Can you imagine going shopping for back to school supplies without the list from your teacher? You would probably end up buying the wrong things and wasting time and money. You might even have to go back another time to buy the right supplies!

Beginning a research project without knowing and understanding what is required of you and what you need to find out is like going shopping without a list. That is why we have created the Student Big6 Research Planner.

Finding information can be as simple as answering just one question, "What is the capital of Alaska?" or as complicated as supporting a thesis statement, "A child traveling west on the Orphan Train was lucky to be starting a new life." Whatever the task, finding information is a problem-solving process.  The model our school uses is the Big6©.  The Big6© links the power of technology to the information seeking process because computers are tools that help organize information.  By following the Big6© model, you will be able to locate, evaluate and use information to become an independent life-long learner.

What is the Big6©? It is simply a way to research or solve a problem using 6 steps. It can be used for doing a research project. We also use it to solve everyday problems, such as deciding what to wear or buying shoes!

Let's see the Big6© in action! We are going to read a story called "The Bright Bird." This story is an allegory -  a short moral story (often with animal characters) representing an abstract idea. 

 Living in the deep forests of Australia is a very colourful bird called 'the Bright Bird'. This bird is much admired for its beautiful colors, which originally earned it its name: 'Bright Bird'. Whenever visitors come to the forest, they try eagerly to catch a glimpse of this wonderful bird, and, if they do, it is an experience to talk about to their family and friends and to pass on to the younger generation.

Our story reaches back into the dim past when the first pair of Bright Birds came to live in the forest. One day, close to dusk, the female was hunting insects and was following a very juicy-looking insect at high speed among the trees. In the semi-dark, she slammed into a tree and suffered brain damage. It seems that that part of the brain which held the nest-making instinct was damaged beyond repair.

Now she had to start from scratch to learn how to make a nest for the approaching Spring season. Fortunately, the collision had rearranged the cells in another part of her brain so that she gained the power to think deeply and to solve problems, just like human beings!

Somehow she heard news of a problem-solving method called The Big6. She decided to give it a go.

Credit: (Story told by Brian Armour http://home.iprimus.com.au/brianga/bribird.htm) 

 Click on the Big6 Student Research Planner link to the left to begin planning your research project. When you have completed the form it will automatically be emailed to Mrs. Kliegman and Mrs. Forte. We will read your form and comment on it. Then we will give it back to you so that you will have it as a guide for your research.

Big6 Handout (pdf file - 47kb)
Explanation of the Big6

Bright Bird and the Big6 (ppt file - 307kb)
Powerpoint file

Bright Bird and the Big6 (pdf file - 520kb)
Powerpoint saved as PDF

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