Students have limited exposure to informational text through classroom libraries. The school library as well as the public library offer a variety of print and non-print resources. Although the 2016 tendency is to search Google for information, it is important for students to understand how print resources, encyclopedias and other reference materials, are organized.  This week in library we will read, Soaring with the Wind: The Bald Eagle by Gail Gibbons as we explore information about eagles using a variety resources.

Starting with a trusted reference source such as the encyclopedia, students will have a foundation and point of comparison when evaluating the reliability of websites and free online resources.

To use an encyclopedia find the volume with the first letter of the topic.  For example, when researching “eagle(s)”, the letter “E” volume  is used.  Follow the bolded subjects alphabetically until the word “eagle(s)” is found. When researching, it is not uncommon to find information that you would like to research further in order to enhance your understanding of a topic. Find the volume with the first letter of the topic you want to research.

Grolier Online is published by Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic Inc. and includes eight reliable encyclopedia databases. Grolier Online Kids is a trusted resource that can be accessed from the classroom and the home. Watch the screencast, Grolier Online Kids, below to learn how to access this wonderful resource!

Links to live cams focused on bird nests are also considered research. The SouthWest Florida Eagle Cam has been providing 24/7 live video stream of an active pair of bald eagles in their nest since 2012. Watching the live feed allows viewers to observe the life of an eagle first-hand.

The amazing viral story a few months ago, Brothers Rescue Bald Eagle, Take Epic Selfie enforces the importance of observation as a means of learning.