Yahoo.com
This general search site is colorful and organized.  The search categories include web, images, video, directory, local, news, and products.  The home page has news and weather sections up front.  There are many service options available, as well as a way to share photos and establish free e-mail accounts.
http://www.yahoo.com/

       
 Google.com
Besides being a very easy site to use, I found the Google site to be the largest, fastest, and most complete general search engine. It allows you to search in six main categories: web, images, groups, news, Froogle (products), and local (new section).  Your search results are listed by relevance.
http://www.google.com/



   
 CNN.com
This site presents you with the major headlines of the day, as well as the headlines for each of the special sections (World, US, Weather, Sports, Politics, Travel, and Business).  There are links to CNN Radio and CNN TV, and their corporate partners, TIME, Sports Illustrated, and Business 2.0.  An "international" version of the site is available, and it can be quickly transformed into other languages such as German, Korean, Arabic, Japanese, and Turkish.  Audio and video clips are readily available for those who would rather not read through the headlines.
http://www.cnn.com/




GoogleNews.com
Google News is continuously updated with the latest information from over 4,500 national and international news sources.  There is even a timer in the corner that tells you how long it has been since the last update.  The "Top Stories" section defaults to the US, but offers a drop down list of dozens of other countries.  The featured news sections are World, US, Business, Sci/Tech, Sports, Entertainment, and Health. For each topic, the most current information site is listed first, and then there are links to other major news sources on the same topic.  
http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&gl=us





Yahooligans
This site is fast, full of  helpful information, and has fun activities for kids to do.  There are many popular sections that match kids' interests.  A directory is organized into six easy-to-use sections.  When you type in a search topic you are shown related sites divided into more specific categories.  There is also an "Ask Earl" option so you can get an answer to a direct question or see other questions asked by other kids on your topic.  
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/





Fact Monster
Fact Monster is a great site for kids that need information fast - especially if they are doing their homework or working on a project.   The 10 major topic sections are easily accessed by either clicking the icons or the list on the sidebar.  The topics are mostly related to school subjects, but there are plenty of games and activities to hold your interest!.  At the top of the page there are links to the four major references used by students - an atlas, an almanac, an encyclopedia, and a dictionary.  The daily features include "In the News," "Today in History," and "Analogy of the Day," just to name a few.
http://www.factmonster.com/








Altavista.com
AltaVista uses advanced technologies and features "designed to improve the search experience for consumers."  I found this to be true.  The site is simple and efficient, and provides quick access to the images you want.  Images can be searched by photos, graphics, buttons/banners, or all three.  You can also specify the colors, sources, and sizes of the images in order to refine your search.
http://www.altavista.com/image/default





Pictures of Places.com
Appropriately named, this site provides pictures of places from all over the world.  The pictures are organized into 8 countries/regions.  The most popular places in each region are highlighted, but other choices are available.  I found the site organized and easy to use.  The pictures are colorful and meaningful, making them wonderful additions to lesson plans, presentations, or school projects.
http://picturesofplaces.com/