Research+Pathfinder

Use the following table to help you find useful sources of information for your Science Fair research. Students must use a minimum of four sources in four different categories of information. List of Science Fair Reference Books in the Middle School Library. || Library website || Search by subject or anyword for books and videos on your topic. || Write down the call number of any book or video that would be useful in your research. Locate item in Library. || Check Magazines, News, Reference, Multimedia || **The New Book of Popular Science **, **Grolier Multimedia **, **New Book of Knowledge,** and **Encyclopedia Americana** || Library Website—Databases  || Select database. Search keyword(s). Use Table of Contents to find specific information in encyclopedia articles. || To learn more, click web links and periodical (magazine) links found at the upper right of encyclopedia article. ||
 * Science Fair Research Pathfinder **
 * **Category ** ||  **Source **  ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Location **  ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">How Do I Use It? **  ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Tips **  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Books ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Use **Alexandria**—Library Catalog to search for books and videos.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Reference Books ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">See below for list of reference books in our Library. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Books are located in reference area of the Library.  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Search the general index of a reference book for your topic and/or keywords.  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">If there is more than one volume, be sure you know which volume to look in. Hint: Index will give volume and page number.  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Magazines, News, Reference, Multimedia sources ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Student Resource Center ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library website—Databases || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Subject or keyword search  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Select level (Basic or Intermediate).
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Encyclopedia ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">World Book Online: Student or Kids version ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library Website—Databases || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Search keyword(s). Select article. Use outline to the left of the article to find specific information in article.  || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">WB Student **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">: To learn more check **Related Information** box on right side of screen. See encyclopedia articles, websites, and magazine articles.  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Encyclopedias ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Grolier Online **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> includes
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Encyclopedias ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Marshall Cavendish ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library Website—Databases || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Select database; search by keyword(s), category or database title.  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">NEW SOURCE!  ||

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Databases || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Use teacher’s user name and password. Do a Keyword search. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Select grades 6-8, 3-5, or 9-12 and media type (drop down from search box). || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Databases || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Enter user name and password. Click on **Science** to see videos available or search topic using search box. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">View each video related to your topic and take notes. || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-OR- <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Go to Search Tools. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Search keywords or subject directories. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Useful sites listed on the Library website! ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Category ** ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Source **  ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Location **  ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">How Do I Use It? **  ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Tips **  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Video, Audio ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Discovery Education **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">—Video database || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library website—
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Video ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Safari Montage **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">—Video database || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library website— Databases  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Use your login for the network as user name and password. Select grade range (e.g. 5-9) and copyright year (e.g. after 2005).  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Choose the type of multimedia: video, image, audio.  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Video ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">BrainPOP **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">—Video database || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library website—
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Website ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Internet Sources || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Library website—Go to Subject Sites, Science, Science Fair for experiment ideas
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Website ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Internet Sources || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Search the Web  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Use a search engine or subject directory.  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Required: Use a Site Check Form to evaluate website.  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Community ** || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Interview, Visit, Online Contact with an Expert || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Wildlife preserves, Merck, Rohm & Haas, garden center, electrician, vets, doctors, nurses, agencies, pet stores, farm, government agencies, museums, scientists, professor, etc.  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Contact agency or individual to make an appointment. Conduct an interview by phone or in person. Be respectful. Take notes.  || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Write ten good questions that you want to ask in the interview. Leave space to write the expert’s answers. Send a thank you note.  ||