research skills

Research by students K - 6

Research Questions

Here are some key questions for any topic you are researching. They will help you focus your research.

Questions: If your project is about a person: a biography

Who is this person? Write their full name including maiden name for married a woman and any nicknames.
When was he/she born?
When did he/she die?
In a biography this is usually presented after the person's name like this:

Dolly Madison (nee Payne) (1768 -1849)

Clinton,(Bill) William Jefferson Blythe (1946- )

Where was he/she born? Name the place and tell who were the parents,brothers and sisters.
Where did he/she live at the time of his/her achievements?
What did he/she achieve?
How did he/she achieve it?
What other people were involved?
What problems were there to overcome?
Why is this person remembered?
How is he/she remembered?
Is there something named after this person?
How has what he/she achieved affected others?

Questions: If your project is about a country, a city or a town

Where is this place? Tell where in the world it is and which other countries are nearby or where in a country is the town or city.
What is it like? Describe the geography of the place ie land forms such as mountains, rivers, forests, lakes etc. Tell about the climate.
What animals and plants are there? Describe the native flora and fauna.
When was the country discovered? Tell who discovered it and who were the first to live there. Or tell when the city or town was founded and by whom. Explain why this place was settled? How it came to be discovered/settled.
What are the country's main cities or landmarks?
What is the flag or emblems of the country/city?
What money do the people use?
Who lives there now? Has there been migration of people coming from other places to live there?
How do the people live? Describe their houses, their work, transport, festivals, religions, schools, entertainment, sports.
How is the place governed? Who makes the laws? How do the people choose their leaders? Is there a voting system?
What is produced in the place? What primary and secondary industry is there?
What famous sights/sites are there?
Who are the famous people of the place?
How can someone get there?

Questions: If your project is about an animal

What is it? Tell to which animal family it belongs and what are its relatives.
What does it look like? Describe its shape, size, covering, colour, special body features.
How does it move?
Where does it live? Tell where in the world the animal is found.
What is its habitat? Tell about the kind of natural environment the animal lives in and why it is suited to this environment.
What does it eat? Describe how it get its food.
How does it reproduce? Explain the life cycle, method of reproduction and how the animal cares for its young.
How does it protect itself? Tell what enemies it has.
What is this animal's status? Is it common, rare, endangered? If endangered are there special programs to conserve the species?

Questions: If your project is about an object (non-living)

What is it ?
What is or was it used for?
What is it made of?
How is it made?
Where is it made?
What does it look like? Describe its appearance including colour, size, shape etc; What are the parts of the object?
How does it work?
Who invented it?
Who helped develop?
Who made/built it?
Why was it invented?
What did it replace?
What impact has it had on people?

Questions: If your project is about a plant

What is it? Tell to which plant family it belongs. What are its relatives?
What does it look like? Describe its shape, size, colour, leaves, flowers, fruit,etc.
Where did it originate? Tell where in the world this plant first grew.
What is its natural environment? Describe the soil and climate that suits the plant.
How does it grow? Explain the life cycle of the plant.
Which parts of this plant, if any, are edible? By whom? or what? How is it prepared for eating?
How does it reproduce?
How does it protect itself?
What products, if any, are made from this plant? Tell who uses it to make something. How do they process the plant to make the thing?
What is this plant's status? Is it common, rare, endangered? If endangered are there special programs to conserve it?

Want more help with your project or assignment work?

Ask a kidcyber researcher by email here.