Toy Study Papers

by Ms. T
After four weeks of work brainstorming, researching, outlining, and writing, fifth graders have written their Toy Study papers! We have learned about Primary and Secondary sources, Objective and Subjective statements, and have begun to learn how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources, a particularly fraught task in this era. Each 5th grader came up with their own thesis about the impact of toys on our world, either through an environmental or social bias lens, and wrote persuasive essays using varied sources of evidence to argue their positions. As newly-minted toy experts, the students also began designing their own ideal toys, taking into consideration eco-friendly materials, anti-biased designs, what skills good toys can impart, and, of course, what makes a toy enjoyable.