Research
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Process
After visiting the Internet links and completing information on the Northeast
state sheets, you will decide on a topic and a style of writing.
Choose one of the article types (Essay, Report, News Story, Short Story) as the style for writing your article. This is
your choice.
Essay: Express your opinion about a theme you feel strongly about. Effective
essays describe your opinions and ideas so readers can understand them. Back
up your opinion with details, so your readers understand your point of view.
You can use argument, humor, or exaggeration to make your points.
Descriptions of writing styles: (Read these to help you decide on what style to choose.)
Writing an Essay: 1. Choose a topic. 2. Outline major points of your opinion.
3. Write a rough draft of your essay. The introduction should state the main
topic of your essay and your opinion. The body should list the reasons you
feel the way you do, as well as include information to support your opinion. The
conclusion should be a summary of the reasons listed in the body of your
essay, and persuade your readers to share your opinion.
Report: Write a report that describes facts about the topic you research.
Writing a Report: 1. Choose a topic. 2. Gather information from resources.
3. Take notes as you read. Write down the most important information and
interesting facts. 4. Write an outline, include the information and interesting
facts from your notes into an organized framework. 5. Write a rough draft.
Include as much information as you can from your outline and notes. The
introduction should tell the topic of your report. The body should include
important information and any interesting facts. The conclusion should be a summary
of your main points from the body. 6. Revise your report.
News Story: News stories are factual stories written using a pyramid
structure. Good news stories answer the questions who, what, when, where,
how, and sometimes why.
Writing a News Story: 1. Gather facts. Answer the questions who, what, when, where,
and how. Take notes. If you interview people on the subject, be sure you write
down the exact words of the people you plan to quote. 2. Write a lead (first
sentence or paragraph). It tells the basic idea of the story. 3. Write the
body of your story. Include details. 4. You'll need to create a catchy headline.
Prose Story: A short story with a beginning, middle and end. Choose one
of the forms: Informational Fiction (A story that uses fictional characters
or settings to tell about real things.), Legend (An exaggerated story about a
real person or event.), True Adventure (Stories based on real people or real events,
but the plot, setting, and characters are partly made up by the author.), Journal
writing (An account of events as you research them, or a recount of events as
they happened.).
Writing a Story: 1. Choose the kind of story you want to write from the choices
listed above. If you are writing a story with a historical setting or one
based on a true story, study the facts. The more you know the historical facts,
the more real your story will seem. 2. Create a story map. List characters, setting,
and theme. Outline the plot (important events) of the story. 3. Write the
rough draft.
Northeast Region Resources
Use these resources to gather information for your Northeast Region packet. Complete
the individual state sheets as you find information.
(A clipboard for the lab might be helpful if you have one available.)
Individual State Information:
Connecticut,
Delaware,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Massachusetts Facts
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York,
Pennsylvannia,
Rhode Island,
Vermont
General Resources to gather information on NE states.
Visit at least 4 sites from the general section. Your choice!
Interactive U.S.Map
Learn your states and capitals using this interactive tool.
**There will be a states & capitals quiz**
U.S.Regions to the U.S.
Sponsored by the U.S.Embassy Diplomatic Mission to Germany - Interesting site to gather facts.
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
Use this resource to get facts about our government and the states. Click on Our Nation to find facts
about the states.
My America Online Field Trip
Explore the States
Interesting site to gather facts.
IPL Stately Knowledge
From the Internet Public Library - get the facts...
Census information
Classbrain-State Report links
Answer questions on the Northeast States from this area.
States and Capitals
State information is listed here.
Boundaries of the Contiguous United States
Animation showing historical growth of the U.S.
National Scenic Byways
Online pictures and more.
Child Labor in America
Images of child workers with descriptions. 1908-1912
The Irish Potato Famine
Background information on the famine and the description of beginnings for this immigrant group.
Trade in Colonial America
Offered by Time Travel (U.S. Mint) complete the task.
New England states
Visit at least 3 of the sites in the New England region. Your choice!
Mount Washington
Highest peak in New England.
New England Travel Guide
The Boston Tea Party
A Colonial Family and Community
A fun site to explore colonial life. Be a history detective - do research on the site and
then answer questions. Watch the movies that are included.
Old Sturbridge Village
An online tour of the village.
Samuel Slater, English millworker
Learn about how New England became a center for mills.
Lowell Online: Mill History
Find out how Lowell became and industrial town almost overnight. National Park web site.
Archeology of the Central Artery Project
Online tour
Lobsters
Full of information on this industry.
Vermont Maple
Maple Facts
Middle Atlantic states
Visit at least 3 of the sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Your choice!
A look around Brooklyn
Take a virtual tour.
Niagara Falls
Facts on Niagara Falls.
A Tribute to Lady Liberty
Take a virtual tour of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Be sure to watch the slideshow.
Erie Canal Online
The history and engineering included here.
Citizenship
The Amish and the Plain People
This site answers commonly asked questions, and includes photos.
The Liberty Bell
Delaware Agricultural Museum
Online tour of the village.
Project Tools
Project Poster
Use this online tool for students to create your project, and share with the class on the Internet.
Color Landform Atlas of the U.S.
Rubric
See the handout and use the guidelines to help assess your writing.
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing your research on the Northeast region. You have visited
the various states, learned some history along the way as well as identified
important symbols of the area. In addition, you are more aware of the diversity of
the region and what those backgrounds have contributed. You also have a better understanding
of the different industries and how they assist in the Northeast region economy.
An added benefit, you know the states and capitals.
You have practiced using your keyboarding skill, and learned how to create and
upload a report to the Internet. Bravo!!
Teacher Resource
As a result of participating in this activity, students will:
MA Frameworks Covered in this activity:
Language Arts
Language Strand
Standard 1 - Discussion
Standard 2 - Questioning, Listening & Contributing
Standard 3 - Oral Presentation
Reading & Literature Strand
Standard 8 - Understanding text
Composition Strand
Standard 19 - Writing
Standard 20 - Consideration of Audience & Purpose
Standard 21 - Revising
Standard 22 - Standard English Conventions
Standard 23 - Organizing Ideas in Writing
Standard 24 - Research
Media Strand
Standard 27 - Media Production
History
**Under Construction**
Math
Patterns, Relations & Algebra (3-4)
4.P.4 - Use pictures, models, tables, charts, graphs, words, number sentences,
and mathematical notations to intrepret mathematical relationships.
Instructional Technology
Standard 1 - Demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers and applications
as well as an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, and
connectivity.
1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10 (PreK-4)
1.14, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.25, 1.26, 1.27, 1.28, 1.32, 1.33 (Grades 5-8)
Standard 2 - Demonstrate responsible use of technology and an understanding
of ethics and safety issues in using electronic media.
2.1, 2.2, 2.4 (PreK-4)
2.6, 2.7, 2.14 (Grades 5-8)
Standard 3 - Demonstrate ability to use technology for research, problem-solving,
and communication. Students locate, evaluate, collect, and process information
from a variety of electronic sources. Students use telecommunications and other
media to interact or collaborate with peers, experts, and other audiences.
3.1, 3.2, 3.4 (PreK-4)
3.6, 3.8, 3.9 (Grades 5-8)
This resource created and written by Susan Herook, Instructional Technology Specialist
Last updated: April 2004(Copyright 2003)