---
title: "Short Research Projects"
description: "Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic, gather information from print and digital sources, and take brief organised notes"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/short-research-projects-mt_FW9_8F52bw
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/short-research-projects-mt_FW9_8F52bw.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Short Research Projects

Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic, gather information from print and digital sources, and take brief organised notes

Subject: English · Area: Writing Composition · Ages 8 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/short-research-projects-mt_FW9_8F52bw

## Ready when they can

- Generate three research questions about an assigned topic and identify two sources for each
- Take brief notes from a print source, sorting key facts into provided categories
- Write a short summary paragraph synthesising information gathered from two different sources

## Lesson: Doing a Short Research Project

A short research project has four steps. First you ask questions about your topic. Then you find sources, like books or websites, that can answer them. Next you take notes on what you learn. Last, you write it all up in your own words.

*(drawing: Follow these four steps in order, from asking your questions to writing your summary.)*

**Example.** Maya is researching octopuses. She writes three questions: What do octopuses eat? How many arms do they have? Where do they live? For each question, she finds one book and one website, so she has two sources for every question.

When you take notes, don't copy whole sentences. Sort key facts under short headings, like Food, Body, or Home. Notes are just a few words each, enough to jog your memory later.

**Tip.** When you write your summary, blend the facts from both sources into one paragraph instead of two separate lists. Put what you learned together, in your own words.

**Recap.** Research means asking good questions, checking two sources for each one, jotting brief notes in your own words, then writing it all up together.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Shared Research Projects](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/shared-research-projects-mt_4A4RpX-Go9)
- [Writing Craft Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/writing-craft-vocabulary-mt_82KKv0Fca3)
- [Scaled picture graphs and bar graphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/scaled-picture-graphs-and-bar-graphs-mt_r8XnXwRA6g)
- [Main Ideas & Note-Taking](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/main-ideas-and-note-taking-mt_sMAcZW6vWM)

## Opens up

- [Research & Note-Taking](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/research-and-note-taking-mt_dRLP8g0SAg)
- [Literary Evidence in Writing](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/literary-evidence-in-writing-mt_sdmm_m60qX)
- [Evidence-Based Writing](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/evidence-based-writing-mt_ZxdfRbwkKM)