Real research is to search out the Lord. In the meantime, report writing gives important practice in many areas such as gathering information; sorting, organizing and outlining; editing; synthesizing the material into a new, original creation; and then looking back and evaluating what got done, what was learned and so on.
SUGGESTIONS FOR GOING ABOUT THIS:
START SMALL:
Take advantage of children's questions that naturally arise. For example, when a child asks "Do worms have mouths?", find the answer together. Search together at first to simply find an answer. Later they can begin with simple written reports.
TEACH BY EXAMPLE:
Have a question? Set an example by looking for the answer. For instance, one day you may discover a tiny creature while sorting coriander seeds that has pinchers resembling a scorpion. A few photos and a little Internet research later will reveal it to be a "Pseudo Scorpion."
MINI REPORTS
This can launch into a mini report about the creature. Assign the child (or each child) with a couple of questions like "What does a pseudo scorpion eat? Is it dangerous? What service does it do?" Put these in the order you want answered to make a simple report or group report. Illustrations or a photo may also be included.
Or after reading an interesting passage, ask two or three questions about the topic that cannot be found from the information in the passage. Students can find and report the answers to your questions.
FINDING A TOPIC
Ask students, "What do you want to find out?" You may give them a list of suggestions. These are especially helpful when related to their current lessons in various subjects.
NARROWING IT DOWN
Students need to learn how to narrow down a chosen topic until its manageable. This may be accomplished as they go along with an initial study of a broad topic, thinking about what they find interesting enough to do a report on and that has teacher approval. For a faster method, use an encyclopedia. Every topic in there is broken down into subtopics that can become report ideas, or find the subtopic of a subtopic for simpler reports.
USING REFERENCES
Students should be well acquainted with how to use a library, a dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, atlas, and maps. Also they should be familiar with a globe, almanac, readers' guide to periodical literature and magazines, and have safe computer access.
PARTS OF A BOOK AND THEIR USES
Research demands knowledge about utilizing titles, table of contents, page numbers, prefaces, subtitles, glossary, the index, appendix, bibliography, and so on to find and process information quickly.
Especially when beginning a new text these things can be taught and reviewed.
PROPER CARE OF BOOKS
Research writing can include instructions on the proper care of books. How to break it in gently, how not to damage the pages or the spine of the book and so on...Books are under the reign of goddess Sarasvati and should be treated with respect.
INTERVIEWING
Another way to gather information- formally or informally- is to interview someone as a source of knowledge. For example, asking Grandma about her favorite books for children or asking a neighbor about life growing up in France.
VERIFYING INFORMATION
This means checking further from another source or sources about what has been heard or read. For example, while writing about tongue twisters, you assume they were good for learning enunciation. A quick web search reveals not only this to be true but also something used by speech therapists for that very purpose. Also verifying information is important when reading books with an old copywrite. Much information may become "outdated".
LONGER REPORTS
Students should know how to select a topic, skim and scan for information, take notes, know how to sort those notes effectively, develop a focus or theme, create an outline, and write the report. Also they need to write a good introduction to draw readers' attention and also a write a conclusion, what they concluded by their study.
Some people's entire homeschools revolve around researching and writing about chosen topics. Check out "Unit Studies". Many are highly academic rather than just activity oriented.
ORAL REPORTING
To develop poise and speaking skills its also good if there is time to share reports with others, either formally (homeschool group or special events such as an Interfaith meeting) or informally (for grandparents, in front of siblings and friends, or father at dinner, or a video recording to share online).
THE KRISHNA CONNECTION
Whatever the topic, find out how it is connected to Krishna in some interesting way. Make use of Srila Prabhupada's books in the VedaBase. The Krishna conscious perspective makes any research worthwhile. And doing longer reports especially, it makes them worth the effort.
REPORT IDEAS FOR WRITING AND SPEAKING
Make a collection of ideas that students may choose from. Here's a sample:
SCIENCE
the law of conservation of matter
BIOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE
a Vaisnava acarya
Who’s who in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Caitanya Tree, Mahabharata and so on
A Vaisnava Poet
a Vedic king
Women of the Bhagavatam
PLACES
India
the Ganges River
The Himalayas
favorite holy place, including the pastimes that happen there
an ISKCON temple
THINGS
silk
lapis lazuli
camphor
a food that Krishna likes
sandlewood
incense
gold
silver
numbers
mantra
LIVING THINGS
lotus flower
cow
tulsi
banyan tree
conch
parijata flower
peacock
elephant
rice paddy
wasps
chickens
pigs
butterflies
moss
starfish
moths
sheep
flora and fauna from the backyard, indoors (like this tiny crab spider on a kitchen counter:)
or local holy dhama. Students can put together a field guide using the regular field guide format.
HISTORICAL EVENTS
The Battle of Kuruksetre
Srila Prabhupada’s trip to America
the Industrial revolution
appearance of Caitanya Mahaprahu
Many more topics are available in the glossaries and indices of Prabhupada's books.
OTHER IDEAS FOR FINDING TOPICS
THINK "VEDIC ENCYCLOPEDIA"
What would you expect to find i an encyclopedia? Now imagine it's a Vedic encyclopedia. What would you find there? There would be reports and illustrations about people, places, things and living things and events related to Vedic culture. There would be biographies of Lord's associates, acaryas, kings, queens, sages, philosophical issus as well. Continue to brainstorm in this way..
THE SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM FAMILY TREE
Click Here Originally published in the article "God's Family Tree" by Jahnavi dd, BTG #26, 03-1992 Jahnavi wrote: "In the future, when I get married and have children, I’ll help my children memorize the Srimad-Bhägavatam family tree. Then I’ll test them by giving them the tree with random blank spaces for them to fill in with the missing names. This way they’ll vividly remember all of Lord Krishna's incarnations and devotees and all the narrations in the Srimad-Bhägavatam, thus making them Krishna conscious."
TIMELINES
These can be researched and made to show relation between the acaryas and world events, Lord Chaitanya, and so on.
HEALTH CLASS TOPICS
Health class has many practical topics such as the importance of water; video game use, the benefits of exercise, and so on.
USING PROMPTS FOR REPORT STARTERS:
Prompts are another way to generate a topic:
EVERYTHING HAS A HISTORY
The History of.... (the pencil...)
The First...(toothbrush...)
KNOW- HOW
How...is Made (butter...)
How to Make a ... (camp fire...)
Where...Comes From (paper, fabric...)
PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTS
Why... is Better Than ... (Baking Soda; Ajax)
Why You Should... (brush your teeth...)
GOOD INSTRUCTION
What to do if.......(there’s a visiting sannyasi at your home...)
BOOK REPORTS
Book reports should include: title of the book, the author, what the book is about, the part of the book you liked best and why, without spoiling the best part. These can be given by students orally. See episodes of "Reading Rainbow" for how it's done.
INSTEAD OF A BOOK REPORT:
a. Tell 5 things you learned while reading a book.
b. Rewrite the story or information for younger children in picture book form.
c. What other story could have taken place at this same time and setting or with a similar theme? Write the plot and about 4 or 5 characters for this new book.
d. Tell what you liked and disliked about a selection and why.
f. Keep a reading journal and record your thoughts at the end of each period of reading.
g. Write about the most interesting part of the book. Write about the most important part of the book.
h. Create 5 journal prompts that are related to the book. Choose one and write about it.
SUGGESTIONS FOR GOING ABOUT THIS:
START SMALL:
Take advantage of children's questions that naturally arise. For example, when a child asks "Do worms have mouths?", find the answer together. Search together at first to simply find an answer. Later they can begin with simple written reports.
TEACH BY EXAMPLE:
Have a question? Set an example by looking for the answer. For instance, one day you may discover a tiny creature while sorting coriander seeds that has pinchers resembling a scorpion. A few photos and a little Internet research later will reveal it to be a "Pseudo Scorpion."
MINI REPORTS
This can launch into a mini report about the creature. Assign the child (or each child) with a couple of questions like "What does a pseudo scorpion eat? Is it dangerous? What service does it do?" Put these in the order you want answered to make a simple report or group report. Illustrations or a photo may also be included.
Or after reading an interesting passage, ask two or three questions about the topic that cannot be found from the information in the passage. Students can find and report the answers to your questions.
FINDING A TOPIC
Ask students, "What do you want to find out?" You may give them a list of suggestions. These are especially helpful when related to their current lessons in various subjects.
NARROWING IT DOWN
Students need to learn how to narrow down a chosen topic until its manageable. This may be accomplished as they go along with an initial study of a broad topic, thinking about what they find interesting enough to do a report on and that has teacher approval. For a faster method, use an encyclopedia. Every topic in there is broken down into subtopics that can become report ideas, or find the subtopic of a subtopic for simpler reports.
USING REFERENCES
Students should be well acquainted with how to use a library, a dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, atlas, and maps. Also they should be familiar with a globe, almanac, readers' guide to periodical literature and magazines, and have safe computer access.
PARTS OF A BOOK AND THEIR USES
Research demands knowledge about utilizing titles, table of contents, page numbers, prefaces, subtitles, glossary, the index, appendix, bibliography, and so on to find and process information quickly.
Especially when beginning a new text these things can be taught and reviewed.
PROPER CARE OF BOOKS
Research writing can include instructions on the proper care of books. How to break it in gently, how not to damage the pages or the spine of the book and so on...Books are under the reign of goddess Sarasvati and should be treated with respect.
INTERVIEWING
Another way to gather information- formally or informally- is to interview someone as a source of knowledge. For example, asking Grandma about her favorite books for children or asking a neighbor about life growing up in France.
VERIFYING INFORMATION
This means checking further from another source or sources about what has been heard or read. For example, while writing about tongue twisters, you assume they were good for learning enunciation. A quick web search reveals not only this to be true but also something used by speech therapists for that very purpose. Also verifying information is important when reading books with an old copywrite. Much information may become "outdated".
LONGER REPORTS
Students should know how to select a topic, skim and scan for information, take notes, know how to sort those notes effectively, develop a focus or theme, create an outline, and write the report. Also they need to write a good introduction to draw readers' attention and also a write a conclusion, what they concluded by their study.
Some people's entire homeschools revolve around researching and writing about chosen topics. Check out "Unit Studies". Many are highly academic rather than just activity oriented.
ORAL REPORTING
To develop poise and speaking skills its also good if there is time to share reports with others, either formally (homeschool group or special events such as an Interfaith meeting) or informally (for grandparents, in front of siblings and friends, or father at dinner, or a video recording to share online).
THE KRISHNA CONNECTION
Whatever the topic, find out how it is connected to Krishna in some interesting way. Make use of Srila Prabhupada's books in the VedaBase. The Krishna conscious perspective makes any research worthwhile. And doing longer reports especially, it makes them worth the effort.
REPORT IDEAS FOR WRITING AND SPEAKING
Make a collection of ideas that students may choose from. Here's a sample:
SCIENCE
the law of conservation of matter
BIOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE
a Vaisnava acarya
Who’s who in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Caitanya Tree, Mahabharata and so on
A Vaisnava Poet
a Vedic king
Women of the Bhagavatam
PLACES
India
the Ganges River
The Himalayas
favorite holy place, including the pastimes that happen there
an ISKCON temple
THINGS
silk
lapis lazuli
camphor
a food that Krishna likes
sandlewood
incense
gold
silver
numbers
mantra
LIVING THINGS
lotus flower
cow
tulsi
banyan tree
conch
parijata flower
peacock
elephant
rice paddy
wasps
chickens
pigs
butterflies
moss
starfish
moths
sheep
flora and fauna from the backyard, indoors (like this tiny crab spider on a kitchen counter:)
or local holy dhama. Students can put together a field guide using the regular field guide format.
HISTORICAL EVENTS
The Battle of Kuruksetre
Srila Prabhupada’s trip to America
the Industrial revolution
appearance of Caitanya Mahaprahu
Many more topics are available in the glossaries and indices of Prabhupada's books.
OTHER IDEAS FOR FINDING TOPICS
THINK "VEDIC ENCYCLOPEDIA"
What would you expect to find i an encyclopedia? Now imagine it's a Vedic encyclopedia. What would you find there? There would be reports and illustrations about people, places, things and living things and events related to Vedic culture. There would be biographies of Lord's associates, acaryas, kings, queens, sages, philosophical issus as well. Continue to brainstorm in this way..
THE SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM FAMILY TREE
Click Here Originally published in the article "God's Family Tree" by Jahnavi dd, BTG #26, 03-1992 Jahnavi wrote: "In the future, when I get married and have children, I’ll help my children memorize the Srimad-Bhägavatam family tree. Then I’ll test them by giving them the tree with random blank spaces for them to fill in with the missing names. This way they’ll vividly remember all of Lord Krishna's incarnations and devotees and all the narrations in the Srimad-Bhägavatam, thus making them Krishna conscious."
TIMELINES
These can be researched and made to show relation between the acaryas and world events, Lord Chaitanya, and so on.
HEALTH CLASS TOPICS
Health class has many practical topics such as the importance of water; video game use, the benefits of exercise, and so on.
USING PROMPTS FOR REPORT STARTERS:
Prompts are another way to generate a topic:
EVERYTHING HAS A HISTORY
The History of.... (the pencil...)
The First...(toothbrush...)
KNOW- HOW
How...is Made (butter...)
How to Make a ... (camp fire...)
Where...Comes From (paper, fabric...)
PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTS
Why... is Better Than ... (Baking Soda; Ajax)
Why You Should... (brush your teeth...)
GOOD INSTRUCTION
What to do if.......(there’s a visiting sannyasi at your home...)
BOOK REPORTS
Book reports should include: title of the book, the author, what the book is about, the part of the book you liked best and why, without spoiling the best part. These can be given by students orally. See episodes of "Reading Rainbow" for how it's done.
INSTEAD OF A BOOK REPORT:
a. Tell 5 things you learned while reading a book.
b. Rewrite the story or information for younger children in picture book form.
c. What other story could have taken place at this same time and setting or with a similar theme? Write the plot and about 4 or 5 characters for this new book.
d. Tell what you liked and disliked about a selection and why.
f. Keep a reading journal and record your thoughts at the end of each period of reading.
g. Write about the most interesting part of the book. Write about the most important part of the book.
h. Create 5 journal prompts that are related to the book. Choose one and write about it.
