INTRODUCTION: Effect of environment on early settlers in the United States and Latin America Fourth and fifth grade students will write research papers on the effect of the environment on early settlers. Students are required to use a variety of sources including the Internet, CD ROM’s, books, newspapers and magazines.

PREPARATION In preparation for the research project, students are asked to develop focus questions to help direct their research. Focus questions are questions which the students will use to write the main idea of their research paper. These questions will need to ask about information about what the student wants to know.

Students will type their papers using Clarisworks Students will type their papers using Clarisworks. They may include illustrations designed using KidPix or graphics imported from the Web. All research papers need to have a Works Cited page or a bibliography. A Works Cited page or a bibliography lists the sources used in writing the research paper.

PRESENTATION Each student will present his or her research paper at a publishing party on a Family Friday to be determined. All copies of the research papers will be assembled into a Computer Lab portfolio to be referred to by students at P.S 11 working on similar projects.