The mere mention of a research assignment can be overwhelming to some students. Many of them simply have no idea where or how to begin. That’s when a pathfinder really comes in handy. A well-constructed pathfinder provides students with a comprehensive list of all the print, non-print, and electronic resources on a particular topic that are available to them in the school media center. Most pathfinders also include the relevant subject headings and Dewey Decimal call numbers to help students physically locate the resources within the media center. A list of keywords allows students to narrow or broaden the scope of their search. Using a pathfinder makes beginning a research project a much more palatable experience, particularly for those students who may have a hard time getting started.
As a 3 rd grade teacher for the last several years I have assigned a research project as the culminating activity of our science unit on plant growth and development. Last year, my students had the benefit of using the pathfinder I had created to help them start their research. What a difference it made! With considerably less confusion and angst, the students were able to quickly and easily locate the sources they needed. We were able to use our time in the media center much more efficiently and effectively. But the best part was that all of the students, regardless of their reading level, were able to find resources to meet their needs.
With help from the pathfinder, my students created some of the most interesting projects I’ve ever received for this assignment. One budding journalist, using information gathered from the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association Website, composed a classified ad for a beekeeper. She grabbed the reader’s attention with a fun hook, “Must Love Bees.” Her advertisement included information about the job duties, hours, and professional attire required of the position. Two ESOL students watched the video, The Magic School Bus in a Bee Hive ,to learn about honeybees. Together, they created a three dimensional model of a bee and labeled its parts.
This pathfinder helped my students to begin their projects, and in so doing, it played a key role in facilitating their ultimate success.
