If you ask your students how they find answers to the questions they ponder, they are very likely to respond: “I just Google it!” In our digital age, it is vital that students develop online research skills — but it’s just as important that they learn how to navigate traditional print resources, too.

Many students lack the skills necessary to to use reference books such as an atlas, thesaurus, world almanac, dictionary, and library catalog, which bars them from accessing the wealth of information they contain. Being able to identify which resource is best suited to answer a particular question is only part of the objective. Students must also learn how to find the answer within each source. 

To work on their source-scouring skills, elementary teacher Angela Bunyi’s students played a simple and engaging game with their school librarian. This activity is easy to incorporate into your classroom or library time and will provide valuable practice on identifying and using various reference materials for research reports and more. 

Gamify the Search for Sources

Materials:

• Reference books: 6 sets of almanacs, dictionaries, thesauruses, and atlases (one each per group) 
• Game board: You can make a Jeopardy-style game board using a clear, over-the-door shoe hanger (with pockets for question cards) or by using a projector or SmartBoard to display the questions to your class.
• Stopwatch

Divide your students into groups of four and begin the lesson with a brief review of each source and its purpose. Then ask the class: Can you find this information you need without relying on an Internet search?

The guidelines for the game are simple. Groups should take turns calling out for a question to be revealed (like on Jeopardy), and then students race the clock to choose the most appropriate source and find the answer to the question. Third and fourth graders will need around 2.5 minutes to answer each question, while fifth graders should be able to find the answers more quickly. 

For instance, a question such as Which countries border Libya? would be correctly answered with an atlas and the names of the countries. Score the game by awarding full points to each team that identifies the correct source and then double the score if they also answer the question before the time runs out.

Learning From Each Other

Between game rounds, give students a chance to explain the thought process they used to find the answers within each source. There will be some trial and error: Students may search overly-broad terms in the resource’s index before settling on the right keyword that leads to the answer they need. 

By working together in groups and talking through strategies as a class, students will help each other minimize lost time searching and discover new insights on how to effectively use reference books. With a clock to beat and points on the line, students will be so engaged and focused on the game, they might not notice how much fun they had reading a dictionary!

Nonfiction is also a great way to learn new things and gather information. Explore the genre with this Who Would Win? research project. For more great ideas on gathering information, try this fun wonder bubbles research project with your class.

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