Database Highlight #6: We've got the Research Pack for That!

It’s Back to School time! While it might be too early for the kids to start thinking about research, here at Metro it’s all we think about (right?). This week’s database highlight is a four-for-one. SIRS Discoverer is a visually appealing database for grades K-8th.  Covering grades 6 – 12, SIRS Knowledge Source is a collection of three databases. Here students will find Issues Researcher, Government Reporter, and Renaissance.

SIRS Discoverer is a multidisciplinary database specifically designed for elementary and middle school learners, researchers, and educators covering curriculum areas such as current events, history, health, language arts, math, science, social studies, and technology. All newspaper, magazine, and reference content is 100% full text, editorially-selected and indexed from over 2,200 reliable, high-quality domestic and international sources. The collection includes integrated educational Websites and reference materials such as the Compton’s by Britannica encyclopedia and DK Eyewitness books. - from the vendor

SIRS Knowledge Source acts as both an integrated search portal to [Researcher, Government Reporter, and Renaissance] and as a standalone resource, providing schools with compelling, multidisciplinary learning assets for enhancing student achievement. We pride ourselves on selecting only the best and most relevant resources. Every article, primary source document, Website, chart, map, diagram, illustration, and graphic has been carefully selected by editors to ensure its relevancy, credibility, curricular applicability, and appropriateness to students. Titles include American History, Atlantic Monthly, The Christian Science Monitor, The Economist, Global Viewpoint, New York Times, Newsweek, and Smithsonian. – from the vendor”

This week's open site is about helping schools with supplies. School supplies can get expensive and with deep cuts to the public-school system, more and more teachers are relying on parents to pick up the extra cost. School supply lists include not only personal supplies but supplies for the whole classroom. You can help families absorb some of these costs by recommending or contributing to the fundraisers collected at Metro Family’s School Supplies Events page.

Action Steps

1. Using SIRS Discoverer, what’s the box turtle’s scientific name?
2. Using SIRS Researcher, what are the two viewpoints for the controversial issue Concussions in Sports?

Free pens for the first 10 respondents!