Research Tools for Kids
Research is an important skill for kids to learn. Finding and assessing information about subjects in school will prepare them to preform similar research as adults; e.g., comparing cars or loans. Learning to use the Internet is crucial as well. Many websites and search engines are geared toward helping kids with their homework and research projects.
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How To Do Research
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Starting a research project is a daunting project for anyone, let alone a child. The Kentucky Virtual Library has created the "How to do Research" site. The site walks you through the research process step by step, from selecting a topic to evaluating the project on completion.
Search Engines
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With engaging graphics and content filters, search engines for kids are age-appropriate and provide suitable content. The one difficulty is that the results may not be as complete as for regular search engines. Among the many search engines for kids is Yahoo! Kids, which divides results by "dictionary," "encyclopedia" and "websites." Factmonster also has a search feature. The Rambo Catskill Library System has created a "Kids Search Tools" page, with links to many kid-friendly websites.
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Reference Works
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Looking up unfamiliar words encountered during a project is common. Online dictionaries make this an almost seamless task. Dictionaries geared toward children include Word Central from Merriam Webster and the American Heritage Dictionary at Yahoo! Kids. You can find basic information on almost any subject in an online encyclopedia. A kids version of the Encyclopedia Britannica can be viewed free for seven days.
Subject-Specific Sites
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Many sites exist to provide information on specific subjects or direct kids to appropriate content. Find out about the weather at The Weather Channel Kids! The "Homework Helper" at Time for Kids has a page dedicated to research. Kidipede directs middle school kids to appropriate information for history and science courses. Learn about the role of the U.S. government at Kids.gov. This umbrella site provide links to the kids section of other government sites, such as Treasury Direct Kids from the Treasury Department and Archeology for Kids from the National Park Service.
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References
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- Photo Credit Young girl working on the laptop image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
