Big6 Kids

Here is a very creative way to learn the Super3!! It’s a PowerPoint developed in Green Bay, Wisconsin about some very special dinosaurs.

Come meet:

Planasaurus
Doasaurus
Reviewasaurus.

Show me the Dinos!

Using a lively, student-friendly approach, this engaging new video introduces the Big6 Skills to upper elementary and middle school students. Viewers follow a student, Bobby, as he learns and applies the Big6 to complete a school research assignment. With the help of his mentor and friend, Travis, Bobby’s attitude and abilities change from reluctance and confusion to confidence and proficiency in information problem solving. Through Bobby’s experience along with video clips of Mike Eisenberg teaching the Big6 to a class, viewers learn the overall Big6 process and each of the Big6 Skills. Read the rest of this entry »

How do you know if the assignments you turn in will be just what your teacher wants? Most students just finish an assignment and turn it in without checking their work to see if they have done everything needed to get the best grade. Therefore, they may leave off an important part of the assignment or be content to turn in average work. Read the rest of this entry »

Directions

Plan
Gather: 2 pieces of construction paper, blunt scissors, glue.
Print: these 2 game sheets

Do
Prepare the game pieces:
1. Cut the game sheets apart on the dotted lines.
2. Cut each piece of construction paper into 4 parts the same size (fold it first, open the page, and cut on the folded lines)
3. Glue each of the game pieces onto the pieces of cut construction paper to make cards. Let them dry.

Play the game:
1. Mix up the cards.
2. Put them face down on a table or the floor. Mix them up again.
3. Turn one over. Turn another over. Does the Super3 match its description? If not, turn them face down again and try again. If you get a match, put the pair—2 cards—to the side. Keep trying until you get three matching pairs.

Review
Do you know which Super3 (Plan, Do, Review) goes with each description? Do you know what Plan, Do, and Review mean? If you did not make matches, who can you ask for help?

Match the Big6 and test your problem solving power!

Directions for preparing and playing the Big6 matching game.

Gather: 3 pieces of construction paper, blunt scissors, glue.
Print: these 3 game sheets.

Prepare the game pieces:
1. Cut the game sheets apart on the dotted lines.
2. Cut each piece of construction paper into 4 parts the same size (fold it first, open the page, and cut on the folded lines)
3. Glue each of the game pieces onto the pieces of cut construction paper to make cards. Let them dry.

Play the game:
1. Mix up the cards.
2. Put them face down on a table or the floor. Mix them up again.
3. Turn one over. Turn another over. Does the Big6 Skill match its description? If not, turn them face down again and try again. If you get a match, put the pair–2 cards–to the side. Keep trying until you get six matching pairs.

Have fun!

This feature section will help you get organized and complete an assigned written paper or report. Writing can be a lot of fun if you approach it in an organized way. Here you will find links to the writing process and some great tools.

1. Big6 Writing Process Organizer for Grades 3-6
Use this handy organizer for your written paper from beginning to end! This is a helpful tool that takes you from prewriting to evaluating your work and publishing your paper.

2. Helpful Writing Links (links used with permission)

Blackdog’s How to Write a Story
This helpful site teaches you about the parts of a story and how to write each part. Be careful—there is an advertising banner at the top—don’t click on it without your parent or teacher’s permission.

Bruce Hale’s How to Write a Story
Author and illustrator Bruce Hale takes you through a lively explanation of story writing. He uses examples from one of his book characters, Moki the Geko, to describe the elements of a story.

3. Be an Author
Kids! Writing does not have to happen just when your teacher assigns a paper or report. Believe it or not, you can write just for fun! Try it and see! Read more. . .

For Teachers and Parents

Need ideas about working with students in the writing process? Gloria Antifaiff, the Technology Coordinator for Qu’Appelle Valley School Division, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada has developed a marvelous web site for just that! “Implementing the Writing Process”

This feature section will help you get organized and complete an assigned written paper or report. Writing can be a lot of fun if you approach it in an organized way. Here you will find links to the writing process and some great tools.

1. Big6 Writing Process Organizer
Use this handy organizer to develop your written paper from beginning to end! This is a helpful tool that takes you from prewriting to evaluating your work and publishing your paper.

2. Helpful Writing Process Links (links used with permission)

Avoiding Plagiarism
Worried about plagiarizing? The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University explains what it is an how to avoid it.

Big6 Research Paper Organizer
Plan and organize your research approach with this form. Contains links to search engines, writing support, how to develop good questions, and how to cite sources.

A Guide for Writing Research Papers Based on Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation
The Capitol Community College in Hartford, Connecticut hosts this marvelous web site that is more than just how to document sources based on MLA guidelines. This site helps you get started on your paper, provides information about taking notes and plagiarism, assists with formatting your paper, and much more!

Guide to Grammar and Writing
From Capitol Community College in Hartford, Connecticut, this handy tool answers your questions about usage of word, sentence, and paragraph, in addition to useful information about essays and research papers. Have a question about grammar that isn’t answered on the site? Go to the Ask Grammar form and get a personal response.

Ideas About Note Taking and Citing Sources
Confused about note taking and making a bibliography? Read this for help on note taking and citing sources.

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
Are you confused about quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing? Don’t know when to use one or the other? The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University explains and gives examples of each. There is also a link on how to write an effective paraphrase.

Writing Center Writer’s Web
Designed and maintained by faculty and students at the University of Richmond, this web site allows you to explore topics by stages of the writing process. The ideas for prewriting will get you going in no time!

For Teachers and Parents

Use these helpful Big6 Handouts to introduce the Big6 or Super3 to students, parents, or anyone who is new to the Big6 Skills.download the handouts