2-6-15  SIRS Discover

- Look up armadillos and discuss the results:

I found eight articles, some were very dated - 20 plus years old!  Some articles searched for "relevance" were quite recent.  One nice feature was the the lexile score was shown.  I was able to choose an option on where I wanted to conduct the search:  all articles, newspapers, magazines, reference, graphics or web find sites.  On the graphics option, I was able to click to get the pictures.


- Some of the most useful features in SIRS Discoverer are the "Database Features" located on the right hand side of the window.  Select a country and noting the information located there:

I chose Norway - you can search for the country in an A-Z list.  I found the Official name, capital, population, size, which continent and region Norway is in, government type, government officials, agriculture, climate, currency, languages, holidays, observances.  This also showed the major events in history.  Links within this could be clicked to learn about related subjects.  Maps are available, as well as a picture of the Norwegian flag.  I could click on "source and summary."  I could listen to all of this information listed above if I was hearing impaired!

All of the information can be printed in PDF version.  There is an Easy Bib - can see the citation and can be viewed with or without abstracts.  From this point, you can also view "educator blogs."   The articles can be transmitted to your email.  The articles can be translated to other languages!  There is also a dictionary and thesaurus link available.


- Select a map in "Maps of the World" and discuss potential uses:

I searced for the map of Norway.  Potential uses might be seeing how the British and Germans advanced on Norway during WWII, where major ships were sunk, and what country those ships belonged to.  The maps also show the vaious regions of the country and where the cities are located.  An added feature is the ability to print the maps.


- Select one other are in "Database Features" and discuss the information located there.

I looked up Science Fair Explorer.  Then, "In the recycling bin" and then "recycling".  There were questions and articles on "why recycle", "how does it work".  There was a word find using the words in the article.  There is a weekly lab for an experiment (with a note to teachers).  There is a math activitiy, a section on writing in science, a challenge, a puzzle, an article on the background of recycling, questions to be asked and answered.  There is helpful section for teachers, internet resources, and a "did you know" section.  There is also a link for citations.