Good Research Sites for Kids
The Internet is a powerful research tool for students of all ages, but sometimes it can be difficult to find kid-friendly sources of information. Research sites for kids need to be age appropriate, factually accurate and easily comprehensible. The following sites are a few good starting points.
Other People Are Reading
-
Fact Monster
-
A free reference hub, Fact Monster includes an almanac, a dictionary, an encyclopedia and an atlas. There are databases of easily searchable facts about science, language, math and other academic subjects. The "Homework Center" provides quick guides for everything from grammar to historical dates to the Periodic Table.
CIA World Factbook
-
If your child needs to work on a geography or social studies project, the CIA World Factbook is a good first stop. This site features country-specific information, including maps, flags, social demographics, history and politics. Comparisons between countries are also included.
-
NASA for Students
-
NASA provides educational resources about astronomy and space travel for all grade levels. Their website for students is divided into sections for grade school, middle school and high school. Interactive games, videos, a kid-friendly search engine and a picture dictionary create a dynamic learning resource.
PBS - Nova Online
-
The PBS series "Nova" is regarded as a family-friendly source of current scientific discoveries. The online Nova database offers full-streaming episodes for free. These videos are probably best for middle-school and high-school students, although grade-school kids may find them of interest as well (though they may need a little parental help in understanding some of the vocabulary).
National Geographic Kids
-
For kids interested in the natural sciences, the National Geographic Kids website provides tons of games, photos and videos. This site also has country profiles, making it a good resource for region-specific research projects.
Bill Nye the Science Guy
-
The "Kids & Teachers" section of Billy Nye the Science Guy's website includes at-home science experiments, helpful videos and a daily pop quiz. This site is a good reference for any kid who needs ideas for a science project.
Google
-
Though just a basic search engine, Google can be easily configured to be a safe place for kids to search for info. By setting up a filter through the "Search Settings" link (located in the top-right corner of the screen), you can rest assured that no unwanted or inappropriate information turns up in a search.
Wikipedia
-
Wikipedia is a more controversial source of information. As it is a user-edited site, most teachers will not allow Wikipedia to be listed as a credible research source. However, many teachers and students alike find it to be a good jumping-off point. Explain to your children that not all information on Wikipedia can be trusted. If they find a fact that seems relevant, they will need to find other sources to verify it. Using Wikipedia can actually be a valuable tool in learning critical thinking and proper research skills.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Making homework image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
