Professional Lesson Plan Introducing Teachers to KidSpace @ The Internet Public Library

One research tool I feel students should use to find information is KidSpace @ the Internet
Public Library.

Why I Chose KidSpace

KidSpace is a subject directory designed for children ages 13 and under. It is a division of the
Internet Public Library (IPL). The IPL originated in 1995 at the School of Information and
Library Studies at the University of Michigan. This subject directory is currently maintained by
library science graduate students from a consortium of 17 universities. The websites accessed
here are reviewed and selected for age-appropriateness and required to meet the collection
policies outlined by the IPL. They are indexed and abstracted. In addition to providing access to
quality websites, KidSpace also offers a free online reference service. To use this service,
children are required to submit an email address and allow three days for a reply to their
question. Remote reference questions are answered by trained library students and professional
volunteers. This is especially helpful when students are trying to locate a piece of information
and have exhausted all other resources. The questions are answered KidSpace answered her
question and included the citation. KidSpace is a good resource to use when teaching students
how to “drill down” to locate information.

Types of Information Students Will Find at KidSpace

Children would find this subject directory useful for accessing information related to school
assignments and personal interests. There are broad categories related to academic subjects
including history, geography, math, science, health, nutrition, art and music. In addition, there is
easy access to websites related to games, hobbies, pets, and sports. Reading Zone is described as
being “a little like the fiction section of the library”. Children can learn about their favorite
authors, link to eBooks, or check out the titles on recommended reading lists. Children can link
to quality search engines and Internet guides in the section labeled Computers and the Internet.
In addition, there are several resources where students can learn about Internet Safety,
Netiquette, and discover online games. There are many web resources available for elementary
students at KidSpace.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan for Teachers

1. Introduce KidSpace to the staff and provide background information explaining how it
was created and how it is currently maintained.
2. Project the website on a large screen or interactive whiteboard. Demo the “drill down”
method for searching this subject directory.
3. Highlight the resources that support our grade level curriculum, especially in the areas of
science and social studies, i.e. Air and Space for 3rd Grade Solar System Unit; History &
People for Gifted Unit on Inventors; History & People for 4th Grade Explorers and 5th
Grade American Revolution to name a few.
4. Preview the Special Features links in the left column highlighting Stately Knowledge for
the 2nd Grade State Reports and Story Hour’s access to eBooks for the primary Grades.
There is something for everyone.
5. Next year, all 4th Grade classes in my school district will be receiving instruction in
Chinese Mandarin. We’ll be sure to look at the resources in Culture Quest that not only
 reinforce the Chinese language skills, but also provide information about the Chinese
culture.
6. We’ll look at the Reference links and talk about how these tools can be used to support
inquiry and research.
a. Dictionaries to generate keywords for searching online
b. Encyclopedias to get a general overview of a topic
c. Thesaurus for locating synonyms and related terms – also good for generating
keywords for searching online
d. News for Kids – current events
7. Then we’ll look at the online reference service and how it is managed through IPL and
how students can access this service.
8. Finally, I would allow time for teachers to browse and discover some of the KidSpace
resources with their grade level teams and provide time for teachers to share their
thoughts regarding the use of this resource to support student learning.