Team+3,+ref+log+1a


 * Team 3, Reference log 1a: Encyclopedias ||  ||<   ||
 * Reviewed by Diane

//Waters, K. (2004). The Scholastic Children’s Encyclopedia. New York: Scholastic Reference.//

The Scholastic Children’s Encyclopedia is a single volume, 710 page reference tool geared to students ages 9 – 12. It provides a little over 600 entries on a wide range of subject areas from aborigines to zoology. The entries are listed alphabetically and take up about half to three fourths of a page. The print is large and the text is easy to read. The entries are brief but thorough. Most entries include wonderful photographs, illustrations, charts, graphs, timelines and/or maps. The maps show the key geographical features, capitals, and major cities for continents, regions, and countries. The population figures for the United States are based on the 2000 U.S. census (a reminder of how quickly these resources become dated). There are many features in the text that provide additional information. “Key Facts” boxes provide important facts and figures. “Did You Know” boxes provide related, more detailed information. “See Also” boxes send the reader to closely related topics, expanding the research base. “Amazing Facts!” boxes highlight fascinating, little known facts. For instance, did you know that the population in Africa doubles every 24 years while the population of Europe doubles only every 240 years? Using these features makes the gathering of information less arduous and a lot more interesting. The appendences of the Scholastic Children’s Encyclopedia include a map of the world, a world time zone map, a map for the United States, a map of the Native American nations, a list of the countries of the world (which includes flags, capitals, and populations as of 2000), a list of the 50 states (which includes flags, capitals, postal abbreviations, nicknames, year of admission, and population as of 2000), a list of the presidents of the United States (which includes the presidents party, the years of birth and death, terms served, vice presidents served with, and a quick, little know fact), a classification of plants and animals section, and a measurement section with handy conversion tables. There is also a detailed index of the encyclopedia’s content which differentiates page numbers by topic and illustrations or photographs. This reference tool is not exhaustive by any means but is meant as a first reference tool for students in grades 3 to 6. It is an age appropriate tool which uses child friendly language to inform children about the world in which they will live and the world with which they will interact. I must admit that I spent quite a while in this resource learning many new facts, while being absorbed in the photographs, diagrams, charts, and maps. Reading grade level: 8.9 Interest grade level: 3 – 6 Interest age level: 8 -12 Subject area: general Rating: 8 out of 10 ||  ||< //Jodye's// comment :I really enjoy single volume encyclopedias. The only down side is the limited content, but for elementary grade students it is exactly what they need to get started. This resource is user friendly and filled with visual content. I agree that these resources too quicly become dated and that access to online encyclopedias is a must.

//Katie's// comment : This encyclopedia is a great resource for kids! It contains so much information, but is very user-friendly for a young student population. The larger print and inclusion of visual aids not only makes this resource more appealing to kids, but also makes the information easier for them to comprehend. || //Citation in APA format goes here.// //Encyclopedia Britannica online school edition//. (2010). Retrieved February 7, 2010, from GALILEO: []
 * Reviewed by //Jodye//

//Text of review of reference source goes here.// When using Galileo’s award winning //Encyclopedia// //Britannica Online School Edition//, research can be done for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. For the elementary school website, you can explore topics through subjects of arts, religion, sciences, geography, social studies, language arts, sports, and mathematics as well as a search bar if you are looking to find something specific. It also provides an area to select dictionary or thesaurus. Some interesting features the website includes are the “Animal of the Day” and “Activity of the Day.” These are updated daily and provide the users to sign on and learn something new each day you sign on. I also like using the “Featured Spotlight.” This month, Britannica is focusing on Black History Month while there are also a variety of subjects that are focused on during the month. The middle school page addresses the same subjects but in a more advanced way. Two tabs that are included in the middle school section are “Important People” and “Big Events.” This feature shows a new person each day that can be further researched. The high school page has more resources than the other two in that it provides access to the New York Times and BBC News. The students will be able to focus on up to date and current events that are added daily to the website. There is also a blog for the students to join in on discussions of a variety of topics. “Discover America/ World” is an area where you can research in depth statistics and summaries of each state and country. Videos are provided as another tool to help the students learn new information. This website is helpful because it offers tutorials several places. It provides suggestions in order to help you find what you are looking for and tips to find the best way to research. A tab at the top of the website provides the user with a website tutorial and guided tool so the user isn’t lost or confused when researching. By taking the guided tour, you can better understand how to use the site efficiently and effectively. This is a very useful tool for all age groups. It covers a variety of subjects which makes it easier for the students to do research. Once they are provided with the school password to gain access, students will rely on this tool for all of their assignments, papers, and research. The teacher’s resources are a helpful tool because it provides curriculum standards, learning materials, and training materials. You can select your state, grade level and the teachers are given a strand of topics with subjects and materials correlated to the standard.

Grades: enter //your best judgment of age/grade appropriateness of the resource// Grade Level: PreK-12 Subjects: All Overall Rating: 10

Subject(s): enter //your best judgment of subject area(s) where resource would be most valuable// Rating: // provide your rating, using scale of 1-10 // ||  ||<  //Diane's// comment : I like the "Animal of the Day" and the "Activity of the Day" as a way to encourage students to be using these reference tool daily.

//Katie's// comment : This sounds like a very comprehensive resource for students at all grade levels. I like the fact that it has sections for elementary, middle, and high school levels (much like GALILEO does). This reference source has something to offer every student and highlights information of interest. This tool provides many features other than simply acting as a database where all you do is search for information on a topic. || Turkington, C., & Ashby, B. (1998). //Encyclopedia of infectious diseases//. New York: Facts on File. Retrieved February 9, 2010, from http://www.netlibrary.com/Reader
 * Reviewed by //Katie// ||

Turkington and Ashby’s //Encyclopedia of Infectious Diseases// is a compilation of infectious diseases communicated between and among humans. The authors’ intent for this text was for it to serve as a guide and reference for those seeking information on these types of disease. This encyclopedia is published by Facts on File, Inc., and the publisher’s contact information is included. The first pages of this online book include a table of contents, acknowledgements, an introduction, and major textual content. The entries in this text are arranged in alphabetical order. They are comprehensive and easy to understand, though this reading may prove difficult for younger students. Each entry provides information regarding a disease and gives information regarding causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, etc. The information provided here is informative and thorough. The sections following the main text consist of the glossary, appendices, bibliography, and index. The appendices (I-VI) list drugs used to treat diseases, home disinfection information, health organizations dealing with infectious diseases, disease hotlines, publications relating to health and disease, and websites relevant to topics of disease. This encyclopedia would be extremely useful for a biology, health, or science class. I would recommend this resource for middle school, high school, and college libraries. I rate this resource at a 7. Although this one is not suited for the elementary level, I can see its value certainly by high school. The health field is booming right now and many students are becoming interested in all the different facets. Because this source includes the definition of the disease and ways to prevent and treat the disease, it sounds like a good first stop on the research journey.
 * ||< //Diane's// comment :

//Jodye's// comment : I agree with you Katie that this reference source is suitable for middle, high school and college students. It may be useful if students in 4th or 5th grades were researching diseases. There are classes at Rome High for students interested in nursing careers. The opportunity to prepare for the medical field by using this source would be a valuable reference for these students and teachers. Students would also have access to a glossary, and bibliography for further study. Biology, science, and health classes would certainly find this encyclopedia interesting. A good index is neccessary for easy use. ||