WWW+Search+Strategies

 __Title: __ Insects __Introduction: __ I decided to create a pathfinder based on a topic that is of great interest to my preschooler. Insects are a popular subject with young children, so I wanted to find information, lessons, and activities that are available to parents and educators of these students. The purpose of this pathfinder is to provide a list of resources that can be used by teachers as a part of their curriculum. __Key Terms: __ The key terms I used in my searches include: insects AND preschool insects AND Pre-K insects AND PreK insects AND Pre-K AND lesson plans insects AND PreK AND lesson plans insects AND early childhood entomology __Search Strategy: __ I started with Google ([|http://www.google.com]) and Yahoo ([|http://www.yahoo.com]); I found many similar results in using these two search engines. Next, I decided to try the AskERIC database (http://ericir.syr.edu/) because I wanted to find educational content and I knew the database focused on education. I had to modify my key terms on the AskERIC database; using the words insects and bugs did not provide me with results. I finally had success when I typed in entomology and selected Pre-K as my grade level. I also decided to try the Internet Public Library ([|www.ipl.org]), as I had never heard of this search engine. This search yielded a few resources that I had already found, but I also discovered several new ones. I wanted to try a few additional search engines that I had not used before, so I decided to try Dogpile ([|http://www.dogpile.com]) and Ixquick ([|http://ixquick.com]). Some of the resources I found on Dogpile and Ixquick were repetitions from using other search engines, but I did find additional websites that were new and useful to my search. Something that I quickly noticed as I began my search was that many websites used the term “bug” and “insect” interchangeably. __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Resources __ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.big6.com/2007/09/26/plan-do-review%e2%80%a6what%e2%80%99s-bugging-you-grades-prek-2an-information-literacy-lesson-plan-for-young-children/ __ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The content and activities found within this lesson are aligned with the Information Literacy standards defined by the American Library Association and the Washington State Early Learning Benchmarks. The lesson contains an introduction/attention activity and three additional activities with the standards alignment listed for each activity. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites026.shtml <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can find a brief introduction to insects at this site, as well as over thirty links to other sites containing information and activities related to the subject of insects. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #002060; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://eduref.org:8765/eduref/lessons/query.html?col=eduless&qc=eduless&qs=%7C&op0=&ty0=w&fl0=&tx0=entomology&qs=GEM.grade%3APreschool <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This site only offered two lesson plans that met the search parameters of entomology and Pre-K, but both lessons were well-developed. Each lesson addressed how its content met state and national competencies and standards. Both lessons contained links to useful Internet resources; one lesson offered ideas for technology integration. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.hometrainingtools.com/articles/early-elementary-insects-science-teaching-tip.html <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Although this is a site for purchasing science supplies, it also features two sections of interest for teachers: Teaching Tips and Science Projects. Teachers can find information on how to make an insect collection using live or preserved insects. A simple set of activities for introducing the concept of insects can be found in the Teaching Tips area of the site, as well as lessons focusing on ants and ladybugs. The Science Projects page contains many ideas for all grade levels and areas of scientific interest. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceK1.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can search this site for a vast amount of lesson plans submitted by other educators. There is also an open forum where teachers can share and discuss lessons, ideas, and other education related issues. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/bugs.html <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This site contains a list of links to activities relating to different grade levels and content areas. Some links are to pages located within the site, while others are to external sites. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/insects.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Illinois Early Learning Project, located at the University of Illinois, is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. The goal of the project is to select and create early learning resources for parents and educators. Teachers can browse a database of tip sheets by title (listed in English, Spanish, or Polish), or search the database by category. The tip sheet on insects features simple activities for introducing and studying insects with young children. There are also several additional websites listed for more information on insects. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">[|http://www.insects.org] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This site features an extensive collection of insect photography that will capture student interest. Teachers can search for information within the site, or utilize the Entolinks section, a collection of reviewed websites pertaining to insects. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.ent.iastate.edu/list/directory/158/vid/5 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">As a directory of resources related to insects, the site features different tools teachers can customize in order to meet the needs of their students. Items are listed by content type, such as Image Galleries, Journals and Newsletters, and Lesson Plans. The site also features a search engine to further assist teachers in their quest to find information. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">https://www.ksu.edu/bma/curricula/prairie/029_earlych.pdf <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Designed by Michelle Johnson, an Early Childhood Practicum Student, these units feature lessons, activities, songs, and reproducible worksheets on prairie insects and animals. Each unit gives a brief description of how the content ties to Kansas standards. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/03/gk2/insects.html <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can search for lessons by geography standards, by aspect of geography they desire to teach, by lesson title, or by appropriate grade level. Although this site featured only one lesson on insects for students in Pre-K, it would be useful for teachers seeking lessons that meet National Geography Standards. It also utilizes technology by having students search pre-selected websites to find images of insects. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/theme/insects.html <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can search for lessons and resources by grade and topic; early childhood teachers can also search PreK-2 thematic units. Many of the resources listed on this page are associated with children’s television programming featured on PBS. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.prekinders.com/bugsunit.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Designed and maintained by a Pre-K teacher, this site contains activities grouped according to type of bug. Each activity lists the content areas (science, math, literacy, art, music) and skills (social, fine motor, large motor) that the particular item addresses. Teachers can also find rhymes, songs, printable resources, links to other resources on insects, and links to Amazon.com to purchase books and resources used by the site’s designer. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/search?Nr=OR%28Resource_Type%3ALesson+Plan%2CResource_Type%3AInformal+Lesson+Article%2CResource_Type%3AUnit+Plan%29&query=insects&N=659 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can search for lesson plans by keyword, grade or subject. After completing a search, teachers can further narrow their results by grade, age, subject, and resource type. A search using the keyword “insects” and grade levels of PreK-K yielded fifty lessons and activities within the Scholastic website. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://iitc.tamu.edu/lesson_plans.html <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can find lesson plans about insects listed by age and grade level. Beginning teachers may find these lessons particularly helpful, as they provide very specific examples of how to verbalize the instructions and questions one might present to students when teaching a lesson. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://thinkfinity.org/SearchResults.aspx?subject=all&partner=all&resource_type=all&q=insects&grade=0,2&WebSiteArea=educator <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Funded by the Verizon Foundation, Thinkfinity (http://thinkfinity.org/) is affiliated with several organizations, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the National Education Association (NEA), and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Thinkfinity has several content partners, some of which are: the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ (NCTM) Illuminations; ReadWriteThink, a partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE); the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Science NetLinks; Smithsonian’s History Explorer; National Geographic Xpeditions. Teachers can search Thinkfinity for resources by keyword, subject, grade, resource type, and content partners. A search using the keyword “insects” and grade level of K-2 produced 131 different types of resources. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://insected.arizona.edu/uli.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The //Using Live Insects in Elementary Classrooms for Early Lessons in Life// program is designed to introduce health topics to children by using live insects. Funded by the National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award, the lessons featured in the program meet National Science Education Standards and address a wide range of content areas. Teachers can find twenty lesson plans with activity sheets, as well as information sheets for each type of insect used in the lessons. The site also features information on how to keep and care for the live insects used in the lessons. A bibliography, organized by insect, lists non-fiction and fiction titles that can be used with the program. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/oldentyouth.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">While some of the information featured on this site focuses on insects native to Kentucky, teachers will find a vast amount of information pertaining to common insects. The Teacher/Parent Resource Materials page features lesson plans and activities that can be adapted for Pre-K and elementary grades, as well as an archive of entomology newsletters for teachers. The Bug Fun! page contains links to crafts, projects, games, and jokes. The Insects All Year page offers information and activities about different insects for each month of the year. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Additional Resources: __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> These websites were not included in the above resources due to advertising or membership requirement. However, each website contains many additional materials that can supplement a teacher’s lesson or unit on insects. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.childcarelounge.com/Caregivers/bug.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This site offers examples of songs, crafts, and recipes that can be used with preschool students. There are also links to online activities at the Terminix website, as well as links to coloring pages. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/index.htm <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teachers can find printable activities, bookmarks, coloring pages, and games at this site. Recipes, songs, stories, poems, and crafts are also featured. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/galleries/insects.html <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This site offers some free worksheets available for teachers to download and print. Additional resources and lessons are available to members. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Big 6 **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Education World® **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Educator’s Reference Desk **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">(http://ericir.syr.edu/)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Home Science Tools-The Gateway to Discovery **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Hotchalk’s LessonPlansPage.com **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Education Place **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Illinois Early Learning Project **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Insects on the Web **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Iowa State University Entomology Index of Internet Resources **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Kansas State University Early Childhood Prairie Units **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">National Geographic Xpeditions **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">PBS Teachers **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Prekinders.com **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Scholastic Teachers **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Thinkfinity **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">University of Arizona Center for Insect Science Education Outreach **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">University of Kentucky Entomology Department **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Child Care Lounge **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">DLTK’s Crafts for Kids **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">LearningPage **

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