Lesson 3--SIRS Issues Researcher and Discoverer

Lesson 3 SIRS Discoverer  - I had already done the armadillo in the first lesson so I picked the bangle tiger. I think they are a very pretty animals. They are the largest of all the big cats, and even bigger than a lion. Bengals are the true kings of the jungle!
In most of the articles I read stated that the tigers are becoming extinct. People are moving into their territory chasing them out. Then there's the poaching going on. I also found inside one article at the end of it was more wed sites you could visit. I did find pictures and various reading levels of the articles.
2)The country I chose was India when I click onto the country facts I saw India on the right side it showed two things-subjects and graphics. On the left side was where the information was, on the right side is where they showed the map and flag of the country. After the name of the country below they had three teacher resources facts to go into. Each one of these were at a different level of reading.  Then it started with the facts - pronunciation of the name, official name, independence, capital, population, geography and the weather, economy, government, and the history of India. I also notice at the end of the article if you click on the Related Articles it gave you more information about India. This was very interesting.
Maps of the World icon I searched Connecticut because I think it would be a very interesting place to go. I was right too, the information is great if any body needed to do a report for any type of school the graphics and maps are great. There was so many other places to click into for more information. This was like getting candy from a store for me!
I went to Science Fair Explorer-Explore A Topic, I picked In the Junk Drawer-Physics then  I picked a needle that knows where North is.  This told you what you needed to become a magnet yourself. It also had graphics to help with the instruction. I feel kids & adults with learning problems could benefit from this program.
SIRS Issues Researcher - 1. Under the leading issues I picked animal experimentation when I click into the search there were quit a few to choose from. It also had Narrow Your results - All source type 151 results, newspapers 35 results, magazines 43 results, gov't documents 10 results, primary sources 1 results, viewpoints 22 results, reference 2 results, graphics/media 38 results 1 video results. They also had pro & cons in this one search. In some of the other searchers were just articles. Just some much information!
Curriculum Pathfinders - I chose Fine Arts - Opera -  it gave you some performers to search into. There was video's, pictures and their history. After you click into one of performers you can click into the Performing  Arts search this is where all kinds of information can be found. I think I will continue this kind of search after this class is over!       
        

Learning Express Library (wk 2)

This learning express library resource is a great learning tool for all ages. I picked the math department. You take the test.and finished it. I click on my View Results, it took you to the diagnostic page. Showed you how many you got right or wrong, how many points possible and how many points earned. Then when you click on the view answers it would show in gray the right answer and in red means your answer was wrong. Then it would give you an explanation of the problem. This will be a great tool for all ages who are having difficulties in their class rooms.
For the Job Search & Workplace skills I picked the vocabulary & Spelling. As I was doing this I like the idea about using the buddy partner system. The three way practice will work well with people who do need to here it, see it, and speak it.  This will help people who would like to improve their writing skills and everything else that goes with the job search program. This program helps us to build up our weaknesses in the areas we need help in.
For the type a search term I typed air traffic controller. I found it easy to read and if you click on the tool bar you could click on the down arrow to go to the next page. If you needed to make the print bigger or smaller just click on the tool bar for the minus or plus button. The book also gave you other references to go. I just can not wait to let people know these type of programs are their for them to use.

World Book Public Library Edition

Lesson 1a
I pick the Armadillo for my research on World Book Online for Kids. When I typed armadillo it gave me 2 articles and one picture. Article about the Armadillo and the other was South America. It also gave me a picture. The article tells you the armadillos have strong claws for digging burrows in the ground for shelter. When I looked at the picture I saw some lines on the armadillos back. The lines on their backs are bands of bony armor. These bony pieces work together so that the animal can bend. Only one kind can curl up into a ball. They do this to protected them self's. If this does not work then they burrow into the ground so they can hide. No enemy can bite through the bony shell. Some armadillos have six bands of armor across their back. Armadillos in the United States have nine bands. These armadillos are about 2 feet long, including their tail.
I wanted more information about armadillos so I went to Info Finder. Armadillos live from Argentina to the southern United States. They use their long, narrow tongue to lick up beetles and other insects. Armadillos eat fruit, snails, spiders, and wormst. They do this because they have very small teeth well back in their mouth. The South American three-banded armadillos can curl up into a hard, tight ball with the shell on the outside and the head and feet tucked in out of harm's way.
When I went to the Reference Center on armadillos it gave me some of the same information as the other two. Armadillos are the only known animal host for the bacteruim that causes leprosy (Hansen"s disease) in human beings. This is why armadillos prove important in leprosy research.
With each of these searchers starting with the younger kids to the older kids more information showed up on the left and right side of the page. In fact I was so in gross with all of this information I had to stop so I could post my lesson in.
I also checked this information in other country's. So many links to look into. Some of it was easy to click into and other's took time for me to figure out.  I hope this will post ok .
All I have to say is I hope this gets better as we continue on with our lessons.