MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCES

DESCRIPTION

WEBEX

EBSCO/RESEARCHER

EBSCO for secondary is now called is now Students Research Center.  SRC has mature topics and is written for older students and supports advanced searching with delimiters.  Content is primarily from magazines/journals/newspapers (140 rated for middle school).

 

N

 

WORLDBOOK

 

This is the new online version of the print product, but updated constantly through the year.  Will accept Boolean or a multi-term search, but WB does not highlight the search term in the passage. Double clicking on an unfamiliar word will bring up a definition. Therefore it is difficult to determine easily if the passage is related (Marco Polo). Has added a new Texas-focused tab.

 

Y

 

 

ELIBRARY

ELIBRARY allows user to toggle between natural language (MARCO POLO) and Boolean operators (polo AND italy = 1273; polo AND italy NOT china = 831).  Search results can be sorted by format (newspapers, magazines, books, maps, images, scripts).  The default is to have all formats checked (you can deselect all formats on the left). Displays 25 hits at a time.  Pictures can be downloaded (SAVE PICTURE AS) but have a watermark. There are 50 audio clips (not MLK). Students can drill down by TOPIC (tab at top) to explore. The Reference desk limits the resources to reference books, almanac (encyclopedia, dictionary). Recommended websites must be copied and pasted.

 

 

 

 

N

 

TEACHINGBOOKS

 

This online resource provides links to author websites, video interviews with authors and talks by authors, and authors and celebrities reading from the works of authors.  There are slide shows, videos, audio programs, and links to purchase materials; readings are just selections, not entire works.

 

 

Y

 

 

NETTREKKER

 

This is a search engine of curriculum-related databases that this kept current by Thinkronize.  There are approximately 200,000 websites that can be searched by academic subject (drill down to the specific topic) or by T.E.K.S. (drill down to the specific grade and objective). There are also bilingual links to bilingual sites. Nettrekker has three platforms: elementary, middle and high school.

 

 

Y

 

MAPS101

 

Online maps in a variety of forms, including map collections, current event maps, earth science, a separate K-3 section of simplified maps, outline maps of countries, states, and many domestic and foreign cities.  These can be printed and emailed; MAPS101 will also create a poster-sized map FOR A FEE.

 

 

Y

 

WILSON BIOGRAPHY+

(MS ONLY)

Extensive collection of biographies which can be searched by name, nationality, and vocation. Supports advanced searches (i.e., African Bishop, Chinese Baseball Player).  Students searching for Tom Cruise will find his bio and any other bio where he is mentioned (as well as a picture). Also listed are abstracts of articles about or PDF files of the full text featuring Tom Cruise in a variety of magazines,

 

 

Y

 

CULTUREGRAM

World Edition covers twenty-Five facts (the same dataset) from every country in the world as well as real-time pronunciation and the national anthem.  There is a second module, at an easier level and with reduced scope, called Kids Edition. There is a third module called States Edition, which contains interesting and demographic data at 4th grade level.  Additional modules (can be accessed from inside World) are Recipes, Famous People, and a Picture Gallery.

 

 

Y

CHOICES EXPLORER

 

Students can explore careers and career families extensively; can also set up a personal account (requires an email address). There are different resources targeted especially for parents of middle school and high school students.  See librarian for password.

 

 

Y

 

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

 

First! There is a hyperlink on the homepage just for CFBISD. There is an option to drill down using an interactive map. In addition to advanced and subject searches, the CLIO VIEW, will allow the user to compare and number of countries across three categories very quickly (analysis and synthesis).  “Ask the Cybrarian” is an online query; these questions go to a team of editors with subject expertise who can assist you in finding the answers related to the material on this Web site. There is an integrated Merriam Webster Dictionary. There is significant crossover with CultureGrams, but is appropriate for older students.

 

 

 

N

 

 

AMERICAN HISTORY

 

Treats American History from a topical and an encyclopedic perspective. Search results are sorted by category: bio’s, movements, organizations, events, documents, court cases, essays (as an example: “Italians”). Shares some features of the e-book American Decades (high school).  Provides access to a staff member for questions.  Strong support for most periods of American history in the form of e-books. Easy-to-use internal dictionary and thesaurus.

 

 

N

NEW BOOK

OF POPULAR SCIENCE

Divided by area of science.  Emphasizes how to cite information appropriately.  Includes projects and science biographies. Has an online query that will be answered at random by a staff science expert. Also includes a Teacher’s Guide.

 

 

N

 

LANDS AND PEOPLES

Similar to MS Culturgrams but more encyclopedic in content; for the stronger reader. Covers climate, culture, geology, exploration, history, time zones, economy, and environment with links to related articles. Atlas features more limited that Maps 101; has city street maps (including Dallas).

 

 

N

 

GROLIER MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA

Grolier’s reference resource for middle school grades.  Articles are longer than New Bk. of Knowledge and at a higher reading level.  Has an extensive function to help students identify topics for further investigation (research).  Separates search (key word) results by print and media (video, audio, graphic).  Calendar function which links back to content.

 

 

Y