Looking for Easy Research for Younger Students?
Are you looking for easy research for younger students to do in your library or classroom? Have you tried the Pebble Go databases? These are paid subscription databases, so check with your librarian or tech director to see if your district has a subscription. There are two levels available: Pebble Go is geared toward Grades K-3 and Pebble Go Next is geared toward Grades 3-5. But, you can be flexible. I often use Pebble Go with fourth and fifth graders to do short, easy research projects. And, if you have even older students with special needs, you may want to try the easier level.
Easy Navigation for Research
Students can navigate through the “pages” in each database. For researching an animal, they would read different sections on the animal’s body, habitat, food, life cycle, and fun facts. For inventions, the tabs would include the inventor, how the invention works, “then and now” (how the invention developed over time). Tap the speaker icons to have the article read aloud for struggling readers. Glossary words are highlighted in yellow. Tap the word to read the definition. You know how we librarians love our bibliographies? There is a button to show students how to cite their source.
Pebble Go Next delves into topics in more detail, but it also uses tabs for easy navigation. Many articles have allied resources, such as the song or regional recipe for a state.
Included with your subscription are worksheets and lesson plans, such as templates for research notes, word searches, crosswords, and other activities. There are also resources that you can share with parents, such as Curiosity Cards.
Digital Research Worksheets
I have some research packets available in my Teachers pay Teachers store: Little Library of Learning for a very reasonable price. You can print them out (answer keys included) or use the digital version in Google Slides.
Here are some of the available packets. Click on the links in the captions.
Pebble Go has several subscription levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. They may seem expensive, but think back to when you ordered print volumes of World Book or Britannica. They easily went for $1,000 or more! I used to hate when classes did state reports. Everyone needed the “N” volume, for: New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, New Hampshire, North Dakota, North Carolina! With a database, everyone has access at the same time. Students can use it in their classroom, or at home, too. Try lugging the Encyclopedia Britannica in your backpack!
I think you and your students will enjoy the Pebble Go databases, once you start using them! Research was never so easy!
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