I already posted about the importance of teaching copyright, even to young children, but can you really expect kindergarten students to cite their sources?
Yes!
Of course, we're not looking at MLA format. All you really want is for your students to acknowledge when something came out of their own head or from someone else. The easiest way for emergent readers to do this is with pictures. Whenever your students do research, give them several pictures to choose from.
If you use the Super 3 research method, Linworth publishing offers a sticker set for citing sources. They feature Sam the penguin and are really cute. Super3 (SAM) Sticker Set
The stickers are a nice novelty, and can be fun when you first introduce citing, but I don't see them as an everyday option. Instead, I like to make research paper for the students to use. At the bottom of the paper I give several choices for citing (just made with Wingdings) and the students circle the most appropriate one.
Here is the paper I'm using currently with my students. It's a generic research paper with icons to cite books, computer, iPod, or themselves. I also adapt the paper depending on our project.
K-1 Research Paper with iPod (Permission is granted to use and adapt this document for non-commercial use. Attribution is not necessary for classroom use.)
My students really enjoy citing their sources this way, and after doing it for a year and a half, they now also write in their own sources (Mom, TV, Mr. G, etc.).
And, of course, everything we do in the library we also do in song! Here is the Why Do I Cite? song: (Video with motions is coming soon.)
To the tune "Bringing in the Sheaves"
Why do I cite? Why do I cite?
To give the author credit!
That is why I cite!
Have fun citing!
