Sarah Bakulski



A Research Pathfinder Created for Birch Grove Elementary School

Created by Sarah Bakulski

Welcome to the Birch Grove Media Center!!!! This pathfinder was created for elementary school students, teachers, and parents. For students, it is a way to find answers to questions, assistance for projects in school, help with homework, and to seek knowledge of all kinds. It is also a resource for teachers in the classroom and parents as they help their children with homework.

How To Use This Guide

Research links in this pathfinder have been organized into nine different categories for your convenience. Just click on the picture below to access these exciting resources!!! You can also scroll down to find types of questions for the elementary school student at Birch Grove. After each question, an appropriate site for discovering the answer is listed. Each link is followed by a brief annotation of the resource as well as the APA citation.

About This Pathfinder Purpose of the Pathfinder

|Search Engines & |Biographical Resources |Geographical Resources |

|Web Directories | | |

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|Article Indexes |Encyclopedias & |Dictionaries |

| |Almanacs | |

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|Literature Resources |Government Resources |Homework Help & More |

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Search Engines and Web Directories

1. How do I find a list of websites specifically for kids?

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KidsClick! is an exciting search engine designed by librarians specifically for kids! Kids can search through subtopics of various school subjects and also look up ready reference tools such as encyclopedias and dictionaries.

School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University. (2009)

KidsClick: web search for kids by librarians. Retrieved from



2. How do I get answers to my questions and find information just for kids?

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Yahoo! Kids is a search engine that contains over 10,000 exciting and safe websites where kids can search to find information. This directory contains subjects such as Around the World, Arts & Entertainment, Computers & Games, School & Homework, Science & Nature, and Sports & Recreation. It also contains a reference section and links to the World Factbook. Kids can also Ask Earl questions, and he will answer them!!!

Yahoo! Inc. (2009). Yahoo! Kids. Retrieved from

3. How do I find websites about the different subjects in school?

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Dewey Browse is web directory that was created by a school media specialist, and it organizes web sites for kids grades K-12. These websites are organized as they would be for the Dewey Decimal System! Kids can find sites related to the News, Mythology, Health, Fairy Tales, Literature, Science, Math and more; subjects that are studied in school! This is a great resource for finding information to help with school projects.

Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (2009). Dewey Browse. Retrieved from



4. How do I find resources on the web for myself, my teachers, and for my parents to help me at home?

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Awesome Library is a web directory that organizes the web using well-reviewed web resources including the top five percent in education. This site not only organizes resources for kids by subject, but also includes resources for parents, teachers, and other members of the education community.

Evaluation and Development Institute. (2009). Awesome Library. Retrieved from



Biographical Resources

1. I have to write a report about my favorite singer. How can I find an alphabetized, up-to-date list of famous people?

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This on-line encyclopedia offers information about people’s lives. It includes historical figures as well as modern day celebrities such as 50 Cent. Students can search through an alphabetized list of people or can conduct a quick search. This up-to-date resource includes sections on Recent Newsmakers.

Advameg, Inc. (2009). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved from



2. I love the television show “Bio4Kids”. I saw something interesting on there about Babe Ruth. How can I find out more information on the Babe?

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“Bio4Kids” is a popular television show and offers the on-line accompaniment to this show. Kids can search for individual people or look through biographies of famous people mentioned on the show. Kids can watch videos about famous people or can find links to other web sites about the individual.

A & E Television Networks. (2009). Bio4Kids. Retrieved from



Geographical Resources

1. Where can I find a list of places around the world with detailed information about each location?

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World Facts is an online index that contains articles and pictures about each country. It includes a list of facts in chart form so that kids can easily locate the information they are searching for.

Worldfacts.us. (2008). World Facts Index. Retrieved from

2. I want to learn about places around the world. Is there a web site that could make this learning fun?

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Geonet is a site provided by the publisher, Houghton Mifflin. It provides a game in which kids can learn about geography while having fun. It is a great way to use time in the computer lab or to have fun at home!

Houghton Mifflin Company. (2004). Geonet. Retrieved from



3. Where can I find facts about different places around the world?

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World Book Online Reference Center is an online atlas that offers three links for schools: World Book Kids, World Book Student, and World Book Advanced. World Book Kids has easy navigation to sites on people, places, plants & animals, world religions, history and government and more. It uses colorful illustrations and lots of fun activities. World Book Student includes articles, multimedia, links to reviewed web sites, and periodicals. World Book Advanced provides primary documents that students can search through and includes teaching tools.

World Book, Inc. (2009). World Book On-line Reference Center. Retrieved from



Article Indexes

1. I’m more of a visual learner. I want a website that will show me videos and pictures to help me learn.

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National Geographic Kids offers articles, videos, photos, facts, and maps about locations and animals around the world. Kids can search for locations or look at popular animals. This is the online version of the popular National Geographic Kids magazine. They can also rate the information, send it to a friend, or view related content from National Geographic Kids.

National Geographic. (2009). National Geographic Kids: People and Places. Retrieved

from

2. I need to find information about current events. Where can I find newspaper articles online?

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This is the kids’ version of The Washington Post. It includes kid-friendly articles on all current events and on various subjects. It has the many sections that a newspaper would have and contains book reviews, profiles of different jobs, maps, and more.

The Washington Post Company. (2009). Kids Post. Retrieved from



3. I am interested in sports. Where can I find information on sports and famous sports players?

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Sports Illustrated Kids has all the top sports stories written in kid-speak. This web site also has information on different sports, famous players, and kids can participate in on-line polls about current sports topics.

Sports Illustrated Kids. (2009). . Retrieved from

4. I need to find articles for a project in science class. Where can I find current articles?

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iCONN is Connecticut’s search engine that searches newspapers and periodicals. It offers articles on a wide-variety of subjects both past and present. Kids need a library card and then they can access the many resources available at iCONN.

Iconn. (2009) . Retrieved from .

Encyclopedias & Almanacs

1. I need to find facts about dates and people that I need for my social studies class?

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The World Almanac for Kids is an online almanac with facts about people, places, dates, history, and more all written in a kid-friendly manner. This site is searchable and provides a topic list.

World Almanac. (2009). The World Almanac for Kids. Retrieved from



2. I need a reference web site that can answer questions on everything from people to definitions.

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Fact Monster is the kids’ version of Infoplease. It is an online resource that includes an encyclopedia, almanac, dictionary, and thesaurus all in one. This site is truly where kids can find the answers for almost anything.

Pearson Education. (2009). Fact Monster From Information Please. Retrieved from



3. I need to find information on art history. Where can I find this information?

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Encyclopedia Britannica Kids is the kid-friendly version of the famous Encyclopedia Britannica. Kids can indicate their age range and then search for any topic they are interested in. Also, they can browse subject headings, look at news, participate in online activities, use other reference tools, watch videos and get help with their homework.

Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (2009) Encyclopedia Britannica Kids. Retrieved from



Dictionaries

1. Where can I find the definition to disestablishmentarianism?

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Word Central is a kid-friendly version of Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. It allows kids to search through a dictionary, rhyming dictionary, and thesaurus. Kids can also play word games, build their own dictionary or browse.

Merriam-Webster, Inc. (2009). Word Central. Retrieved from



Literature Resources

1. I love fantasy books, but I don’t know what to read next?

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offers great information on books, series, and authors. Kids can check out new releases, read interviews with their favorite authors, and play games related to reading. They can also see hear audio books and read reviews.

, Inc. (2009). . Retrieved from

2. I want to find out how to contact my favorite author.

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Children’s Literature Web Guide indexes web sites created and maintained by authors, fans, and readers. These sites are about the authors and their works. This is a great place for kids to find information about their favorite authors and books and to get excited about upcoming works.

The Children’s Literature Web Guide. (1998). Authors and Illustrators on the Web.

Retrieved from

3. Is there a place on the web where I can read kids books online?

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International Digital Children’s Library offers children’s books available online from around the world. Kids can enjoy reading local and international literature for free right from their own computers.

International Children’s Digital Library Foundation, Inc. (2009). International

Children’s Digital Library: A Library for the World’s Children. Retrieved from



Government Resources

1. I need to find information about US history for my social studies class. Where can I find reliable information?

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Congress For Kids is an interactive web site that teaches kids about the federal government through the character of Uncle Sam. This site gives facts, is searchable, and allows kids to play learning games. Kids can learn about the government, US history, and current events.

The Dirksen Congressional Center. (2008). Congress for Kids. Retrieved from



2. How can I find out how laws are made?

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Ben’s Guide to the US Government for Kids is a site that teaches kids how the US government works. Kids can pick heir grade level and then browse topics related to their curriculum. This site explains the complex government in kid-friendly language.

U.S. Government Printing Office. (2009). Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government for Kids.

Retrieved from

Homework Help

1. I need extra help with my homework. Is there a place I can get help online?

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InfoPlease’s Homework Center is a great resource for students who need extra help with their homework. Students can choose the subject in which they need help and then find the category for their question. IN addition, this site offers online tools such as a spellchecker and a conversion tool as well as various ready reference tools.

Pearson Education, Inc. (2009). Homework Center. Retrieved from



2. I want to improve my math skills at home. Is there a web site that can help me?

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Aunty Math has fun games and challenges for kids and helps kids improve their math skills! This site offers weekly challenges. Kids can also look at previous challenges to improve their math skills.

DuPage Children’s Museum. (2003). Welcome to the World of Aunty Math. Retrieved

from

3. I want to improve my language arts skills at home. Are there any sites that can help me?

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Starfall helps kids to learn to read and to improve their language skills. This site offers resources for kids who are getting ready to read, are learning to read, and practicing their reading. It uses phonics and images to help students to become life-long readers.

Starfall Education. (2007). : Where Children Have Fun Learning to Read!

Retrieved from

About This Pathfinder

This Pathfinder was created by Sarah Bakulski. It was a requirement for ILS504, taught by Dr. Okobi at Southern Connecticut State University. Sources were chosen with careful consideration based on reliable sources and experience working with elementary school students. This site was created for grades K-5.

Purpose of the Pathfinder

The purpose of this Pathfinder is to help elementary school students utilize free and reliable resources on the web in order to further their education. This Pathfinder should be used in conjunction with the school library media center’s print resources. These sites are great tools that can be taught to students by school media specialist, teachers, and parents.

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