| Online Librarian! Get help here... |
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Ask Here PA!
Live chat with a librarian who can help you with your research problems! He or she will even display helpful websites on your screen and can tell you how to put them in your bibliography. |
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| Search Engines |
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Nettrekker
If you're working on a school project, this site will save you HOURS of searching. The username is nw_middlestudent and the password is tigers. |
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Clusty (formerly Vivisimo)
This is a powerful search engine that returns results in "clusters" or subtopics for more specific searching. This is a great search engine to use if you are not sure how to search for what you want! |
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Grokker
This metasearch engine allows the searcher to use either Yahoo! or Wikipedia, or both, as the basis for the search, but THEN it clusters and ranks the results in a greatly detailed map of your topic. This is really very helpful if you haven't decided on the scope of your topic, or if you don't know how to research your topic. |
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Google
This is a popular search engine, and that's what kind of results you'll get...popular sites that are visited often. (Actually, you'll be using the BLACK SCREEN version of Google, called "Blackle." It is the same as Google, except it saves energy by using a black screen.) Do not use this search engine if you are doing researh--try Clusty instead. |
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Dogpile
This is a meta-search engine, which means that this one search engine will automatically perform searches on lots of smaller search engines. Be forewarned: You will get LOTS and LOTS of results! |
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Altavista
This is a single-search engine that will locate pages within a smaller range of websites. Use this when you don't need a large number of results. |
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Kids Click
Searches result in kid-friendly websites for elementary students or for students needing a quick, simple answer to a question! |
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Yahooligans
Another kid-friendly site, listing major topics and subtopics in a directory-type search engine. |
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Yahoo!
This is a directory search engine that will allow you to search among broad topics and break them down into smaller and smaller subtopics by clicking. |
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| Help with Schoowork/Homework |
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Information Please
This site includes a dictionary, an almanac, an atlas, an encyclopedia, and many other reference tools to help you complete your research on U. S. History, Current Events, Biographies, Arts and Entertainment, and more. |
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Fact Monster
This site has a selection of online reference tools, a homework center, current events information, facts, and games. Select whether you're a girl or a boy, and your age group, and the site will personalize the selections to match your interests and level of schoolwork. |
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| Social Studies Sites |
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CIA World FactBook
This database includes detailed information about all of the countries of the world. You will find maps, statistics, population data, economic data, governmental information, and lots more. |
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| Book Lovers' Sites |
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Library Thing
The world's largest free online book club! Get a personalized link to share book titles that will be displayed on a virtual bookshelf. Connect with other readers who also chose the same books and recommend additional titles for future reading! |
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Reading Rants
Recommendations for great books teens love! Visit this site if you just don't know what you want to read next! |
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Book Wink
Online streaming video of awesome booktalks on a variety of topics, updated monthly. Search the archives to view past topics, or search for reading suggestions! |
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Scholastic
Fun stuff...mostly book-related. There's homework help here, too. |
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The BookHive
This site is designed for our younger students, or for students who just want a fun and easy book to read. It is filled with reading suggestions as well as trivia questions about all of your favorite series books (Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, and more). You will even find coloring pages and downloadable book plates to put in each book in your personal collection. |
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| Science and Math Sites |
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Animals A-Z at the Oakland Zoo
Giant database includes a detailed description of each and every animal in the zoo! Click on "Meet the Animals." |
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Kids' Planet
Defenders of Wildlife site includes information about endangered species all over the planet. You can make a pledge, play some "wild" games, and check out the Especies fact sheets on 50 different animals. |
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| Art and Music |
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Art Junction
This "artrageous" site has activities for kids, parents, and teachers. There's an art gallery, art trading cards, and loads ideas on this site that will help you exercise your creativity! |
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Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
This part of the Met's extensive website is especially for kids. Scroll down to find a wide variety of interesting explorations...from tombs to famous artists! |
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Worldwide Art Gallery
You can submit your own art to this extensive kids' gallery from around the world. |
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National Gallery of Art for Kids
Enter the Art Zone to create your own interactive art, or use Brushster to experiment with abstract art. There are lots of interactive art tools to try on this really cool site! |
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Lite Brite
Dazzle your friends with your brilliant artistic abilities! Draw with "light" with this online version of the popular art toy, Lite-Brite. |
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| All Subjects! |
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Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Discover fast, fun, cool, scary, patriotic, and beautiful things at the Smithsonian. Explore science, history, and art through the Smithsonian collections online. |
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| Author's Sites |
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Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl Site
Your link to everything Artemis Fowl. There's even an Artemis Fowl game! |
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Erin Hunter's Warriors Site
For fans of the Warriors series! Meet the Warrior cats and their creator, author Erin Hunter, or learn about the books in this popular series. There are games to play as well. |
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Harry Potter
Phenomenal site including hidden features, games, and trivia for all of you Harry Potter fans! |
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Avi's Home Page
Visit Avi's website, which includes a complete listing of all of his novels, broken down into categories by genre. You can also read an interesting autobiography and see what books he's currently working on for publication. |
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Dav Pilkey's Extra-Crunchy Website 'o Fun
Okay, it's pure silliness, but you'll have lots of fun visiting this author's site. What else would you expect of the author of the Captain Underpants books? |
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Judy Blume's Home Base
Judy Blume provides very helpful information about herself for students, particularly if they are writing a book report or doing an author study. She also shares inside tips on writing! |
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Terabithia.com--The Official Website of Katherine Paterson
With the new movie about to be released, Katherine Paterson has provided extensive information about her book, Bridge to Terabithia, which won the Newbery Award in 1978. She also has won the Newbery Award for another book, as well as several Newbery Honor Awards. This is an author whose books you must "check out!" Start by visiting her website! |
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Laurie Halse Anderson
WOW! This is a fascinating site created by the author of Speak and Fever 1793. Although the "journal" section has been blocked by our filtering system, you'll enjoy the links to information about Laurie's books and her own recommendations about great books to read. |
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Redwall Abbey: The Official Website of British Author Brian Jacques
If you know who Martin the Warrior was and are familiar with the residents of Redwall Abbey, then quick! Go visit this site! You can join Brian Jacques' fan club, too. |
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ShelSilverstein.com
On this animated site, you can hear Shel read his famous poems! You'll enjoy his drawings and see cartoon clips. You can even make a bookmark or do a puzzle. There are classroom activities included on the site. |
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Tamora Pierce's Fan Site
If you love Tamora Pierce, you'll love this site. You can listen to a podcast of an interview with the author, get her recommendations of great books to read, and learn all about her latest books! |
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Roald Dahl
Music, crazy animations, and other fun features are included on this website with lots to explore. You can respond to the question of the month, look for a great Roald Dahl book to read by reading an excerpt, or enjoy the terrific activities, all maintained by the Oompa-Loompas, of course. |
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Will Hobbs Official Website
This site is a guide to Will Hobbs' adventure books, as well as an interesting autobiographical site with a few, great photos of the author. |
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Donna Jo Napoli
Meet this Pennsylvania author who writes historical fiction and fantasy based on folk and fairy tales and read excerpts from some of her books! |
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Jordan Sonnenblick's Author Page
Read about Jordan's latest books, check out his blog and guestbook, and contact him via e-mail or snail mail...he'll write back! |
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T.A. Barron's Official Site
This is the official website of T. A. Barron, author of the Merlin series and The Great Tree of Avalon. |
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Based on the illustrated tales of a middle school student named Greg...you can read his diary here, and type in any calendar day to jump to a diary excerpt and write your own character addition to Greg's life! |
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Roland Smith
This is Roland Smith's personal site. You can read excerpts of his books (like Zach's Lie and Jack's Run, or Cryptid Hunters) and see what's new. You can even look at some of Roland's personal family photos! |
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Will Hobbs' Site
The author of Far North and Crossing the Wire gives a personal peek into his everyday life through photos and a diary. |
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Paul Fleischman's Official Website
Check out Paul's newest books, have fun remembering others (like Weslandia and Seed Folks), and read his author bio. You can even listen to some of his Joyful Noise poems set to music! |
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Nancy Drew Sleuths Site
Celebrate 75 years of mystery on this site! Read the Sleuths e-zine, read all about the history of Nancy Drew right up to last year's movie starring Emma Roberts, and get ideas of other mystery books that are fun to read. |
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Hardy Boys Site
This site is for fans of the Hardy Boys series. If you want information on the original books, the graphic novels, the characters, and other collector's information, this is the site for you. |
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Daniel Handler's Site
This site promises to provide you with a mischievous experience, just like the books! It has links such as Vile Videos, More Misfortune, and Dire Diversions! |
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Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This site has its own virtual field trip. View the map titled Laura's Travels and accompanying slide show to highlight national history and geography. |
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Ann Rinaldi: Historian and Storyteller
Visit this site and see how Ann Rinaldi weaves historical events into the lives of her characters. |
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| Fun and Games (play these at home only, please) |
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Puzzlemaker
From DiscoverySchool! You can make any kind of word puzzle, from crossword to word search, with a few math puzzles thrown in. |
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Enigma
Watch out! Once you get started, you won't be able to stop! This is an image-shifting game that is totally addictive. |
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Funbrain.com
This great educational gaming site offers lots to enjoy, including comics, interesting news tidbits, and, of course, games that will improve your math, reading, and science skills. |
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Seussville
Have fun with Dr. Seuss' characters on this site! Learn about Ted Geisel (aka. Dr. Seuss), Seussian events in your area, and more! |
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Cartoonster
Free online tutorial teaches you, step by step, how to draw your own cartoons! |
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