Student-zoologists took over Waverly Elementary School recently after an animal assignment introduced fourth-graders to the many research tools and techniques available at the library. 

With help from Waverly library media specialist Louann Cronin students embarked on the trimester long project that explores a multitude of animals from around the world. Students selected an animal they wanted to research and then utilizing the BOCES School Library System Virtual Reference Collection navigated through multiple databases to collect information on their animal. Once students gathered information from the articles they discovered, they inserted photos into their lap books – a mini-book that students create to record details of their studies – and began to compose an essay on their animal. Student animal selections included wolves, lions, goats and bears, among many others. 

The animal research project introduces students to important research tools they will use throughout their educational journey and serves as a complementary connection to the fourth-grade unit on animals.