Reference Sources Grades 4 and 5

What is a Reference Source? Something that contains information that can be used for help or support. Information can be from a print or online source.

Almanac  contains statistics for locating specific information

Almanacs include the following:  Published and updated every year for that year’s events  Includes population statistics  Can include calendars (such as the Farmer’s Almanac published since 1818)  Statistics  Facts of all kinds

Atlas  a book of maps  can show physical geographical features  can show political boundaries  can show population and economic data  gives information about the map

An Atlas gives information like:  can show physical geographical features  can show political boundaries  can show population and economic data  gives information about the map

Dictionary  contains information that help understand the meaning or words

Dictionaries can tell us many details about words!  How to say a word—pronunciation  Meaning of a word—definition  How the word can be used in a sentence—part of speech (like noun, verb or pronoun)  How to spell a word  How the word is divided into parts—syllables  Examples of how to use the word in a sentence  Picture of the word  Multiple meanings of the word

Encyclopedia  a set of books containing general information about topics such as people, places, and things

Characteristics of Encyclopedias  Each book is called a VOLUME in the set  Volumes are organized in number and ABC order  They are ALPHABETICALLY organized  They are the BEST first stop in a research project  Encyclopedias can also be used ONLINE  Set is updated EVERY year  Contains information on PEOPLE, PLACES and THINGS

Newspaper A newspaper contains articles with current reports and is published on a daily basis

Newspapers include the following:  National news stories  International news stories  Local news stories  Sports  Weather  Classified ads  Advertisements from local businesses  Obituaries  Cartoons  Letters to the Editor; editorials

Online Resources  contain a wide variety of information that serves many purposes

Telephone Directory  contains personal and business contact information

Telephone Books have the following characteristics:  Uses GUIDE WORDS to get where you are going quickly  Contains personal phone numbers and addresses organized in ABC order by NAME  Also organized in ABC order by business name  BEST local source to find a business, doctor, or other local establishment contact information

Thesaurus  contains information that can be used to support writing  Contains words that mean the opposite-antonyms and words that mean the same-synonyms  Also uses guide words to find the words more easily

A Thesaurus is a reference source to help with writing.  Example: Synonyms for the word RUN Jog Trot Dash Race Sprint  Example: Antonyms for the word HAPPY Sad Unhappy Depressed Blue

Almanac, Atlas, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Newspaper, Online, Phone Book or Thesaurus? Susy is writing a story about the Spelling Bee. She wants to find another word to use instead of saying “great” all the time. Where should she look? A glossary is most like what kind of reference source? Which resource would give you world records for everything? Which reference source would you look in to find how large the land was that connected Asia and North America? Where would you look to find out about airplanes and how they fly? Where would you look to find the phone number for a local landscaper? Where would you look to find the opposite of the word “plentiful”? Claire wants to see what states border the state of Tennessee. Where would she look? Where would you look to find out if North Cobb won their football game last night? What resource would best describe the fastest, longest, or biggest? What resource would you choose to find out how to pronounce a word? This source has informational articles in volumes that are organized in ABC order. What is it?

Almanac, Atlas, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Newspaper, Online, Phone Book or Thesaurus? What resource would you use to find out about the events that happened in 2009? A truck driver wants to find the best route to Mobile from Atlanta. What resources should he use? Where would you look to find an audio-clip of the National Anthem? Max is interested in the latitude and longitude lines near Brazil? Where should he look? What resource uses guide words to help find something more quickly? Where is the best place to begin any sort of research project? A Thesaurus is used to help with writing. True or False Where would Bill go to find out how many syllables a word has?

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