Students participate in a dual challenge: to read a set number of books and also to exercise a number of minutes. They record the number of books they read, and also the number of minutes they are physically active. After a given period...

Seventh graders research animal species using the library.  In this research instructional activity students are given an animal species to research in the library.

Students discover the use of steamboats in North Carolina. After reading background information, they take notes on their reading and participate in a class discussion. They complete a KWL chart and share what they have gathered in small...

Students build on their knowledge of sources, by looking at 2 types of information sources: artifacts or primary sources and analysis or secondary sources. They brainstorm a list of primary and secondary sources connected to one of...

Students discuss why research skills are important to have as a skill in life. As a class, they identify their prior knowledge when it comes to researching a topic and discuss why it is important to be an independent learner. In...

Students visit the Mary Baker Eddy museum. They discover the great women thinkers of the past. They make notes and observations during their visit and share them with the class.

Students use their non-dominant hand to catch candy which they tossed in the air. They estimate how many they catch in a second round. They record and determine how the probability changed the second time.

Pupils create a HyperStudio stack and use an LCD projector to share a state report with their class. Eighth grade students collaborate with fourth grade pupils to create the presentation.

Learners find a historial novel online and distinguish between fiction and nonfiction books. They research three historical events related to their novel and write a letter to a figure from their novel's time period.

Fifth graders research and examine the Westward Movement using a computer. they create their own word search from facts they discover in their research or while interacting with the Oregon Trail software. They create PowerPoint...

Students articulate their thoughts about citizenship in songs and poems. They write a songor a poem that describes what citizenship means to them. They plan a Citizenship Day during which students perform their songs and read their poems.

Fourth graders are given a scenario in the lesson that presents a problem that needs to be solved. They conduct research from multiple sources in order to gather information. This is used to contribute to possible solutions proposed by...

First graders participate in a celebration to end their examination on primary sources. In teams, they guide special guests around their classroom to show what they have done with primary sources. They share their peronal primary...

Students answer the question "How are the concepts and processes I examine in Biology relevant to my other classes, to my life, and to my community?" This assignment has students actively involved in the intellectual work of location,...

Students begin the research portion of their project after they have chosen a topic. Using their peers, they provide feedback to others to help them stay on track. They compare old research papers with new ones to show student progress.

An excellent site that supports school libraries which includes tools for both elementary and secondary students. Choose the appropriate level to find resources on citing sources, research process, choosing research resources, finding...

This site provides the standards to provide a literacy-conscious basis for the 21st-century classroom.

This article gets down to the basics, including what podcasts are, how to access them, how to create them, and why to use them. While it is specifically directed toward school librarians, the information is equally applicable for...

Canadian educator Donald Hamilton offers this refreshing look at school library budgets. This is not the nuts and bolts of your budget, but ideas about what ought to be at the heart of the budgeting process.

These forms and suggestions form the foundation for a strategic planning session for an individual library or an entire school system. Requires Adobe Reader. [PDF]

Beyond the instructional goals of the school library media program, this document addresses the principles and beliefs that form the basis for valuing a school library program in a democratic society.

Book lists from Nancy Keane categorized by theme, subject matter, targeted reading matter, and author. Collected through an international school librarians' listserv. Most books listed are for elementary or middle school students, with...

Concept to Classroom is a free series of award-winning professional development workshops covering important and timely topics in education such as: after-school programs, cooperative and collaborative learning, inquiry-based learning,...

This site is directed at teachers and teacher-librarians. It provides helpful information and links to resources for developing digital literacy skills in a school. Many of the suggestions can be passed on to students to help them find,...