Lesson 1: World Book

Basic Discovery Exercise:

1.  Using World Book Kids, I looked up information on hamsters, since I am reading The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney to my K, 1st and 2nd grade classes.  World Book kids has a little information on habitat--they are native to Asia.  The print is large, which is good for our youngest searchers.

2.  Using World Book Student, there is more information given when you look up the topic of hamsters.  They add to the fact they are native to Asia that they are also native to Europe, and that they like to burrow and have separate places for nesting, eating, and relieving their bodily functions.  

There is definitely more information, but it is also smaller print.

3.  Using World Book Advanced to look up Norway, I see there are many choices of what types of documents you'd like to look at on the left side bar.  Once you choose one of these, it will give you the choices under that type of document or if it is an article, break down the sections into more specific sub-topics.  In the tool box, e-mail and print are options patrons might want to use often, and on the right, the link to align the subject with content standards would be helpful for teachers and teacher/librarians.

4.  In World Book Discover, I went to History and Government, and clicked on Government.  The article can be read in Spanish or French, translated into 29 other languages, or read aloud to the viewer. You can choose to have it read faster or slower, and as the computer voice reads to you, it highlights the words so you can follow along. This is a great feature for English Language Learners.


Common Core Connections:

ELA standard 2.RI.7:  Explain how specific images contribute to and clarify a text.

For this lesson, I will have students use World Book Kids to look up their grade's country.  Second graders have China.  I would ask them to type China in the search box and then list one map, one video, and one picture that help them form their concept of China.

1.   What does a map of China tell you about that country?  Is it large or small?  What might the weather be like there?
2.  What is one picture that can tell you something about China?  The flag (what does the color red mean?); the great wall of China picture (is it long or short?); or the crowded road in Shanghai (are there lots of people who live there or only a few?)
3.  What is one video that can tell you more about China?  Listen to "The Great Wall of China" or " WB explains:  Who was the first emperor of China?"  Does this give you information on China's history?

Fiction connections:  Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China; Tofu Quilt; Day of the Dragon King