Advanced

Tutor model

i62 💰:9.4

i52 💰:7.9

🏆 i67 💰:62.5

i70 💰:125.0

i68 💰:125.0

🏆 i66 💰:75.0

i65 💰:125.0

i63 💰:62.5

i61 💰:75.0

i60 💰:9.4

i60 💰:37.5

i58 💰:62.5

i57 💰:22.5

i57 💰:37.5

i56 💰:45.0

⚡ i55 💰:11.25

i55 💰:37.5

i54 💰:62.5

i52 💰:35.0

i51 💰:37.5

i49 💰:15.0

i49 💰:62.5

i48 💰:11.3

i47 💰:7.5

i44 💰:25.0

i43 💰:37.5

i42 💰:187.5

i40 💰:5.0

i39 💰:100.0

i38 💰:37.5

i37 💰:11.0

i36 💰:187.5

i34 💰:12.5

i33 💰:37.5

i30 💰:1.0

i29 💰:1.5

i28 💰:150.0

i23 💰:20.0

i20 💰:4.0

i18 💰:1.0

i16 💰:25.0

i13 💰:1.5

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What would you like to learn?

Override for the tutor's lesson content generation calls. Auto uses the system default (Claude Sonnet 5 for lesson text, Opus 5 for diagrams).

Lesson generation model

System default

i58 💰:18.8

i31 💰:11.0

i25 💰:31.3

Tutoring abilities

Have you ever wondered how sea otters stay toasty warm in freezing ocean water without having thick layers of blubber?

A **short research project** is an active hunt where you investigate a specific question, collect facts from multiple places, and build new knowledge.

To find great answers, where do we actually start our hunt?

Huge topics like *The Ocean* or *Animals* are too broad to cover in a short project.

A strong project starts with a **focused research question** that zooms in on one clear mystery.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <style>
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    body {
      font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
      background: #f8f9fa;
      color: #1e2945;
      padding: 16px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      min-height: 100%;
    }

    .stepper-nav {
      display: flex;
      gap: 8px;
      margin-bottom: 16px;
      width: 100%;
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      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
      border-radius: 8px;
      color: #6b7280;
      cursor: pointer;
      text-align: center;
      transition: all 0.25s ease;
    }

    .step-btn.active {
      background: #22b7ff;
      color: #ffffff;
      border-color: #22b7ff;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(34, 183, 255, 0.25);
    }

    .stage-container {
      position: relative;
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 440px;
      height: 230px;
      background: #ffffff;
      border-radius: 12px;
      border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
      overflow: hidden;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
    }

    .step-panel {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
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      justify-content: center;
      padding: 16px;
      opacity: 0;
      pointer-events: none;
      transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
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    .step-panel.active {
      opacity: 1;
      pointer-events: auto;
    }

    .funnel-ring {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      border-radius: 50%;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
      margin-bottom: 12px;
    }

    .ring-broad {
      width: 110px;
      height: 110px;
      background: #f1f5f9;
      border: 3px dashed #94a3b8;
      font-size: 38px;
    }

    .ring-narrow {
      width: 85px;
      height: 85px;
      background: #e0f2fe;
      border: 3px dashed #38bdf8;
      font-size: 32px;
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    .ring-focused {
      width: 65px;
      height: 65px;
      background: #0284c7;
      border: 3px solid #0369a1;
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    .badge-broad { background: #fee2e2; color: #dc2626; }
    .badge-narrow { background: #fef3c7; color: #d97706; }
    .badge-focused { background: #dcfce7; color: #16a34a; }

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      font-size: 15px;
      font-weight: 600;
      color: #1e2945;
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      line-height: 1.3;
      max-width: 320px;
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    .controls {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 12px;
      margin-top: 14px;
    }

    .ctrl-btn {
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
      border-radius: 50%;
      width: 34px;
      height: 34px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-size: 14px;
      color: #1e2945;
      cursor: pointer;
      transition: background 0.2s ease;
    }

    .ctrl-btn:hover {
      background: #f1f5f9;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>

  <div class="stepper-nav">
    <button class="step-btn active" data-step="0">1. Broad</button>
    <button class="step-btn" data-step="1">2. Narrow</button>
    <button class="step-btn" data-step="2">3. Focused</button>
  </div>

  <div class="stage-container">
    <div class="step-panel active" id="step-0">
      <div class="funnel-ring ring-broad">🦈 🌊 🐠</div>
      <span class="label-badge badge-broad">Too Broad</span>
      <div class="query-text">"Ocean Animals"</div>
    </div>

    <div class="step-panel" id="step-1">
      <div class="funnel-ring ring-narrow">🦈 ⚡</div>
      <span class="label-badge badge-narrow">Getting Closer</span>
      <div class="query-text">"Deep-Sea Sharks"</div>
    </div>

    <div class="step-panel" id="step-2">
      <div class="funnel-ring ring-focused">🎯</div>
      <span class="label-badge badge-focused">Focused Question</span>
      <div class="query-text">"How do goblin sharks<br>hunt in total darkness?"</div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="controls">
    <button class="ctrl-btn" id="playBtn" aria-label="Play/Pause">⏸</button>
  </div>

  <script src="{{VENDOR_CDN}}/classace-diagram.js"></script>
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    function updatePlayState() {
      playBtn.textContent = player.playing ? '⏸' : '▶';
    }

    player.start();
  </script>
</body>
</html>

Once you have a focused question, how do you make sure you explore all the important sides of it?

To build real knowledge, break your main question into smaller **sub-questions** that each look at a different aspect of the topic.

Investigating multiple aspects ensures you do not just find one random fact, but understand the whole picture.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
  <style>
    * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
    body {
      font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif;
      color: #1e2945;
      background: transparent;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: space-between;
      min-height: 100%;
      padding: 12px;
      user-select: none;
    }

    .canvas {
      position: relative;
      width: 100%;
      max-width: 480px;
      height: 280px;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: space-between;
    }

    /* SVG Connectors */
    .connectors {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      pointer-events: none;
      z-index: 1;
    }

    .conn-line {
      stroke: #cbd5e1;
      stroke-width: 2.5;
      stroke-dasharray: 4 4;
      transition: stroke 0.3s ease, stroke-width 0.3s ease;
    }
    .conn-line.active {
      stroke: #22b7ff;
      stroke-width: 3;
      stroke-dasharray: none;
    }

    /* Nodes */
    .node {
      z-index: 2;
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 2px solid #e2e8f0;
      border-radius: 12px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 8px;
      font-weight: 600;
      font-size: 14px;
      box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
      cursor: pointer;
      transition: border-color 0.3s ease, box-shadow 0.3s ease, background-color 0.3s ease;
    }

    .main-node {
      padding: 8px 18px;
      border-color: #22b7ff;
      background: #f0f9ff;
    }

    .sub-grid {
      display: flex;
      justify-content: space-between;
      width: 100%;
      gap: 8px;
      z-index: 2;
    }

    .sub-node {
      flex: 1;
      padding: 10px 6px;
      flex-direction: column;
      text-align: center;
      font-size: 13px;
    }
    .sub-node.active {
      border-color: #22b7ff;
      box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(34,183,255,0.25);
      background: #f0f9ff;
    }

    .sub-node .icon {
      font-size: 20px;
      margin-bottom: 2px;
    }

    /* Target Result */
    .result-node {
      padding: 8px 20px;
      background: #ffffff;
      border-radius: 20px;
      font-size: 14px;
      font-weight: 700;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 8px;
    }
    .result-node.complete {
      border-color: #10b981;
      background: #ecfdf5;
      color: #065f46;
    }

    /* Controls */
    .controls {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 12px;
      margin-top: 10px;
      z-index: 3;
    }

    .btn {
      background: #ffffff;
      border: 1px solid #cbd5e1;
      border-radius: 8px;
      padding: 6px 14px;
      font-size: 13px;
      font-weight: 600;
      color: #1e2945;
      cursor: pointer;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 6px;
      box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
    }
    .btn:active { background: #f1f5f9; }

    .dots {
      display: flex;
      gap: 6px;
    }

    .dot {
      width: 10px;
      height: 10px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      background: #cbd5e1;
      cursor: pointer;
      transition: background 0.3s ease;
    }
    .dot.active {
      background: #22b7ff;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>

  <div class="canvas" id="canvas">
    <svg class="connectors" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none">
      
      <line id="line-0" class="conn-line active" x1="50" y1="18" x2="18" y2="44" />
      <line id="line-1" class="conn-line active" x1="50" y1="18" x2="50" y2="44" />
      <line id="line-2" class="conn-line active" x1="50" y1="18" x2="82" y2="44" />

      
      <line id="line-out-0" class="conn-line" x1="18" y1="62" x2="50" y2="84" />
      <line id="line-out-1" class="conn-line" x1="50" y1="62" x2="50" y2="84" />
      <line id="line-out-2" class="conn-line" x1="82" y1="62" x2="50" y2="84" />
    </svg>

    
    <div class="node main-node">
      <span>🎯</span>
      <span>Main Topic</span>
    </div>

    
    <div class="sub-grid">
      <div class="node sub-node" id="sub-0" onclick="setStep(0)">
        <span class="icon">🔍</span>
        <span>Causes</span>
      </div>
      <div class="node sub-node" id="sub-1" onclick="setStep(1)">
        <span class="icon">⚡</span>
        <span>Impact</span>
      </div>
      <div class="node sub-node" id="sub-2" onclick="setStep(2)">
        <span class="icon">🛡️</span>
        <span>Solutions</span>
      </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="node result-node" id="result-node">
      <span id="result-icon">⏳</span>
      <span id="result-text">Partial View</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  
  <div class="controls">
    <button class="btn" id="playBtn" onclick="togglePlay()">
      <span id="playIcon">⏸</span>
    </button>
    <div class="dots">
      <div class="dot" onclick="setStep(0)"></div>
      <div class="dot" onclick="setStep(1)"></div>
      <div class="dot" onclick="setStep(2)"></div>
      <div class="dot" onclick="setStep(3)"></div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <script>
    let step = 0;
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    const subNodes = [
      document.getElementById('sub-0'),
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        resultText.textContent = 'Aspect ' + (step + 1) + ' of 3';
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      timer = setInterval(nextStep, 3000);
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    // Initialize
    render();
    restartTimer();
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</body>
</html>

Now that you have your sub-questions, how do you collect facts without getting lost in your reading?

As you read books and reliable websites, sort your facts into matching groups called **categories**.

Write short bullet points in your own words rather than copying entire sentences word-for-word.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="aspect-ratio" content="4:3">
<title>Note-Taking in Your Own Words</title>
<style>
  * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
  body {
    font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
    color: #1e2945;
    background: transparent;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    min-height: 100%;
    padding: 12px;
  }

  .diagram-area {
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 520px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    gap: 12px;
  }

  /* Navigation Bar */
  .nav-bar {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
    align-items: center;
    background: #f1f5f9;
    padding: 6px 10px;
    border-radius: 10px;
  }

  .step-tabs {
    display: flex;
    gap: 6px;
  }

  .step-btn {
    border: none;
    background: transparent;
    padding: 6px 12px;
    border-radius: 6px;
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #64748b;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: background 0.2s, color 0.2s;
  }

  .step-btn.active {
    background: #22b7ff;
    color: #ffffff;
  }

  .play-btn {
    border: none;
    background: #ffffff;
    color: #1e2945;
    width: 32px;
    height: 32px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    cursor: pointer;
    font-size: 14px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
  }

  /* Stage Container */
  .stage {
    position: relative;
    height: 220px;
    background: #f8f9fa;
    border-radius: 12px;
    overflow: hidden;
  }

  .step-view {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    padding: 16px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 12px;
    opacity: 0;
    pointer-events: none;
    transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
  }

  .step-view.active {
    opacity: 1;
    pointer-events: auto;
  }

  /* Card Components */
  .card-box {
    background: #ffffff;
    border-radius: 10px;
    padding: 14px 18px;
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 440px;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);
    border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
  }

  .card-title {
    font-size: 12px;
    font-weight: 700;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
    margin-bottom: 8px;
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 6px;
  }

  .source-title { color: #64748b; }
  .notes-title { color: #0284c7; }

  .text-content {
    font-size: 15px;
    line-height: 1.5;
    color: #334155;
  }

  /* Highlighting */
  .dim { color: #94a3b8; }
  .kw {
    background: #e0f2fe;
    color: #0369a1;
    font-weight: 700;
    padding: 2px 6px;
    border-radius: 4px;
    border-bottom: 2px solid #38bdf8;
  }

  /* Comparison Notes */
  .compare-row {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    gap: 8px;
    width: 100%;
    max-width: 440px;
  }

  .note-item {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 10px;
    padding: 10px 14px;
    border-radius: 8px;
    font-size: 14px;
    font-weight: 500;
  }

  .note-good {
    background: #f0fdf4;
    border: 1px solid #bbf7d0;
    color: #166534;
  }

  .note-bad {
    background: #fef2f2;
    border: 1px solid #fecaca;
    color: #991b1b;
    opacity: 0.85;
    text-decoration: line-through;
  }

  .icon {
    font-size: 16px;
    font-weight: bold;
    flex-shrink: 0;
  }

  /* Indicator dots */
  .dots {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    gap: 6px;
  }

  .dot {
    width: 8px;
    height: 8px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    background: #cbd5e1;
    border: none;
    cursor: pointer;
    padding: 0;
    transition: background 0.2s;
  }

  .dot.active {
    background: #22b7ff;
    width: 20px;
    border-radius: 4px;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<div class="diagram-area">
  
  <div class="nav-bar">
    <div class="step-tabs">
      <button class="step-btn active" data-step="0">1. Source</button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="1">2. Key Facts</button>
      <button class="step-btn" data-step="2">3. Own Words</button>
    </div>
    <button class="play-btn" id="playToggle" aria-label="Play/Pause">⏸</button>
  </div>

  
  <div class="stage">
    
    <div class="step-view active" id="view-0">
      <div class="card-box">
        <div class="card-title source-title">📖 Source Text</div>
        <div class="text-content">
          "Honeybees communicate flower locations to hive members by performing a waggle dance."
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="step-view" id="view-1">
      <div class="card-box">
        <div class="card-title source-title">🔍 Find Key Facts</div>
        <div class="text-content">
          "<span class="kw">Honeybees</span> <span class="dim">communicate</span> <span class="kw">flower locations</span> <span class="dim">to hive members by performing a</span> <span class="kw">waggle dance</span>."
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="step-view" id="view-2">
      <div class="compare-row">
        <div class="note-item note-good">
          <span class="icon">✓</span>
          <span>• Bees dance to share food spots</span>
        </div>
        <div class="note-item note-bad">
          <span class="icon">✗</span>
          <span>"Honeybees communicate flower locations..."</span>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  
  <div class="dots">
    <button class="dot active" data-step="0" aria-label="Go to step 1"></button>
    <button class="dot" data-step="1" aria-label="Go to step 2"></button>
    <button class="dot" data-step="2" aria-label="Go to step 3"></button>
  </div>
</div>

<script>
  let currentStep = 0;
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A common mistake is copying large chunks of text directly from a website without thinking about what they mean.

True research means locating the **key fact**, understanding it, and jotting it down in your own words.

You have gathered your facts across all three aspects — so what do you do with them?

**Synthesizing** means connecting all your separate clues together to create one complete, unified explanation.

Instead of listing scattered trivia, you can now explain how dense fur, high-calorie food, and grooming work as a team to keep otters warm.

Choose one science or history question you are curious about today, map out two or three sub-questions, and start your investigation!

Conducting a Short Research Project to Build Knowledge. Carry out a short research project that investigates a topic and builds new knowledge.

Inquiry on the Web: Researching to Build Knowledge with I-Charts

Elementary Research Skills & Explorer Classroom Toolkits

Grade 4 Writing & Research Strategies: Organizing Information and Citing Sources

Teaching W.4.7 effectively requires explicit modeling of the entire inquiry cycle: narrowing broad topics, formulating 'thin' vs. 'thick' research questions, recording facts into structured organizers rather than full sentences, and synthesizing multiple sources into unified explanatory paragraphs. Gradual release of responsibility (I Do, We Do, You Do) supported by graphic organizers (e.g., I-Charts or Subtopic Webs) ensures 4th-grade students build authentic informational literacy without relying on copy-paste habits.

Conducting a Short Research Project to Build Knowledge

Step 1: Narrow Your Topic

Step 2: Investigate Different Aspects