SIRS Discoverer
1. A third grader who reads below grade level needs articles on the solar system for a school project. How would you find appropriate materials for this student, and what are your results?
The first thing I would do is to talk to her teacher to see what her Lexile score was. Once I had that number, I would do an advanced search on 'Solar System'. If you look below the search area, you look for 'Easy', 'Moderate', or 'Challenging' Reading Levels. Since she is below grade level, and only in 3rd Grade, I would check the 'Easy' box for her, or I would get even more specific and go to the area where you can search by Lexile range. Then I would click 'Search'. If you search by 'Easy' Reading Level, you end up with 45 articles to choose from.
2. What are two ways you can use SIRS Discoverer to find maps/images of volcanoes? How many results did you get with each?
If you go to the home page and search, 'Volcanoes', it will take you to a page full of articles on volcanoes. If it shows a little camera with the summary of the article, then you will be able to find an image of a volcano. Also, I did an advanced Boolean search and put in 'Volcano' AND 'map'. I got articles on volcanoes. Three articles came up for this search. If you scroll down, under 'Engage Students', there was a 'Mapping Activities' weblink listed where students could make their own map of current volcano hazards around the world. (I just thought that was cool.) :) But if you go to the home page and look over to the right hand side of the page, you can click on 'Pictures'. You then have the opportunity to search for 'volcano'. When I did that, I got 109 graphics having to do with volcanoes.
SIRS Issues Researcher
1. A committee of teachers needs good websites about suicide prevention for teens. How do you help them using SIRS Issues Researcher? Is this a better way to search for web sites than using a search engine such as Google? Why or why not?
I would have them go to the Home Page of SIRS Issues Researcher and type in 'Suicide Prevention Teens'. They would get over 200 articles to work with in their committee.
It is a much better way to search for web sites than using another search engine. With SIRS Issues Researcher, you know that these articles are coming from reliable sources, whereas with Google or another search engine, you could get inaccurate information.
2. Recent drought is causing your town to consider restrictions on water use. Citizens disagree about the need for restrictions. What subjects would you search in SIRS Issues Researcher to provide information for civic discussion?
I searched, "drought water restrictions" and came up with 157 results. The first article alone listed shows how the federal government determines the allocation of water & how their policies affect this. There were 48 newspaper articles, 106 magazine articles, and 3 reference resources for the people to look over and discuss.
Common Core Connections
In Lesson 3, choose the SIRS version that best fits the age of the students you work with. Spend some time exploring article and special feature content. Consider how you would use this resource to meet a Common Core standard having to do with informational text.
In Lesson 3, choose the SIRS version that best fits the age of the students you work with. Spend some time exploring article and special feature content. Consider how you would use this resource to meet a Common Core standard having to do with informational text.
Recently I had a 6th Grade Social Studies teacher in the Library Media Center looking for material on Ancient Egypt. I would help him to use SIRS Discoverer to help his students find information on Ancient Egypt. If we got the mobile lab, we could give each student a laptop. They could find resources located in the Library Media Center, along with information from SIRS Discoverer. I LOVED the Common Core Correlations at the top of SIRS! I found the state we are in, and then found the subject, and it took me directly to the standards that we were covering. That saved a ton of time looking for the standard! It is listed below:
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Great work here, Library Lady! You will have some smarter students and satisfied teachers! Just an fyi: Water Use is one of the Leading Issues in SIRS Issues Researcher and covers the topic of water restrictions. However, you did just fine with a search. Your common core connection is a good one. Thanks for trying out the Common Core Correlations feature and for your good comments!
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