Know Your Country Pathfinder       

 

Use level : 4th grade

Time: Early Spring

Assignment: 4th grade Team country report and presentation

Lower School Reynolds Library Pathfinder

 

Procedure: Each fourth grade student picks a country from a hat in a fourth grade social studies group. Students come to library in S.S. groupings and check out individual country book from new Children’s Press Countries of the World series, in the 940’s+ area of nonfiction in the library. Our library has two good sources on each country.

        Students work in classes to read and comprehend the facts about their country. Each student completes a country report and presentation, following “Country Report Guidelines” sheet.

 

Print Sources: 940’s. – 980’s. (various authors), Children’s Press ‘Enchantment of the World’ series.  Also Gareth Stevens’ ‘Countries of the World’ series is good to use for a second source.

(The Howard County Public Library has Enchantment of the World series and also carries Lerner’s Visual Geography series on individual countries.)

 

Database: Sirs Discoverer Deluxe

 

Materials rated “easy” (green book icon) and “moderate” (blue book icon) can be used by fourth graders successfully.

Enter words by natural language in search window: search your country name in subject window, or click on “Countries” icon. Scroll down on right to find your country. Click on it.

Each Country Fact entry shares the same basic country information, such as map, flag, population, geography and weather, economy, government, history, and further sources/links.

SIRS contains many sources: “Maps of the World” (bottom right of ‘Database Features' menu on right of main page), periodicals, an encyclopedia, World Almanac For Kids, biographies, photographs, newspapers and recommended websites. All materials can be printed or sent to email address as wished by user. (Sending to an email address allows you to print color photos or maps.)

Sirs Discoverer can be accessed from off campus: contact me to remind you how to do this. My contact info appears at the end of this pathfinder.

 

Internet Resources:

Countries’ Websites:

URL: http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/

Outline Maps
Source: Houghton Mifflin Company
Summary: This site offers world, country, United States' regions, and historical maps in PDF format. Learn about world geography using these easy-access maps.

http://www.plcmc.org/forkids/mow/

Source: Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Summary: Visit this Web site to view national flags and maps for countries of the world. Choose a continent from the global map, or browse the alphabetical list of countries.

 

 

http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation3/menu/advanced.asp

Source: United Nations
Summary: "Country at a Glance is a dynamic online almanac of the countries of the world with official UN statistics, maps and flags." Compare the populations, population densities, largest cities, and surface areas of up to five countries at one time. Also, click on the names to read a brief overview of each nation, including a map showing each country's location in the world.
Images and facts are usually plentiful and up-to-date

 

http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/

Peace Corps Kids World
Source: Peace Corps
Summary: Since 1961, volunteers have been making a difference in the world through the Peace Corps. Find out about the Peace Corps, what they do and the history of this organization. Learn about different countries around the world and how kids can change their world for the better. Also, play the "Pack Your Bags" game on this site.

Please feel free to contact Linda Jeffries-Summers, the Lower School Librarian, with any further questions you may have.

Email me by clicking here!. (Click on underlined word.)