ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Teaching Without Frills How to Write a Research Paper for Kids – Episode 4: Writing a Draft
Today, we’re going to learn how to write a research paper, and our topic is bats! I’ve already made a plan and gathered lots of information. Now, it’s time to start writing. Let’s begin with the introduction, which will tell readers what the paper is about. I like to start with a question or an interesting fact to grab attention.
For example, I might say, “Did you know that bats live in almost every part of the world? You may even have some right in your backyard!” Then, I’ll explain why the readers should keep reading. “Read this paper and you’ll find out where bats live, what they look like, what they eat, and the cool things that they can do.”
Next, I’ll write each section of my paper. I’ll use headings to organize my writing. A heading tells what the section is about. My first section will be about what bats look like, so I’ll use the heading “Appearance.”
In this section, I’ll share facts about a bat’s appearance. It’s important to write these facts in my own words. First, I’ll talk about their fur. Bats have fur that can be black, brown, or gray. Then, I’ll mention their size. Bats can be big or small; the smallest bats have a wingspan of six inches, while the largest bats can have a wingspan of six feet.
The next section is about where bats live, so I’ll use the heading “Habitat.” I’ll start with a question to make it interesting: “Do you think bats live near you?” Bats can live almost anywhere as long as it’s not too cold. They like to rest in dark places like caves.
Now, let’s talk about what bats eat, using the heading “Diet.” Many bats like to eat bugs, while some bats eat plants too. There are even a few bats that eat other small animals.
Finally, I want to share information about what bats do. You probably know that bats can fly, but did you know they can fly 10 miles per hour? That’s much faster than kids can walk, which is about 2 miles per hour! Bats also make loud screeching noises to communicate with other bats, and some bats even drink blood.
Now that I’ve written all the information I found, I’m ready to write an ending so readers know my research paper is finished. I’ll say, “Aren’t bats cool animals? I learned new facts about their appearance, habitat, diet, and the cool things they do. I hope that you learn new information about bats too!”
I’ve now completed the first draft of my paper, but I’m not done yet. Check out Episode 5 to see how I revise my paper to make it even better.
Create Your Own Research Paper: Choose an animal you are curious about, just like the video chose bats. Gather some fun facts about your animal’s appearance, habitat, diet, and interesting behaviors. Use headings to organize your information, and write a short introduction and conclusion. Share your research paper with your family or friends!
Bat Observation Journal: If you can, visit a local park or your backyard at dusk and try to spot some bats. Keep a journal of your observations. What do the bats look like? How do they move? What sounds do they make? Write down your observations and draw pictures of what you see. This will help you understand more about bats and their behavior.
Fact or Fiction Game: With a friend or family member, play a game where you take turns sharing facts about bats. Some facts should be true, and some should be made up. For example, “Bats can fly 10 miles per hour” is true, but “Bats can swim underwater” is not. See if you can guess which facts are real and which are fiction. This will help you remember the interesting facts you’ve learned about bats.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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**How to Write a Research Paper for Kids – Episode 4: Writing**
I’m writing a research paper about bats. I’ve made a plan, researched my topic, and now I’m ready to start writing. First, I will write an introduction to tell readers what this paper is going to be about. I like to start introductions with a question or an interesting fact, or maybe even both.
I’ll say, “Did you know that bats live in almost every part of the world? You may even have some right in your backyard!” For the next part of my introduction, I’ll let the readers know why they should read this paper. “Read this paper and you’ll find out where bats live, what they look like, what they eat, and the cool things that they can do.”
Next, I can start writing each section of my paper. I’ll use headings to organize my writing. A heading tells what the section is all about. My first section will be about what bats look like, so I’m going to use the heading “Appearance.”
Now, I’m going to write some facts about a bat’s appearance. I need to make sure I write facts in my own words, which means I don’t want to copy exactly what someone else said. Let me look back at my organizer to remind me of what I learned. First, I’ll tell about their fur. Bats have fur, and their fur can be black, brown, or gray. Next, I’ll tell about their size. Bats can be big or small; the smallest bats have a wingspan of six inches, while the largest bats can have a wingspan of six feet.
My next section is about where bats live, so I’ll use the heading “Habitat.” Again, I’ll look at the information I recorded on my graphic organizer. This time, I’ll start the section with a question to make it interesting: “Do you think bats live near you?” Bats can live anywhere as long as it’s not too cold. They like to rest in dark places like caves.
My next section is about what bats eat, so I’m going to use the heading “Diet.” Many bats like to eat bugs, while other bats eat plants as well. There are even a few bats that like to eat other small animals.
Finally, I want to share information about what bats do. I bet you already know that bats can fly, but did you know that they can fly 10 miles per hour? Kids can only walk about 2 miles per hour! Bats also make loud screeching noises to attract other bats, and some bats even drink blood.
Now that I’ve written all of the information I found, I’m ready to write an ending so readers know my research paper is finished. I’ll say, “Aren’t bats cool animals? I learned new facts about their appearance, habitat, diet, and the cool things they do. I hope that you learn new information about bats too!”
Now I’ve written the first draft of my paper, but I’m not finished yet. Check out Episode 5 to see how I revise my paper to make it even better.
[Music]
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a clear, educational tone suitable for a children’s audience.
