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SIRS DiscovererOpens a world of information to students
Tutorialdiscoverer.sirs.com | proquestk12.com
Welcome to SIRS Discoverer
• An award-winning database designed with the young researcher in grades 1-9.
• Strengthens research, reading, writing, and computer skills.
• Articles and graphics from more than 1,900 U.S. and international magazines, newspapers, and U.S. government documents.
SIRS Discoverer®
Welcome to SIRS Discoverer
• Materials are carefully selected for their educational content, interest, and level of readability.
• Because it includes middle and elementary curriculum topics, Discoverer can be easily integrated into classroom activities.
SIRS Discoverer®
SIRS Discoverer WebFind
• Now includes Discoverer WebFind as a content set.
• Dynamically updated collection of websites.
• Websites are evaluated for research value, high interest, credibility, and age appropriateness.
• Sites are monitored for content changes by SIRS' sophisticated software.
SIRS Discoverer®
SIRS Solutions Make The Grade
• Supplement Outdated Textbooks
• Create Reading Lists• Provide Pathfinders• Curriculum Integration• Homework Help• Download Photographs,
Graphics, Maps, Charts
• Research Papers• Persuasive Speeches• Debate Team Research• Current Events
Discussions• Consult Primary Source
Materials • Analyze Statistical Data• Find Materials Linked to
State, National, Canadian Standards
How Can I Utilize SIRS in My Library or Classroom?
Database Features
• Science Fair Explorer New!
• Skills Discoverer New!• Activities• Biographies• Fiction • Country Facts• Photo Essays• Pictures• Maps of the World• Educators’ Resources• Dictionary / Thesaurus
What’s Inside
Database Features– Top Pick
• Articles, images, and websites are regularly selected by our SIRS research team comprised of 40+ professionals with diverse educational backgrounds.
• Highlights interesting articles and images that are tied to timely themes.
Top Pick
Science Fair Explorer New!
• Science experiment ideas for various topics. Includes:— Chemistry
— Physics
— Challenge Quest
— Ecology & Environment
— Gross Science
— The Senses
— Water Science
— Life & Earth Sciences
Science Fair Explorer
Skills Discoverer New!
• A collections of recommended interactive websites and resources based on subjects below:— Art
— Health
— Language Arts
— Math
— Science
— Social Studies
Skills Discoverer
Database Features-- Activities
• Provides a shortcut to full-text articles that offer activities:— Science experiments— Craft projects— Writing activities
Activities
Activities Cont.
Activities are marked with a label in the article results list (an a) to make them easy to identify within results.
Database Features-- Biographies
• 1,500+ full-text biographies of famous and notable people are available, including U.S. Presidents.
• Available in multiple reading levels.
• Bibliographies can be searched by last name or browsed alphabetically
Biographies
Database Features-- Fiction
Fiction
From Historical Fiction to Myths and Fairytales, SIRS Discoverer provides hundreds of articles, and websites, and categorizes them with topics.
Database Features
• Articles with information on nearly 200 countries.
• Printable maps, flags, population statistics, government information, languages spoken, economic data, history.
• Many countries also have links to Culture Facts.
• In addition, profiles and graphics are included for every U.S. State and Canadian Province.
Country Facts
Database Features– Photo Essays
• Photo Essays portray social issues and global concepts.
• Each topic consists of several essays containing photographs, maps, or other graphic elements, along with brief, informative text.
• New Release– Interactive Photo Essays
Photo Essays
Click the banner to enter Interactive Photo Essays
Interactive Photo Essays New!
A brief introduction is provided for each photo.
Database Features-- Pictures
• Keyword search or browse for pictures using an alphabetical index.
• 33,000+ high-quality pictures accompany full-text articles.
• Pictures include photographs, illustrations, maps, charts, and more.
• Send pictures as email attachments, or save to HD/CD/USB flash drives for use in presentations.
Pictures
Database Features—Maps of the World
• More than 3,000 detailed, printable maps are available as an online reference almanac.
• Maps include all 50 United States, the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as nations and regions of the world.
• Includes U.S. Historical, World Historical, and Outline Maps.
Maps of the World
Database Features
• Includes a collection of materials designed to help librarians and library patrons.
• Access anywhere in Discoverer from a link provided in the footer of every page, and on the home page.
Educators’ Resources
Additional resources and usage boosters
available @ proquestk12.com
Database Features
— Podcasts— What's New — Email Newsletters— Reference Toolbox — Discoverer Workbooks— Source Lists— Directory of Publications— Library Promotional
Materials— System Administrator
Options— Frequently Asked Questions— Free online training— More
Educators’ Resources
Database Features
Reference Works• Current Events• Spotlight of the Month
• The World Almanac ®
for Kids• Encyclopedia
Britannica ®
Database Features– Current Events
Current Events• Dynamically updated
with full-text articles and graphics.
• New content added daily.
• Editor-selected to encourage research and awareness of current events.
Database Features
• Spotlight of the Month features a new topic each month covering timely to encourage further research.
• Preview the upcoming spotlight for lesson planning, or review the archive from the previous year.
Spotlight of the Month
Database Features
World Almanac• The World Almanac for
Kids provides information on a variety of topics including people, countries, animals, the environment, and history.
• Search or browse a table of contents.
• View maps and other related graphics.
Database Features
Encyclopedia• Search Encyclopedia
Britannica's 17,440 entries.
• Research articles and images covering science, math, history, cultures, ideas, the natural world, places, people, and more.
SIRS Discoverer Search Paths
1. Subject Tree Search— Locate content via
15 category buttons.
— Categories are divided into sub-topics, or “branches,” creating a subject tree.
— Useful when you have a general subject in mind and allows you to explore many different fields without limiting you to predetermined topics.
Three Search Methods
Database Features
1. Subject Tree Search— Topics appear in each
category and may be followed by article or website titles.
— An < indicates the branch has been expanded.
— Select the branch to return to that level of the tree.
— An > indicates there are additional levels beyond this branch in the tree.
Three Search Methods
Database Features
2. Keyword Search— Boolean Operators
AND, OR, NOT
— Truncationfarm* -> farmers, farming
— Phrase Searching“affirmative action”
— Natural LanguageWhy is the sky blue?
— Article SortingRelevanceDateLexile
Three Search Methods
Database Features
2. Keyword Search (Advanced)— Additional search fields
available, search by Title or Author, or together in conjunction with Full-Text.
— Reading Level Selectors:Easy, Moderate, Challenging
— Search in almanac or encyclopedia
— Limit results to a Lexile range.
Three Search Methods
Database Features
3. Subject Headings Search— Use this method when
you have a specific research topic in mind.
— Articles are indexed according to Library of Congress subject headings.
Three Search Methods
Database Features
Search Results• Results are returned
with special icons and tools that aid in selecting content:
1. Source & Summary
2. Article or Website Title
3. Subjects
4. Pictures
5. Article Labels
a – Activity
f – Fiction
p – People
6. Source/Publisher
7. Date
8. Size
Database Features
Source Tabs & Modify• Source tabs have
been added to help further narrow your results.
• A search box at the bottom enable users to modify a search without having to start over.
Database Features
Source & Summary• Source information
accompanies every full-text article and website.
• Summaries are written by SIRS editors to help students and teachers judge relevance quickly.
Database Features
Full-Text Articles• 100% Full-Text• Keyword bolding of
search terms• Article Reading Levels• In-line pictures support
reading• Links to related
articles• Email articles and
pictures• Print for reading or
reference
Database Features
WebFind Sites• Selected by subject
specialists to ensure age appropriateness, credibility, reliability.
• Continually monitored for content changes.
• Source, Summary, and Descriptor information aids in determining content.
• Supports curriculum through assigned Reading Levels, Topics, and Subjects.
Database Features
Reading Levels• Articles and sites are
assigned a reading level according to editorial judgement, the Flesch Reading Ease and Lexile scale.
• Limit searches to include articles or websites of a single reading level or broader Lexile range, in any combination.
Easy (Grades 1-4)
General (All grades)
Moderate (Grades 5-7)
Challenging (Grades 8+)
Database Features
Reading Levels• Why use two separate
reading levels?
• SIRS editorially-assigned reading levels take into account subject matter, depth of coverage and Flesch Reading Ease scale.
• Lexile Scores provide a formalized measurement by which students and teachers can track their reading progress, one of the necessary requirements for NCLB funding.
Age School Year
Typical Lexile Level
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
300- 800
400- 900
500-1000
600-1100
700-1200
800-1300
900-1400
1000-1700
1100-1700
1200-1700
Lexile Score Table @ www.lexile.com
(All grade levels) (Grades 1-4) (Grades 5-7) (8th Grade & Beyond)
Database Features
Subjects• Subjects are words or
phrases based on Library of Congress subject headings that describe what an article is about and link to related articles.
• All articles and websites are hand-indexed to ensure relevant results.
Database Features
Pictures• The Camera icon
signifies that there are one or more pictures available.
• Select the icon to view a list.
• In addition, articles include inline thumbnail images, which assist researchers and create context.
Database Features
Article Labels• a - Designates the
article contains an activity.
• f - Designates the article is a work of fiction.
• p - Designates the article contains biographical information about a person.
Database Features
Email• Users may email
full-text articles and pictures to their personal email addresses right from the article display.
Database Features
Print• A Print button displays
at the top of each article.
• Allows quick and easy access to the print dialog box of your browser.
Additional Aids
Dictionary +Thesaurus
• A dictionary and thesaurus are available to assist users in defining words, checking spelling, choosing the perfect word, and more.
Additional Aids
How to Cite• How to Cite provides
descriptions and real examples on how to cite using the Modern Language Association Format (MLA), the American Psychological Association Format (APA), and Turabian.
Additional Aids
Workbooks• SIRS workbooks
contain exercises that help users master search methods.
• Educator’s Guide• Primary School
Edition, targeting grades 1-5
• Middle School Edition, targeting grades 6-8
• Available in PDF and HTML.
Additional Aids
— Includes a collection of materials designed to help librarians and library patrons.
— Access anywhere in from a link provided in the footer of every page.
Educators’ Resources
SIRS Source Lists & More
@ proquestk12.com— Download the latest
source lists.— Researcher,
Discoverer, Renaissance, Decades
— Additional background information, training materials, posters, custom flyers, videos.
— www.proquestk12.com
