Best Sources

Our eyes are wonderful body parts. They help us see the beauty of the world. In the center of the eye is a black spot. Have you ever wondered why that spot gets bigger and smaller? Choose source that would most likely give the student more information about the ideas she has written.

• My Job as An Eye Doctor, a book that tells about a doctor who takes care of people’s eyes.
• www.eyequestions.com a website, written by an eye doctor, that explains the role of each part of the eye.
• www.eyecolor.com , a website that tells about the colors of people’s eyes.

It is a clear day in the summer. The sun shines brightly on your face. You lie down on the soft carpet of green grass and look up at the bright blue sky. Suddenly you ask yourself, "If air has no color, then what makes the sky blue?" Choose one source that would most likely give the student more information about the ideas she has written.

• www.beautifulsky.com a website that describes how beautiful the sky is with stars, rainbows,clouds, the color.
• Pictures in the Sky, a book which tells about all the different clouds and how they form.
• Science Far Above, a book that gives information about how light rays change the way the skylooks.

Topic: seahorses Audience: fifth-grade students Purpose: to inform Research Question: Why is the seahorse population decreasing? The student found information for the research report. Which piece of information should the student use in her report?

• Adult seahorses do not move around much.
• Seahorses are small and able to hide easily.
• Seahorses like to live among the sea grass in warm ocean waters.
• Wild seahorses are caught and captured all around the world.

A student is writing a report about red foxes. She is looking for information about the body of the red fox. Which sentence has information that the student can use?

• There are over twenty different kinds of foxes.
• Red foxes can live in the hot deserts and snow forests.
• The red fox wraps its fluffy tail around itself like a blanket.
• Red foxes are often clever characters in children’s stories.

A student is writing a research report on the question, “Why do birds migrate?” Which source would you not use to help you research information about this question.

• Welcome, Black Bird, a story written by a well known, award winning author, about a bird that travels to a new place and meets friends along the way. A beautifully written story that helps readers understand that making new friends can be a lesson in life that can help us grow into who we were supposed to be.
• www.mirgatorybirdday.org a website written by a non-profit organization, Environment for theAmericans, who studies and protects birds. The website gives information about a variety ofbirds, how they survive, and facts about their everyday life.
• National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America: The Best Birding Book for Kids fromNational Geographic's Bird Experts by Jonathan Alderfer Fifty of the country's most popularbirds, that will include information such as their range, the sounds they make, migration ofbirds, and the food they like to eat. Conservation information, a find out more section,glossary, and index will add ample back matter to round out this book.
• www.birds.cornell.edu/ The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study,appreciation, and conservation of birds. Founded in 1915, the Cornell Lab is a nonprofitorganization. The website has live cameras of birds,current articles about birds from experts inthe field, and everyday living for different bird species.