51 Wacky We-Search Reports: Face the Facts With Fun

by Barry Lane, Barry Lane

Written by Barry Lane and illustrated by Miles Bodimeade, this is a book you can either hand to kids or use yourself to create unusual, exciting and downright silly research reports. The richly illustrated lessons include advice columns, recipe poems, world’s thinnest books, a day in the life of a cell, how to poems, and much much more.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Writing

150 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jennifer DuBose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this earlier this year but I'm adding it now. This is a great tool for the classroom! You can use the activities straight from the pages or adapt them to fit what you need.

I love Lane's style. He's so free and truly embraces and promotes creativity. He doesn't believe that only some kids are creative; he is adamant that all kids and adults can be creative. All it takes is practice and a little out of the box thinking.

I used these activities in my classes as alternate and extra credit assignments and the kids really enjoyed doing them. It was so nice to see them smile and really get into whatever the assignment was. Sometimes they would even put more effort into these wacky we-search reports than their actual daily assignments. I'll definitely be using them mor often this year as the main assignments. Why not, right? If two assignments both accomplish the same goal, but one of them is super fun and the other is just average, it's obvious which one I should choose!

I recommend this for teachers of all subjects!

[Asandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book for teachers looking for some unique report, research type activities to follow any reading assignment, movie, etc. At the beginning of the book the author, Barry Lane, goes into detail about how to make your factual information funny and humorous. Then, he gives detail on the 51 different wacky we-search reports he lists in the book. These are excellent for helping you provide lots of options for students. Since they are all soooo different from simply copying from an encyclopedia to present research, students are highly motivated and engaged to complete the task they choose. Some of the ones my students have chosen to complete are:

p. 162--Top-Ten Lists--example: Top 10 Reasons to be a whale
p. 152--Recipe Poems--example: Constitution Chocolate Chip Cookies
p. 70--Rare Photographs--example: A rabbit eating a steak

You must see the book and all of Lane's creative, creative examples. You will be laughing and super excited to start having your students do this type of report versus a standard research paper. Everyone learns more because the reports, as suggested in the book, are way more exciting to read.

[Dana]

Creating assignments that bring out humor and inner voice in lieu of research papers. Can replace quizzes and tests. Summative assessment activities.

[Katherine Silva-sampaio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a useful book that I use regularly to add creativity to my teaching.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol! Written for teachers AND kids. My 11 year old self would have eaten this up! Excellent illustrations.

[Kathy McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fun ideas. Not sure I will have time to fit any of them into my curriculum.