Get Smart
BE THE
AUTHOR
Let’s Research!
Every time I start researching a new book, I’m excited! It’s my chance to dive into an unfamiliar topic and to uncover a world I didn't know existed.
First, I read as many books as I can. Then I look up old newspaper articles and whatever I can find in the historic record. I interview people connected to my research. Meeting them and filling in the story with their memories and experiences is the great part!
By the end, I know a lot. Sometimes too much! So I have to decide what are the most important details to bring my story to life.
Now pretend
you’re the
author…
In the past, people didn’t know as much about dinosaurs as we do now. What did people know about dinosaurs in 1905 when Ruth Mason was a girl?
The First Dinosaur by Ian Lendler might be a fun place to start.
North and South Dakota became states in 1889. What was life like in the area before then? Who lived there?
The South Dakota State Historical Society could be a good way to learn more.
Keep exploring!
As a kid growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, the past seemed very much alive. And the older I get, the more I realize that’s true.