Research/guest speakers

There are many activities that can help your students find out more about a topic. One way is to encourage research projects that can help your students learn how to find information and improve their research skills. From using a library to interviewing experts to conducting computer searches, it's important that your students know how to find the information they need.

You can also invite guest speakers into the classroom. Speakers can motivate your students, encourage discussion, and bring new points of view into the classroom. When discussing controversial issues, it's important to bring in speakers who represent different sides of an issue. You might also consider inviting a panel of guests to speak about one topic. There are many resource experts in your community, including extensionists, farmers, scientists, doctors, teachers, public officials, and professors.

Guest speakers also give your students practice in creating and asking questions. Before a speaker arrives, have your students think about the types of questions they might ask and write them down. You might also want to have one or more students conduct an interview with one of the guests after the presentation.

In the research activity included here, students investigate deserts by trying to answer a series of questions. If you do not have access to a library or books, you could encourage students to investigate a topic in their community by questioning elders, women, and other experts.

ACTIVITIES IN THIS SECTION