research and biographies, which brings a human element to the research process. It also helps communication between students and helps them practice those so-called soft skills that come in handy while researching.

Learn More: Study All Knight

20. Top Tips for Teaching Research in Middle School

When it comes to teaching middle school research, there are wrong answers and there are correct answers. You can learn all the correct answers and teaching strategies with this resource, which debunks several myths about teaching the writing process at the middle school level.

Learn More: Teaching ELA with Joy

21. Teaching Students to Research Online: Lesson Plan

This is a ready-made lesson plan that is ready to present. You don’t have to do tons of preparation, and you’ll be able to explain the basic and foundational topics related to research. Plus, it includes a couple of activities to keep students engaged throughout this introductory lesson.

Learn More: Kathleen Morris

22. Project-Based Learning: Acceptance and Tolerance

This is a series of research projects that look at specific problems regarding acceptance and tolerance. It offers prompts for middle school-aged students that will get them to ask big questions about themselves and others in the world around them.

Learn More: Sandy Cangelosi

23. 50 Tiny Lessons for Teaching Research Skills in Middle School

These fifty mini-lessons and activities for students will have middle school-aged students learning and applying research skills in small chunks. The mini-lessons approach allows students to get bite-sized information and focus on mastering and applying each step of the research process in turn. This way, with mini-lessons, students don’t get overwhelmed with the whole research process at once. In this way, mini-lessons are a great way to teach the whole research process!

24. Benefits of Research Projects for Middle School Students

Whenever you feel like it’s just not worth it to go to the trouble to teach your middle school-aged students about research, let this list motivate you! It’s a great reminder of all the great things that come with learning to do good research at an early age.

Learn More: Thrive in Grade Five

25. Top 5 Study and Research Skills for Middle Schoolers

This is a great resource for a quick and easy overview of the top skills that middle schoolers will need before they dive into research. It outlines the most effective tools to help your students study and research well, throughout their academic careers.

Learn More: Meagan Gets Real

26. Research with Informational Text: World Travelers

This travel-themed research project will have kids exploring the whole world with their questions and queries. It is a fun way to bring new destinations into the research-oriented classroom.

Learn More: The Superhero Teacher

27. Project-Based Learning: Plan a Road Trip

If you want your middle school-aged students to get into the researching mood, have them plan a road trip! They’ll have to examine the prompt from several angles and collect data from several sources before they can put together a plan for an epic road trip.

Learn More: Appletastic Learning

28. Methods for Motivating Writing Skills

When your students just are feeling up to the task of research-based writing, it’s time to break out these motivational methods. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to get your kids in the mood to research, question, and write!

29. How to Set Up a Student Research Station

This article tells you everything you need to know about a student center focused on sophisticated research skills. These student center activities are engaging and fun, and they touch on important topics in the research process, such as planning strategies, fact-checking skills, citation styles, and some so-called soft skills.

Learn More: Upper Elementary Snapshots

30. Learn to Skim and Scan to Make Research Easier

These activities for students are geared towards encouraging reading skills that will ultimately lead to better and easier research. The skills in question? Skimming and scanning. This will help students read more efficiently and effectively as they research from a variety of sources.

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12 Research Skills for Middle School Students That You Should Know About

Research skills are essential to becoming an independent learner, and there’s no better time to start developing them than middle school. These skills allow you to navigate information effectively and help you make sense of complex topics. Our blog post today explains what research skills are, why they're important, and a list of 12 specific research skills that you should start building.

What is a “research skill”?

Research skills involve a set of techniques used to identify, evaluate, organize, and communicate information relevant to a specific topic . They include asking the right questions, collecting relevant data, analyzing it critically, and presenting findings logically. Whether you're working on a school project, writing a report, or conducting a science experiment, research skills help you approach problems in a structured way.

Research skills include more than just looking for information. They involve more substantive tasks like critical analysis, the ability to plan intelligently and carefully, organizing your findings, evaluating the credibility of sources, and presenting data in clear, coherent formats. These skills require both mental discipline and curiosity, as you need to dig deeper into topics and verify the accuracy of what you find.

Why are these skills important in middle school?

Research skills equip middle school students with the ability to find answers independently. They enhance problem-solving and decision-making by teaching you how to gather reliable information and form well-supported conclusions . In today’s digital world, these skills are also vital to help you navigate the flood of online information, distinguishing between credible sources and unreliable ones.

How can a middle school student develop research skills?

To develop strong research skills, the best way is to start with your own small, manageable project. Use your school library or online databases like Google Scholar to access reliable sources. As you progress, experiment with different types of research methods, such as conducting surveys, analyzing existing data, or performing experiments.

Teachers and librarians can guide you through the basics, but independent practice is key. You could register with organizations like Lumiere Education that can guide you through a research project with a mentor from a top-tier institution and enhance your learning.

Regardless of how you choose to approach research projects, here is a list of 12 skills that you should try to pursue and master:

1. critical thinking.

Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information before forming a conclusion . It helps you look beyond the surface and question the validity of what you're reading or hearing. When conducting research, critical thinking allows you to assess the credibility of sources, spot logical inconsistencies, and avoid blindly accepting information.

For example, if you're reading an article for a school project, you should ask questions like: "Who wrote this? Why did they write it? Is there any bias in this source?" You can practice critical thinking by reading articles from different viewpoints and comparing their arguments. Resources like Khan Academy’s critical thinking lessons offer excellent guidance for building this skill.

2. Scientific writing

Scientific writing is not just for scientists; it’s an essential research skill for any subject. It involves the ability to clearly and accurately present your findings using a structured format that includes an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and, importantly, an appendix of your sources . Writing scientifically helps you communicate complex information in an organized way, making your research easier to understand.

To improve, start by practicing writing short lab reports or summaries of your research findings, focusing on clarity and precision. Proper citation of sources is also crucial in scientific writing. You can find resources like Purdue OWL that offer guidelines on how to structure and format research papers properly.

3. Analytical thinking

Analytical thinking helps you break down complex problems into smaller parts— it’s about identifying patterns, understanding cause and effect, and drawing logical conclusions based on the information you have . Whether you're comparing historical events, analyzing literature, or solving math problems, analytical thinking is essential for making sense of the data.

You can practice analytical thinking by engaging in activities that require logical reasoning, such as solving puzzles or analyzing case studies. Another way is by participating in various competitions and challenges, as nearly all of them require analytical thinking in some form to succeed. A quicker, simpler approach is to try resources like Education.com ’s logic games to strengthen this skill.

4. Data collection

Data collection is the systematic process of gathering information to answer research questions . This could involve surveys, experiments, or reviewing existing literature. Accurate data collection is crucial for drawing valid conclusions, so it's important to understand how to collect information effectively and ethically.

As a middle schooler, starting with small projects like surveys or simple experiments is a great way to build this skill. For example, if you’re researching the impact of screen time on sleep, you could collect data by asking classmates about their habits. Science Buddies , for example, provides detailed information on various data collection methods and can help you design your own projects.

5. Source evaluation

Source evaluation is the process of determining the reliability and credibility of the materials you use for research . With so much information available online, it’s easy to fall into the trap of using inaccurate or biased sources. Learning how to verify the credibility of your sources ensures that your research is based on solid evidence.

To develop this skill, always consider who the author is, their qualifications, and whether the publication is peer-reviewed or from a reputable outlet. Websites like FactCheck.org can help you evaluate the accuracy of information, while Google Scholar provides access to academic sources.

6. Time management

Time management is the ability to plan and control how much time you spend on specific tasks . Research projects often involve multiple steps, from gathering information to writing reports. Managing your time effectively ensures that you meet deadlines and complete all tasks thoroughly.

A good strategy is to break your research into smaller, manageable sections. For example, dedicate specific time slots for gathering sources, writing, and reviewing your work. Tools like Trello can help you keep track of tasks and stay organized so you don’t fall behind.

7. Note-taking

Effective note-taking helps you record key information from your research, ensuring that you don’t forget important details. Good notes are organized and concise, making it easier to reference key points later on. This skill also improves your ability to synthesize information, connecting ideas across different sources.

Middle school students can experiment with different note-taking methods, such as outlining or mind mapping, to find what works best for you. Digital tools like Evernote or MindMup are useful for organizing your notes, allowing you to tag and search through them efficiently.

8. Information synthesis

Information synthesis is the ability to combine data and ideas from different sources into a coherent whole . Instead of simply copying information from various sources, synthesis involves connecting the dots and creating a narrative that ties everything together. This skill is especially important when writing research papers or preparing presentations.

To practice synthesis, work on summarizing key points from multiple articles and think about how they relate to one another. Try to find common themes and contradictions. Summarizing tools and techniques can help you practice pulling together ideas in a concise manner.

9. Collaboration

Many research projects involve working with others, so collaboration is a vital skill. This requires clear communication, division of tasks, and combining individual efforts into a unified final project. You also need to be open to feedback and willing to adjust your approach based on the input of others.

You can improve collaboration by engaging in group projects or study groups where everyone contributes equally. Using collaborative tools like Google Docs allows everyone to work together in real time, making it easier to track contributions and make adjustments.

10. Digital literacy

Digital literacy involves knowing how to find, evaluate, and use online resources effectively. In today’s information-rich world, being able to navigate the internet safely and smartly is a crucial research skill. This includes understanding how to use search engines, recognizing trustworthy websites, and being aware of online privacy and ethics. You can enhance your digital literacy by exploring educational websites, online databases, and other reliable sources of information. Resources like Common Sense Education provide lessons on navigating the internet responsibly and safely.

11. Presentation skills

Once you've gathered and analyzed your information, you need to be able to communicate your findings effectively. Presentation skills involve organizing your research in a clear, engaging format, whether through written reports, visual aids like slideshows, or oral presentations .

To improve presentation skills, practice organizing your findings into clear sections and consider how best to convey your message to your audience. Visual aids like graphs, charts, and images can help clarify complex points. Canva offers templates and tools that can help make your presentations more visually appealing and structured.

12. Curiosity and Inquiry

Curiosity is at the heart of all research and is a skill you can train yourself in. It involves asking thoughtful questions and having a drive to explore topics in-depth. Curiosity drives you to dig deeper into your subjects, encouraging you to seek out new information and ask follow-up questions.

To nurture your curiosity, practice brainstorming questions before you start researching a new topic. Engaging in activities like reading widely on different subjects or exploring interactive educational platforms like Khan Academy can help fuel your curiosity. There are also several techniques to structure your curiosity, like the Five Why technique.

Whether you're working on a school project or simply exploring new interests, these skills will help you in school and also prepare you for future academic and professional challenges. Take advantage of the resources available to you, and start building these essential research skills today!

One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about . Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure !

To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at [email protected] or go to our website.

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link ! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

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Teaching Students How to Research

Discover how the SLICE method can help students find, critically evaluate, and cite sources.

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Photo of middle school students working on computers

Teaching research skills to students is one of the most important jobs of an educator, as it allows young people to take a much more proactive role in their own learning. Good researchers know how to learn , a skill they can use in school and beyond.

It is essential that students become adept at finding and evaluating sources, vetting arguments, and learning how to navigate both print and digital media. The SLICE method of teaching research, which I devised, is a simple, memorable way for teachers and students who want to better understand the research process. SLICE stands for Sources, Library, Integrity, Citation, and Evaluation.

What’s the difference between a dictionary, encyclopedia, journal, newspaper, and magazine? Students often don’t know these differentiations, and analyzing the types of sources is an important first step for the novice researcher.

I suggest bringing in physical examples of the sources. Show students hard copies of dictionaries and encyclopedias (which they may not have ever seen). Discuss how many of these resources have migrated to the internet, such as Encyclopaedia Britannica , The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy , and Oxford Research Encyclopedias .

Next, discuss with the students the different parts of any source (i.e., title, author, publication information, pagination, or abstract in the case of a journal article). This is the anatomy of sources, about which I have written before . Students should know the parts of both books and articles in order to maximize their research efficiency.

Understanding the components of sources allows them to access information quickly via the index or table of contents. While many students rely on citation-generators, it is helpful for them to understand how to write a works-cited page or bibliography without the aid of a website. Knowing the parts of their sources can help them with this.

Another key element of any discussion about sources is delving into the variety of digital sources now available. First, I like to teach them how to use Wikipedia wisely , as it is an online source that many young people turn to first. Demonstrate to students how much of the research has already been done for them on Wikipedia (i.e., through the references, sources, and external links). Then, we look at open-access databases online, such as medical websites ( PubMed , Trip medical database ), journals ( Nature Portfolio , JSTOR ), reputable polling sources ( Pew Research , Gallup , 538 , The Quinnipiac University Poll ), Google Scholar, and others. Talk to your librarian about open-access websites.

Library

Being a good researcher means knowing how to navigate a library, be it a public library, academic library, or school library. There’s simply no way around that— especially with the staggering breadth of information in our society. Libraries are more important than ever, and it is critical that students become confident and proficient library users.

First, teach students the role of libraries in organizing, disseminating, and, in many cases, preserving valuable digital and physical information. Some students may have never even visited a library!

Next, present a lesson on the different library classification systems, such as the Library of Congress system or the Dewey Decimal System. Couple this with a visit to your own school library or a field trip to a public or academic library . Take a tour of a library, getting students to explore its physical space and offerings. Additionally, invite a librarian to speak to your class, and make sure they review the digital resources and electronic databases offered through their library. A librarian would be glad to help students register for library cards, too.

I review with students the integrity of the source. Teach students, for instance, the definition of “peer review,” the peer review process, and how a peer-reviewed source often represents the gold standard of sources. A few examples of high-quality, peer-reviewed journals are Science , The New England Journal of Medicine , American Historical Review , and American Sociological Review .

Then, I usually transition to the integrity of using those sources. Here is where I introduce students to the philosophy and purpose of proper citation. We cite sources to be honest and transparent with our readers, as well as provide “bread crumbs” to readers and other scholars who wish to further examine our topic.

What’s more, I have discovered that students often don’t realize that they need to cite more than just a direct quote.

Next up, I delve into different types of citation methods, making clear that certain citation guides are used for certain fields of study: MLA ( Modern Language Association ) for the humanities, APA ( American Psychological Association ) usually for medical or scientific fields, and The Chicago Manual of Style for business, history, and the arts).

Citation, I explain, is also a road map for students to discover further research. If they read something helpful or compelling in a book or journal article, they can find its source by delving into the citations. I implore students to raid footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies to find more sources.

Lastly, I try to have students assess sources critically. The CRAAP method— Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose—is one of various techniques educators can use.

Ask the students, “How does the source fit into your research project?” Thinking about this early on can help students plan ahead. Annotated bibliographies can be one way that students answer this important, but often overlooked, question.

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50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills

This post outlines 50 ideas for activities that could be done in just a few minutes (or stretched out to a longer lesson if you have the time!). You’ll find a PDF summary below too! This post shares ideas for mini-lessons that could be carried out in the classroom throughout the year to help build students’ skills in the five areas of: clarify, search, delve, evaluate , and cite . It also includes ideas for learning about staying organised throughout the research process.

Today’s students have more information at their fingertips than ever before and this means the role of the teacher as a guide is more important than ever. Posted on February 26, 2019 by Kathleen Morris

Attributes: 4-5 6-8 Lesson Plan

Resource Link: https://www.kathleenamorris.com/2019/02/26/research-lessons/

Developing Effective Research Questions /

Developing Research Questions Effectively

Developing Effective Research Questions

Learn how to create impactful research questions for middle school students to enhance their inquiry skills.

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Crafting Effective Research Questions for Middle School Students

Aligning research questions with curriculum goals, evaluating the impact of research questions on student engagement.

To develop effective research questions for middle school students, it is essential to focus on specificity and clarity. Research questions should be designed to elicit detailed answers that reflect core information. Here are some key strategies to consider:

Specificity is Key

Questions should be specific to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of asking, "What are the effects of pollution?" consider asking, "How does air pollution affect the respiratory health of middle school students in urban areas?"
This specificity helps students focus their research and gather relevant data.

Avoid Broad Questions

Broad or vague questions can lead to ambiguous answers. Instead of asking, "What is climate change?" a more effective question would be, "What are the primary causes of climate change, and how do they impact local ecosystems?"
This approach encourages students to explore specific aspects of a topic, leading to deeper understanding.

Compare and Refine Questions

Encourage students to compare their generated questions with original ones to ensure all critical aspects are covered. This practice helps refine their questions to be clear and concise.
For instance, if a student asks, "Why is recycling important?" they might refine it to, "What are the environmental benefits of recycling in reducing waste in our community?"

Engage with Intriguing Questions

Research shows that students prefer questions that are both intriguing and informative. Questions should stimulate thought and reflection. For example, instead of asking, "What is a habitat?" consider, "How do different habitats support diverse forms of life, and what happens when these habitats are threatened?"
This not only engages students but also motivates them to delve deeper into their research.

Assess Relevance and Helpfulness

When formulating questions, students should assess their relevance and helpfulness. A question's relevance often depends on whether subsequent information answers it. For example, a question like, "How does deforestation affect biodiversity?" is relevant if the research material provides insights into both deforestation and biodiversity.
Encourage students to create shorter questions that are less distracting and more focused on the topic at hand.

Consider the Context

The position of a question within a research project can influence its effectiveness. At the beginning of a project, students may prefer easier questions to help them get into the context. As they become more familiar with the material, they can shift towards more complex and thought-provoking questions.
For example, starting with, "What is the water cycle?" can lead to more complex inquiries like, "How does climate change impact the water cycle in different regions?"

By following these strategies, middle school students can develop effective research questions that not only guide their inquiry but also enhance their understanding of the topics they are exploring.

Key Considerations

Relevance : Each research question should directly relate to the curriculum goals, ensuring that students can see the connection between their inquiries and the broader educational objectives.
Clarity : Questions must be articulated clearly to avoid confusion and to facilitate focused research efforts. This clarity helps students understand the expectations and the scope of their investigations.

Process of Alignment

Review Curriculum Goals : Begin by thoroughly reviewing the curriculum goals to identify the key concepts and skills that students are expected to learn.
Draft Research Questions : Create a list of potential research questions that align with these goals. Each question should encourage critical thinking and exploration of the subject matter.
Evaluate Questions : Assess each question for its relevance and clarity. This can involve peer reviews or discussions with colleagues to gather feedback.
Refine Questions : Based on the evaluation, refine the questions to enhance their alignment with the curriculum goals. This may involve rephrasing or narrowing the focus of the questions.

Example of Alignment

For instance, if a curriculum goal is to understand the impact of environmental changes on local ecosystems, a relevant research question could be: "How do seasonal changes affect the behavior of local wildlife?" This question is clear, relevant, and encourages students to engage with the curriculum content meaningfully.

By following a structured approach to align research questions with curriculum goals, educators can foster a more engaging and effective learning environment. This alignment not only enhances the educational experience but also prepares students to develop research questions that are both meaningful and impactful in their academic pursuits.

5 Steps In Formulating Research Problems Discover the essential 5 steps to effectively formulate a research problem for your studies in Developing Effective Research Questions.

Research questions play a pivotal role in enhancing student engagement, particularly in middle school settings. By developing research questions that are relevant and thought-provoking, educators can stimulate curiosity and encourage deeper exploration of topics. This section delves into the various strategies for crafting effective research questions that resonate with students, fostering an environment conducive to active learning.

Importance of Research Questions

Stimulate Critical Thinking : Well-formulated research questions challenge students to think critically and analyze information rather than passively consume it.
Encourage Inquiry-Based Learning : Research questions serve as a foundation for inquiry-based learning, prompting students to seek answers through investigation and exploration.
Enhance Engagement : Engaging research questions can capture students' interest, making them more invested in their learning process.

Characteristics of Effective Research Questions

To ensure that research questions are impactful, they should possess certain characteristics:

Clarity : Questions should be clear and concise, avoiding ambiguity that may confuse students.
Relevance : Questions must relate to the students' experiences and interests, making the learning process more relatable.
Complexity : Effective questions should challenge students without being overly complicated, striking a balance that encourages exploration.
Open-Endedness : Open-ended questions promote discussion and allow for multiple perspectives, fostering a richer learning environment.

Strategies for Developing Research Questions

Educators can employ several strategies to develop effective research questions:

Collaborative Brainstorming : Involve students in the brainstorming process to generate questions that reflect their interests and curiosities.
Modeling Question Development : Demonstrate how to transform a broad topic into specific research questions, guiding students through the process.
Utilizing Frameworks : Implement frameworks such as Bloom's Taxonomy to create questions that target various cognitive levels, from basic recall to higher-order thinking.

Incorporating well-crafted research questions into the curriculum can significantly enhance student engagement. By focusing on developing research questions that are clear, relevant, and thought-provoking, educators can create a dynamic learning environment that encourages active participation and critical thinking.

Characteristics Of Effective Research Questions Explore the key traits that define effective research questions to enhance your research process and outcomes.
Key Characteristics of Good Research Questions Explore the essential traits that define effective research questions for impactful studies.

Best research questions for middle school students

Home » Questions » Best research questions for middle school students

Middle school is a crucial time for students to develop their critical thinking and research skills. Encouraging them to explore various topics through research can not only enhance their knowledge but also foster curiosity and a desire to learn. However, coming up with research questions can be challenging for middle school students. To help them get started, we have compiled a list of research questions that are suitable for middle school students. These questions cover a wide range of subjects and can serve as a starting point for their research projects.

Research questions for middle school students should be engaging and relevant to their age group. By providing them with thought-provoking questions, we can inspire them to dig deeper and develop a genuine interest in the subjects they are studying. Research projects can also teach valuable skills such as conducting surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings, giving students a hands-on experience in the research process.

Whether it’s for a science fair project, a history assignment, or simply a personal interest, these research questions for middle school students will spark their curiosity and help them develop their research skills.

See these research questions for middle school students

What are the effects of climate change on local wildlife?
How does social media impact teenagers’ self-esteem?
What are the benefits and risks of genetically modified organisms?
How does music affect concentration and productivity?
What are the causes and consequences of bullying in schools?
What is the impact of video games on children’s behavior?
How does exercise affect academic performance?
What are the effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers?
What factors contribute to teenage substance abuse?
How does the media influence body image in adolescents?
What are the pros and cons of homeschooling?
How does stress affect middle school students’ mental health?
What are the environmental benefits of recycling?
How does food packaging impact the environment?
What are the effects of air pollution on human health?
How does the brain process and retain information?
What factors contribute to teenage obesity?
What are the causes and effects of cyberbullying?
What are the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for teenagers?
How does music therapy affect individuals with autism?
What are the impacts of deforestation on wildlife?
What are the causes and consequences of peer pressure?
How does social media influence political opinions?
What are the benefits of volunteering in the community?
How does technology affect interpersonal communication?
What are the impacts of plastic pollution in the oceans?
What are the causes and effects of teenage depression?
How does solar energy work and what are its benefits?
What are the effects of different types of exercise on the body?
How does the digestive system work and what are common digestive disorders?
What are the impacts of deforestation on climate change?
What are the causes and effects of school dropout rates?
How does social media influence political activism?
What are the benefits and risks of using genetically modified crops?
How does the human immune system protect against diseases?
What are the effects of air pollution on global warming?
How do different cultures celebrate traditional holidays?
What are the effects of plastic pollution on marine life?
How does advertising influence consumer behavior?
What are the impacts of noise pollution on human health?
How does technology affect our sleep patterns?
What are the benefits of learning a second language?
How does the human respiratory system work?
What are the causes and effects of teenage smoking?
What are the impacts of climate change on agriculture?

These research questions for middle school students cover a wide range of topics and can serve as a starting point for their exploration. Encourage your students to choose a question that interests them and guide them through the research process. Remember, the journey of research is just as important as the final findings. Happy researching!