Great New Database for Elementary Students

I have been using the Beta release of the new DK Find Out database for a few months now.  The students love it!  The interface is intuitive, the graphics and images engaging and the information accessible for elementary students.  Links from general information pages take students to more specific information.  The format is perfect for inquiry!  We have been using it on the SmartBoard as an 'open' activity for inquiry projects with primary students to peek their interest in a topic and as an part of a 'question' exercise to get students asking deeper questions.  Then classroom teachers can make the site available in the classroom for individual or group research.  The pages include photos, diagrams, videos, and even Q&A pages with video questions from children and answers from experts. If this site included some read aloud features to further support struggling readers, it would be perfect! So far we have explored space and ocean creatures.  There are so many other features to explore.  I am looking forward to finding out what else this site offers. 

New Nature Resources in May

My most recent order included these primary research books from Seedlings (thanks again to the Times Colonist Raise-a-Reader grant).

 

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The photos are beautiful!  The books include table of contents, index, glossary and labelled diagrams and the text is very simple.  Although these books will not provide answers to in depth "I wonder" questions, they are great for fostering independence for early primary researchers.  The grade ones and twos at my school are already using them for animal research and to help create simple posters or reports to share with their classes.