Mobile Lab for Researching

Speaking of the new Common Core standards...Another new standard in 1st grade, is for students to participate in shared research & writing.  We first began researching on the internet, when we wrote our how-to story on applesauce.  This week, we did some research on bats.  We used the search engine "KidRex" to hunt for interesting facts about bats.  We worked on this whole group, but then, the real fun began...the MOBILE LAB! 

 When the cart of laptops wheeled into our classroom, you would've thought Santa was walking in the door..holding puppies and lollipops! :)  The kids got to take turns coming back in small groups, to practice using a laptop to search for bat facts.  We got lots of practice using the finger pad (mouse) to click around and practicing typing "bat facts" in the search engine. 

We used our research to draft expository bat reports yesterday.  Tomorrow, they will get to publish these stories to hang in the hallway for Parent/Teacher conferences.  The mobile lab will be making another appearance in our room next week, when we begin our next "research project."