GRADE 5 SIRS DISCOVERER

As a result of this activity, you will compare three resources for accuracy of facts, current information and ease of use.  The three resources are the World Almanac 2002, Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia 2001 and various magazine or newspaper articles.  You will first access the following website for SIRS Discoverer Deluxe – 

 

http://ars.sirs.com/cgi-bin/denied?no-prod%2bMD0397H.                     


 

You may need to type in your username:MD0397H and your password:21157.Please note that this resource may only be used by Carroll County Public School students.  You will then click on the link to Access SIRS Discoverer on the Web.


 

1.      The topic you will be researching is “satellites.” Before you begin your research, you will complete a self-assessment using K-W-L on the topic of satellites.  List what you already believe you know about satellites and generate at least three questions about what you would like to learn.


 

2.      In the website click on the link “Current Events.”  Find the article titled “NASA Says Satellite Hits Earth.”  Read the article.  Add facts to your organizer in the L column.

 

3.      Use your back button to go to the main site of SIRS.  This time click on the link for “Encyclopedia.”  You will conduct a text search for the word satellites.  Read the information and complete the L column on your organizer making a note that these facts were gathered from the encyclopedia.

 

4.      Use your back button again to go to the main site and click on the link for “World Almanac 2002.”You will perform a Keyword Search, Text Search for the word “satellites.”  Read and place facts on your organizer in the L column, making a note of the resource used.
 

5.      Go back to the main site in SIRS.  Click on the link for “How to Cite.”  You will find the section on APA References.  Look at the examples given.  You will compose your own bibliography of the three resources that you used for your research.
 

6.      Finally, you will answer the following questions.
 

          Were you able to find the answers to your questions?
 

          Which resource do you believe gave you the best information and why?
 

          Which resource do you believe was the most current and why?
 

          Which resource was the easiest to use and understand and why?