Free implementation guide · 3–5 / 6–8
Student-Led Research
Reading · Writing · Science · Social Studies · STEM
Independent inquiry · Suggested readiness: DEEPEN
Editorial draft · Administrator review pending. General educational guidance; examples are illustrative, not student records. No research outcome or placement is guaranteed.
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What It Is
A learner develops a focused question, evaluates sources, synthesizes findings and shares a supported conclusion with an audience. Independence is taught through checkpoints.
Why It Works
A question and evidence trail shift the task from collecting facts to making and defending an interpretation.
When to Use It
Use when learners can sustain a question with teacher support and have access to suitable, age-appropriate sources.
Classroom Example
How should a fictional town reduce playground heat? Learners compare shade, surfaces and planting using vetted sources, then defend a recommendation and acknowledge a trade-off.
Teacher Implementation Steps
- Conference to narrow a question and define a feasible product.
- Teach source evaluation and note-making in the learner's own words.
- Agree on checkpoints and a simple source log.
- Require comparison of sources, not a copied collection of facts.
- Share a conclusion and reflect on unanswered questions.
Student Activity
Draft a research question, compare two trustworthy sources, record where they agree or differ, and write a recommendation with a limitation.
Grade-band adaptations
3–5: teacher-curated sources and short conferences. 6–8: learner source selection with reliability checks and explicit citations.
Readiness is a planning suggestion, not a placement decision. Adjust support using current evidence; keep needed accommodations and teacher review.
Related #smithingifted resource
Global Innovation Lab — Academy program →This free guide does not include the program's premium lessons. Existing access requirements still apply.
Sources & further reading
The sources below inform the general guidance. Classroom examples and planning steps are original illustrative suggestions, not findings from a research trial.