While many Wantagh Elementary School second graders have a dog, cat or maybe even a fish at home, it is creatures that are a little less house friendly they have been learning about. Students in Mary Ko’s class are immersed in their animal research projects, the first major assignment in a nonfiction writing unit.

When students are done, they will publish books filled with information, illustrations and photos. They are gathering facts on their respective animals such as where it lives, what it looks like, what it eats and its life cycle. 

Among the animals that children are learning about are the arctic fox, capybara, emperor penguin, lynx, polar bear and red panda. They are using books from the school library as well as online resources like PebbleGo and World Book Online. 

Ms. Ko said the process will take a few months as students do research, compile information in their organization folders, write a first draft, edit, revise and publish. They follow the same process as professional authors.

This is a highly-anticipated project each year, Ms. Ko added, because of the excitement of learning about unfamiliar animals and the pride in publishing their own books. When the pieces are complete, second graders will share them with their kindergarten reading buddies.