Geography Fair Resources

The Geography Fair is in top gear, and all Shingobee students should be busy finding out about their topics. We encourage students to visit their local library to get more resources for their research projects.

The Internet is a wonderful place for up-to-date information; however, it can also be a source of misinformation. Please establish good search engine habits early!

When "googling" a topic, try these five tips:

1) Oldies-but-goodies: Instead of typing your question into a search engine right away, try databases or library catalogs first. Wikipedia is a lot better than it used to be, but it is never a bad idea to begin with established and institutionalized knowledge sources. Here are some websites to try for geography, science and history:

• CIA World Factbook: One stop shopping for country research.
• Encyclopedia Britannica: A tried-and-true Wikipedia alternative.
• National Geographic Kids: Good for geography, includes multiple topics.
• The Why Files (Science Behind the News): This site talks about science in the news.
• Bitesize Science (British site): This site has interactives and games.
• Everyday Mysteries (Answers to common science questions from the Library of Congress)
• Exploratorium Websites: Use the list on the left-hand side to find more.
• Ology: The American Museum of Natural History Kids Site: Great resources on all the "ologies".

NASA, NOAA, and other government sites are also helpful places to look for photographs and data.

2) Keep scrolling down: Check out multiple results rather than the highlighted or first answer that appears. Often, companies can pay more to have their website listed at the top of a search. Just because it's first doesn't mean it is the best source.

3) Use text, not pictures: Instead of searching through Images only, click on the link and read the website where the image is located. You might find that something that "looks" right isn't what it says it is.

4) Just READ: Sometimes the information you want is further down on the page or in a link. If you don't immediately see a headline answering your question, that is okay. Keep looking!

5) When in doubt, ask for help! If you're not sure if a source is credible or appropriate, ask an adult or guide. Write down the URL or print out the article to help. Remember, the World Wide Web requires navigation, supervision and guidance, just like the real wide world outside.

Happy researching!