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Online Reference Sources
Remember, the library has paper copies of these reference books!
Databases
- INSPIRE Kids - log on from school or get a free account for home to use this great resource. Contains newspaper and encyclopedia articles, pictures, and much more.
- Guide to using INSPIRE Kids Image Collection
Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
Thesaurus
A thesaurus lists words that are close in meaning, or synonyms. They're helpful when you want to avoid using the same word over and over.
Almanacs
Almanacs are yearly books filled with facts on almost everything! They are especially good if you are looking for statistics like the length of a river, the population of a country, or sports scores.
Atlases
Art & Music Links
Art Links
- Art Junction
- A. Pintura, Art Detective
- Art Safari
- Art Edventures - A Lifetime of Color
- Enchanted Learning - Color Mixing
- Computer Art Lessons
- Mark Kistler's Imagination Station - Learn to Draw in 3-D
- Timeline of Art History
- Smithsonian Education's "Everything Art"
- National Gallery of Art for Kids
Music Links
- PBS Kids Music
- IU School of Music - with a schedule of upcoming performances
- The Science of Sound
- I Hear America Singing - American composers and songbook
- San Francisco Symphony's Kids Site
ESL/ENL (English Learners) Links
- Crossword Puzzles
- Internet Picture Dictionary - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
- Vocabulary Exercises
- Games on PBS Kids - Games for K-2. "WordPlay" can be used for grades 3-4
- Printable Games on PBS Kids - for readers in grades 1-2
- International Children's Digital Library - scanned picture books from around the world, in many languages
- Learn to Read at Starfall - fun, interactive stories and non-fiction for beginning readers
- BookPALS Storyline Online - a terrific site with stories read by actors; grades 1-4
- Printable Books from Enchanted Learning; grades K-4
- Bogglesworld - flash cards, leveled worksheets on many different themes, especially holidays
- MCCSC ESL office
- Language Minority and Migrant Programs at the Indiana Department of Education
Language Arts Links
Choosing a Book
- Monroe County Library Book Lists - award winners, books in a series, books by category
- American Library Association Notable Books - lists for young, middle, and older readers, with links to other award winners
- Multnomah County (Oregon) Public Library Book Lists - what to read if you love Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, and other popular series
- Seattle Public Library Book Lists - lists by grade level, plus lists focusing on several cultures and issues like adoption and bullying
- Jon Scieszka's Guys Read - encourages boys to become enthusiastic readers by reading the stuff they like
Online Stories and Books
- International Children's Digital Library - scanned picture books from around the world, in many languages
- Learn to Read at Starfall - fun, interactive stories and non-fiction for beginning readers
- Between the Lions - from PBS; each story leads to related games
- Fablevision - stories, activities, and downloadable books
- BookPALS Storyline Online - some of your favorite stories, read by actors
- The Kennedy Center's "Storytime Online" - multimedia presentations of books read by their authors
- Internet Public Library Story Hour
Online Magazines
- Stone Soup Magazine - read stories by young authors, learn about writing, and send in your own stories and art
- National Geographic for Kids
- NASA Kids
- Odyssey Adventures in Science
- Ranger Rick
- Sports Illustrated for Kids
- Zoobooks Online
Authors and Illustrators
- Authors and Illustrators - links to author websites
- Index of Authors, Illustrators, and Characters - learn about your favorites!
- Create a cartoon about Stink - Judy Moody's Little Brother
Folklore
- American Folklore - includes tall tales, myths and legends, animal stories, and much more
Writing Skills
- OWL (Online Writing Lab) - grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- InfoPlease Writing Tips - help with essays, research papers, book reports, and more
- Grammar and Spelling at FactMonster
Other Languages
- Fodor's Living Languages - hear pronunciation of French, Italian, German, and Spanish words
- Internet Picture Dictionary - learn new words in five languages by matching the word with the picture
- American Sign Language Dictionary - Each word has a description and a video clip of how to make the sign
Math Links
Animal Links
Animals - General
- BBC Amazing Animals - look for an animal by using the first letter of its name
- San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes
- Yahooligans! Animals
- Childs School First Grade Animal Links
Endangered Animals - General
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- Kids Planet - Defenders of Wildlife
- American Museum of Natural History
- Animal Planet Endangered Species Guide
Endangered Animals - By Name
- Antelopes - Tibetan Antelope
- Apes at WWF includes Gorillas, Orangutans, Chimpanzees, and Bonobos
- Butterflies at WWF - Monarch Butterflies
- Chimpanzees - Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
- Condors - California Condors at the San Diego Zoo
- Coral at WWF
- Crocodiles - American Crocodile at National Geographic
- Dolphins at WWF - includes Vaquita, Ganges River, Irrawaddy, and Maui's Dolphins; click on "Species" in the menu on the left
- Elephants at WWF - includes African and Asian Elephants; click on "Species" in the menu on the left
- Ferrets - Black-Footed Ferret at Kids Planet
- Koalas at National Geographic
- Leopards - Snow Leopards at WWF
- Manatees at Kids Planet
- Pandas at WWF
- Panther - Florida Panther Facts
- Pikas at WWF - a pika is a small relative of the rabbit
- Polar Bears at WWF
- Rhinos at WWF - includes African and Asian Rhinos; click on "Species" in the menu on the left
- Salmon - Atlantic Salmon at WWF
- Tigers at WWF - includes Siberian, Bengal, Indochinese, Sumatran, and South China Tigers
- Turtles - Marine Turtles at WWF, includes Hawksbill, Kemp's Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Green, Olive Ridley, and Flatback Turtles; click on "Species" in the menu on the left
- Whales at WWF - includes Right, Blue, Humpback, Minke, Gray, and Sperm Whales; click on "Species" in the menu on the left
- Wolves - Gray Wolf Facts; Red Wolf Facts
Prehistoric Animals
- Prehistoric Life from the BBC
- Dinosaurs: Fact and Fiction
- Indianapolis Children's Museum Dinosphere
- Zoom School's Dinosaur Information Pages
- Zoom School's Ice Age Mammals Pages
- Discovery's Land of the Mammoth
- Interesting Facts about the Wooly Mammoth
Pets and Pet Care
- ASPCA Pet Care - choose a type of pet from the menu on the right side of the page
- American Veterinary Medical Association's Care for Pets
- PetEducation.com - information on dogs, cats, fish, birds, ferrets, reptiles, and other small pets
Science Links
Energy, Electricity, and Magnets
- Dr. E's Energy Lab - from the U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Matters" ThinkQuest
- NASA SciFiles
- Miami Museum of Science "Atoms Family" Site on Energy
How Things Work
- PBS's Building Big - the physics and engineering of bridges, tunnels, dams, and other massive structures
- Simple Machines
Space
- Indianapolis Children's Museum Field Guide to the Universe
- NASA's Space Place
- The Hubble Heritage Project - images from the Hubble Space Telescope
- NASA's StarChild Learning Center for Young Astronomers
- Discovery School's Information on the International Space Station
- Space - from the BBC; includes a 3-D tour of the solar system
- The Apollo Moon Landing
Nature and the Environment
- EEK - Environmental Education for Kids
- Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Kids Club
- EPA's Recycle City
- EPA's Climate Change Kids Site
- The Water Cycle from the EPA - audio content, so turn on your speakers
- Biomes and Ecosystems - from the Missouri Botanical Garden
- Biology of Plants - from the Missouri Botanical Garden
- National Geographic Habitats; use the menu on the left to choose a habitat
Experiments and Activities
- PBS's Zoom Science Activities - includes chemisty, engineering, the five senses, forces, life sciences, patterns, sound, structures, and water
- Project Dragonfly - from the National Science Foundation and Miami (Ohio) Universtiy
World History and Culture Links
Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Civilizations - General
Africa
- Ancient Africa
- Ancient Egypt ThinkQuest * ThinkQuests are created by kids, for kids.
- Ancient Egypt
The Americas
Asia
- Ancient China
- Ancient India
- Ancient West Asia (or the Middle East)
- Ancient Mesopotamia (Middle East)
Europe
- Ancient Greece ThinkQuest *ThinkQuests are created by kids, for kids
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient Rome ThinkQuest
- Ancient Rome
- Ancient Germany
Explorers
- Explorers: A Guide for Researchers - links to many different explorers; also lists materials in the Childs library
Countries and Cultures
Country Facts
- InfoPlease Countries of the World - each country profile includes geography, maps, flags, history, population, capital, largest citites, languages, ethnicity/race, religion, economny, and government
Religions of the World
- United Religions Institute Kids' Pages - "an introduction to some of the many religions and spiritual traditions in the world"
- Facts About World Religions - from the World Almanac for Kids; click the name of the religion for very detailed information; also provides a graph showing religious membership in the U.S.
Mythology
- MythWeb - great graphics and animations spice up this collection of basic information on the Greek gods and heroes; includes a searchable encyclopedia of mythology terms
- Encyclopedia Mythica - encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion arranged by location; includes a bestiary (encyclopedia of animals), legendary heroes, and an image gallery
United States History Links
General
- Multnomah County Library American History Links - lots of good topics!
- America's Story from the Library of Congress
Colonization
- The Mayflower, Plymouth Plantation and the first Thanksgiving - compare and contrast what life was like for the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag people.
- Plimoth Plantation: You are the Historian in this video exploration; lots of information in Homework Help
- The Wampanoag Tribe at Plymouth
- Jamestown Fort: Rediscovered - the history of Jamestown, with several biographies and pictures of artifacts found in the excavation.
- Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia - use the menu on the left, especially "Meet the People"
- Salem Witch Trials
Revolutionary War
- Liberty! The American Revolution - from PBS, this site has historical news stories; activities about daily life, the military, and global exploration; a "Road to Revolution" trivia game; a timeline; and a biographies of important figures, with video reenactments
- America's Stories from the Library of Congress - check out all the articles at the bottom of the page on people and events of the Revolutionary era, like the Boston Massacre and Johnny Appleseed
- Archiving Early America - short descriptions of people and events that link to primary source documents; includes a short movie about Paul Revere, maps, portraits, and much more
- African Americans in the Revolution from PBS; including Crispus Attucks and Phillis Wheatley
- Thomas Jefferson - biography, timeline, quotes and much more
- Benjamin Franklin - use the menu on the left to read articles about Franklin's life. Be sure to visit Explore for activities
- George Washington - the biography is long, but explore the other articles such as "The Reluctant President" and "George Washington and Slavery"
- George Rogers Clark - the leader of the Revolution in Indiana (start with Under Many Nations); more information from the National Parks Service - see the Clark memorial in Vincennes, IN
Westward Expansion
Lewis and Clark
- Animated game of the Lewis and Clark expediation (for younger students, or just for fun!)
- Online Base Camps - descriptions and pictures of their camps along the trail
- Lewis and Clark Expediation from National Geographic - includes a timeline, list of supplies, information about Sacagawea,and an interactive journey with descriptions of people, animals, and plants they saw along the way (this detailed site is better for older students)
- Exploring with Lewis and Clark from the Library of Congress - follow Lewis and Clark's journey across the country with primary documents and images in movie-like Flash presentation
- Into the Unknown - in this interactive journey, you lead Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery
- Trail Blazers - Lewis and Clark Were Not Alone
- Louisiana Purchase at America's Story
- Annexing the Southwest from Mexico at America's Story
- The Oregon Trail - a great site with maps, diaries of travelers, fantastic facts, and much more
- The Gold Rush - check out the fun facts section
- PBS Kids Gold Rush
- PBS Gold Rush - includes the impact on Native Americans and the online game Strike It Rich, (click on the Strike It Rich link to start)
Civil War
- Civil War articles at Ameria's Story - scroll down to see them all
- PBS's The Civil War - check out sections on "The War" (for biographies and battles) and "Images of the Civil War" for historical photos, some with interactive information
- Civil War Timeline
- Camp Life at Gettysburg from the National Parks Service
- The Gettysburg Address - full text images of the pages written by Lincoln
- Symbols of Battle - Civil War flags in the National Parks collection
- Manassas Battlefield Park - history of the two battles at Manassas, Virginia
- PBS's Reconstruction: The Second Civil War - full video of this program, plus primary sources, photos, and a teacher's guide
- Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877 - short articles with attached primary resources
- National Geographic Online Presents the Underground Railroad
Industrial Revolution
- Inventors of the Industrial Revolution - short descriptions of the reasons for change, the new inventions and the people who created them
- The Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900 - short articles with attached primary resources
- Photographs of Child Laborers by Lewis Hine
World War I
Great Depression & The Dust Bowl
World War II & The Holocaust
Civil Rights
- PrimaryGames.com: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day- includes printable coloring pages, games, and stationery to celebrate this day
- Read Write Thinkhttp://www.readwritethink.org/calendar/calendar_day.asp?id=396
- US State Department looks at the significant events in the Civil Rights Movement as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.'s role in this important time in US history.
- Seattle Times-This website covers King's life with the usual biography and timeline, but it shines in the Perspectives section, which includes Roadways Across America (a look at six streets bearing King's name), student essays, and class conversations between four third-grade classes. Finish your visit by trying the twelve-question civil rights quiz
- MLK Online this was created in 1998 by Daniel Moss when he was just a high-school sophomore. It is well-written, and a great resource for school reports. It includes a King biography, a history of the holiday, transcripts of fifteen speeches, and a page of quotations. Best clicks are in Multimedia, where you'll find audio, video, and photos.
- The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of America’s greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace.
- I'm a Hero Photographs: Martin Luther King, Jr. see pictures of Martin Luther King, Jr..
- Black History MonthTime for Kids presents Black History Month.
Modern Conflicts
Indiana History Links
General Facts About Indiana
- About Indiana - a general overview of the state
- Frequently Asked Questions about Indiana - what is Hoosier? What is the state flower, state bird, etc.
- Internet Public Library Stately Knowledge - basic fact and links to encyclopedia articles and other websites
- The Indiana Room at MCPL - this section of the Monroe County Public Library is devoted to materials about Indiana
- Indiana Historical Society Digital Image Collection - over 17,000 digital images, including many of Abraham Lincoln and other famous Hoosiers
- The Governor of Indiana - a biography of the Governor, photos, "Contact the Governor," and more
- The Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
- Our Senators in the U.S. Congress
- Our Representatives in the U.S. Congress
- Find Your State Legislators
Bloomington & Indiana University
- Bloomington and Monroe County Facts - includes population, climate and geography information and a historical timeline
- Monroe County History Center - "Step into an 1840s log cabin or sit on a bench in a one-room school, and imagine yourself back in time. Experience how Monroe County citizens lived, worked, played and learned during the past two centuries."
- Mayor of Bloomington
- Indiana University, Bloomington campus - information about what you can study, a virtual campus tour, and events calendars
- IU Athletics - learn about different sports by choosing from "The Hoosiers" from the menu at the top
The Underground Railroad
- The Underground Railroad - from PBS; links to the text of a historical document written by Indiana "conductor" Levi Coffin
- Aboard the Underground Railroad - from the National Parks Service
- The Levi Coffin House - information about the abolitionist and the Indiana home he used as a hiding place for slaves escaping to the North
- Eleutherian College - "the first college in Indiana to admit students without regard to race or gender"; often associated with the Underground Railroad
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church - active in the anti-slavery movement in Indianapolis
- Explanation of the Song "Follow the Drinking Gourd"
- The History of the Drinking Gourd
The Amish in Indiana
- The Amish in Northern Indiana - the third largest Amish settlement in America is near Goshen, Indiana
- About the Amish - includes Amish and Mennonite history and the Amish lifestyle
- Facts about the Amish
Indiana's Natural History
- Indiana Limestone
- Indiana Limestone Heritage Parks - includes history and a photo gallery
- Wyandotte Caves Official Website
- Wyandotte Caves history and photos
- An Indiana Prairie
- Deadly tornadoes of 1965
- Map of tornado activity, 1950-2001
- 1974 tornadoes - "Worst in U.S. History"
Museums and Historic Landmarks
- Conner Prairie - near Noblesville, Indiana, this living history museum shows what life was like in Indiana in the 1800s; choose a topic from the menu on the right
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
- Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home National Memorial - "site of the farm where Abraham Lincoln spent 14 formative years of his life, from the ages of 7 to 21."
- Monon Railroad
- West Baden Springs Hotel
- Angel Mounds State Historic Site; info from the Indiana History Museum - "one of the best preserved prehistoric Native American sites in the United States"
- George Rogers Clark memorial; see Clark under Famous Hoosiers below
Famous Hoosiers
Arts and Entertainment
- Joshua Bell, classical violinist
- Hoagy Carmichael, singer, songwriter, musician; IU's collection of recording and pictures
- Jim Davis, Garfield cartoonist
- James Dean, actor - look under "About James"; timeline and photo gallery
- Paul Dresser, composer of our state song; more info
- David Letterman, comedian and talk show host
- John Mellencamp, singer, songwriter and musician
- Jane Pauley, television news reporter
- Cole Porter, singer, songwriter and musician; more info
- Ernie Pyle, reported news from the trenched of World War II; his birthplace is a state historic site
- James Whitcomb Riley, poet; more info and some poems
- Scott Russell Sanders, author; read his children's books in our library
- T.C. Steele, painter; his home is a state historic site
- Gene Stratton Porter, author, photographer; her home is a state historic site
- James Alexander Thom, author
- Kurt Vonnegut, author
Sports
- Larry Bird, NBA basketball player and coach; hall of fame profile; more
- Jeff Gordon, Nascar driver; Brickyard 400
- Rex Grossman, NFL football player
- Bobby Knight, college basketball coach; basketball hall of fame profile
- Peyton Manning NFL football player - click on "Peyton's Playbook" at the top; Indianapolis Colts
- Reggie Miller, NBA basketball player; Indiana Pacers
- Oscar Robertson, NBA basketball player; more
- Indianapolis 500
Politics, Government, & Military
- George Rogers Clark, Revolutionary War leader who captured Vincennes, Indiana from the British; a guide to research on Clark, with books in the Childs and Monroe County libraries
- President Benjamin Harrison; First Lady Caroline Harrison; Harrison Home in Indianapolis
- President William Henry Harrison; First Lady Anna Harrison; Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe
- President Abraham Lincoln; First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln; more info; Lincoln's frontier boyhood
- Vice President Dan Quayle; more info
- Wendell Willkie, presidential candidate and author; more info
Science and Business
- Kenneth Bowersox, astronaut
- Amelia Earhart, pilot and adventurer; more info
- Gus Grissom, Apollo I Astronaut; more info
- Eli Lilly, chemist and medical scientist
- David Wolf, astronaut
- Madame C.J. Walker, America's first African-American millionaire
- Orville and Wilbur Wright, pilots and inventors; life history with primary sources
Native Americans and Pioneers
- Meshekinoquah, also known as Chief Little Turtle
- Tecumseh; more info
- Tenskwatawa, also known as the Shawnee Prophet; at the Battle of Tippecanoe
- John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed
Lists of Famous Hoosiers
- Famous People with Links to Indiana
- Indiana Biographies
- Famous Hoosiers - includes some more recent additions
Search Engines for Students
Search by keyword or use the alphabetical subject listings.
Search by simply typing in your question.
Homework Help Sites
- Internet Public Library KidSpace
- HomeworkSpot
- Multnomah County Library Homework Center
- Oregon School Libraries Research Center - tips on note taking, citing sources, and lots more
- InfoPlease Writing Tips - help with essays, research papers, book reports, and more