Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

If your local library just can't help, try this online service that puts you in contact with Library of Congress research librarians. Live chats are available for some topics. Other inquiries will receive a response within 5 days. Be sure to read the Reference Correspondence Policy at the bottom of the home page for directives on how this resource should be used. This is an "adult" reference tool, not a student's homework assistance hotline!

tag(s): resources (83)

Knowing the specific rules about copyright terms can be a definite benefit when copying or scanning. This easy-to-read chart outlines the point at which published or unpublished materials enter the public domain. It may be more information than you care to know about the public domain, but it will keep you legal!

tag(s): air (99), copyright (43)

Explore images, documents, and rare materials in this impressive collection of on-line archives. Search for a specific topic of interest by using the Digital Collection search, tour the many on-line exhibitions that cover a wide range of topics by scrolling down the page ro find themes ranging from Recently Digitized and Updated Collections, Nature Collections, Fashion Collections, and several others. Use for your own background research or as a resource for your students.

tag(s): images (263), primary sources (120)

Provide students with a resource to answer all their questions when working on a bibliography for a class project or paper. This site conveniently features MLA, Turabian, APA, and AAA styles, presents specific citation examples, and links to other helpful web resources. Developed by the Seattle Central Community College Library.

tag(s): citations (33)

This highly interactive explanation of copyright laws helps students recognize and understand their responsibility in citing sources. Use as an introduction or refresher before assigning research projects. The site also contains teacher resources and tips on explaining copyright issues.

tag(s): air (99), copyright (43)

Educators who have lamented the demise of the AskERIC service will welcome its new incarnation, offering a robust, up-to-date collection of theme-based educator resources, and wealth of lesson plans, and archives of past questions. Managed by the Information Institute of Syracuse, the new format greatly enhances usability. Kudos!

tag(s): professional development (392)

Copyright Kids is a copyright primer created expressly for students. It provides a structured introduction to various aspects of copyright and their implications for students, especially those using the web for research projects. This one could be a great classroom reference or an integral element of a unit on copyright issues.

tag(s): air (99), copyright (43), plagiarism (34)

Here is a remarkable resource for helping middle and high-school students master the art of putting their thoughts into words. An online handbook for writers, the site provides resources for writing different types of papers and gives helpful hints for organizing one's writing. This is a great site to use in teaching expository writing, or to give to students as an additional resource when revising and editing their own written work.

tag(s): writing (325)

This site provides good fine arts background material with museum listings, photographs of works, and articles for a number of artists. Teachers and students can search for information by artist, painting title, and museum. The site also has a great comprehensive list of artistic movements with definitions and a list of participating artists.

tag(s): artists (88), drawing (62), museums (53), painting (54)

Students frequently believe facts are credible just because they found them on the web. Not so. U.C. Berkeley's discussion of how to tell a web page's pedigree is one of the better treatments we've seen. Librarians and teachers assigning research projects may want to use this page as a model for their own discussion, or simply offer it to their students as required reading. Add this one to your reference bookmarks.

No matter what you want to measure, you'll find information on how to quantify it here. While some browsing is required, teachers will find applications for this information in science, math, geography, and other subject areas. The reference possibilities are also extensive. Add this one to your toolkit of web reference specialties.

tag(s): measurement (123)

Cornell University's guide to evaluating online information sources would be a great primer for teachers who are not proficient web searchers. High school students will also find this site a useful way of separating the reliable research sources from those less trustworthy.

tag(s): resources (83)

This is a great guide for teachers interested in getting their students to use the web and related technologies creatively. You'll find a step-by-step process that lets students get organized before heading off on a project and encourages them to sort through their results before building a project. Great backgrounder for teachers getting started with web research.

tag(s): book reports (28)

Read about the basics by clicking the tab next to What is Copyright. The menu on the right includes Copyright and Artificial Intelligence information. Links to full text of copyright law, Congressional discussions on copyright revision, and numerous PDF files on specific or technical topics related to copyright.

tag(s): air (99), copyright (43)

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a large, multifaceted organization working for racial justice in the south and beyond. The site uses a three-pronged approach to dealing with racial and social injustice. The three methods include monitoring hate groups and extremists, using the court system to advance reform, and education provided through it's Learning for Justice program.

tag(s): civil rights (217), courts (23), elections (81), immigrants (44), immigration (79), racism (81), sexuality (15), tolerance (8)

Not all search engines are the same, and using the right search tool is critical to finding what you want on the web. This site offers both quick comparisons and in-depth reviews of the major search engines, to help you find a search tool that will work best for you. If you're into web research, this is a great starting point.

tag(s): computers (109), search engines (48)

This site boasts more than a simple on-line dictionary. The site includes search features, a daily crossword puzzle, a word of the day, and more. This comprehensive site provides teachers and students with a reference tool that's actually interesting to use.

tag(s): dictionaries (48)

For those needing literary, writing, or historical reference information, this site provides one-stop shopping. The site collects on-line versions of several dozen standard reference works, and it also offers a search interface that can make short work of finding even the most obscure information.

tag(s): literature (221)

This on-line version of the classic reference provides an invaluable resource for finding the best way to say exactly what you're trying to say.

tag(s): thesaurus (22)

Here's an on-line reference to thousands of facts, sorted into kid-friendly categories and with plenty of instructions. This site feels a lot like other search engines, but it's designed with kids in mind, and yields results that will keep young researchers enthused. Great starting point for any factual question or research topic. Ignore the advertising; the site content is worth it.

tag(s): resources (83)