Research Using Several Sources
A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on conducting short research projects that use several sources and build knowledge through investigation.
Research Using Several Sources is a free 40-minute Grade 5 English lesson plan for Common Core standard W.5.7 — run a research project that draws on several sources. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 5
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- W.5.7
Grade 5 · Writing
W.5.7
Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
Objective
Students will be able to plan a research project with a question, several sources and a stopping point.
Students are successful when they can
- Writes a researchable question.
- Identifies several sources of different kinds.
- Says when the research is finished.
What you need
- A range of source types
- A research plan sheet
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — when is it finished?
5 min- Ask how you know when research is done.
- Collect answers. Most will be about time or effort rather than the question.
Teach — the question decides when to stop
13 min- Write a research question with a clear scope.
- List what would count as an answer.
- Identify three sources of different kinds.
- Say the stopping rule: when the question is answered and sources start repeating.
- Show research with no question — it never finishes because nothing tells it to.
“When two new sources tell you nothing new, you are finished.”
Guided practice — write the plan
12 min- Students write a question, list what would answer it, and name three sources.
- They state their stopping rule.
- Partners check the question is answerable in the time.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the research page.
- It plans the project rather than replacing it.
Close
2 min- Take one question and its stopping rule.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Researches until the time runs out.
Why: No other stopping rule exists.
Fix: The question and the saturation test. Both give a real endpoint.
Uses three sources of the same kind.
Why: One kind was easy to find.
Fix: Different kinds catch different errors. Three websites are barely three sources.
Changes the question to match what was found.
Why: The sources answered something else.
Fix: Record the change and why. Following the evidence is fine; hiding the change is not.
If they are not there yet
- Two sources rather than three.
- Give the question.
If they finish early
- Plan a project needing a source you cannot easily get.
- Say what would make you abandon the question.
- Plan a follow-up project from this one's findings.
Exit ticket
What is your question, and how will you know when you have answered it?
What to look for: A stopping rule tied to the question. 'When I run out of time' means the saturation test needs sharing.
Printable practice for W.5.7
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Research with Several SourcesWrite on the lines. Use the checklist.
Questions about Research Using Several Sources
How long does the Research Using Several Sources lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Research Using Several Sources teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.7 — W.5.7, Writing for Grade 5: “Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.” In plain terms, run a research project that draws on several sources.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A range of source types, a research plan sheet and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: researches until the time runs out; uses three sources of the same kind and changes the question to match what was found. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “What is your question, and how will you know when you have answered it?.” A stopping rule tied to the question. 'When I run out of time' means the saturation test needs sharing. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Research Using Several Sources?
Yes — 1 printable W.5.7 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Research Using Several Sources free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to W.5.7 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.