An authoritative source is a work or an article known to be reliable because of who wrote the article. The Library specializes in collecting authoritative resources so that students and teachers have the tools they need to research effectively. Resources accessed through the William O. Schaefer library and other library websites are always authoritative and will give you accurate information.
Using Google for research is risky. Some free internet resources are authoritative but not all. Always check to see who authored or wrote the information. You should always check 2-3 resources to verify the accuracy of the information.
Below is a video that went viral on YouTube. After close examination, evidence was found to prove this video was a hoax. This video was actually composed as part of class project. Fact or fiction? What do you think? Why?
Read: About Birds: A Guide for Children by Cathryn Sill
This kid-friendly book offers a first thoughtful glimpse into the world of birds: from eggs to nests, from song to flight. In this delightful book, teacher and birder Cathryn Sill explains to children what birds are, what they do, and how they live.
This week in library we will learn and practice how to research using authoritative resources. We will use print resources and digital resources to select 1-3 facts about a bird of our choice. The challenge for the month of May is to research a bird of your choice. If you would like to participate in the challenge….Once you have researched and learned about the bird, you will be ready to transform ordinary recycled materials into that bird!
Authoritative Digital Resources:
- Audubon Birds
- Grolier OnLine Kids
- WorldBook Encyclopedia OnLine
- Kids InfoBits
- National Geographic Kids
Write one nonfiction fact about your bird on the origami paper provided. Follow the set of instructions to fold your paper into the origami bird of your choice.
Place your bird on the branches available throughout the library.
Learning about birds goes beyond researching print and digital resources. When we actually observe birds closely we see how they communicate eat, move and build their nests. Observing the behavior of birds is what scientists do! These scientists are called ornithologists. Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds.
Each day, bird watchers report tens of thousands of bird observations to citizen-science projects at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, contributing to the world’s most dynamic and powerful source of information on birds.
Anyone who likes to watch birds can participate in a citizen-science project. To get started, click here!
