1. SIRS Discoverer Opens a world of information to students
Online Tutorial discoverer.sirs.com | proquestk12.com

2. Welcome to SIRS Discoverer
An award-winning database designed with the young researcher in mind.
Strengthens research, reading, writing, and computer skills.
Articles and graphics from more than 1,900 U.S. and international magazines, newspapers, and U.S. government documents.

3. Welcome to SIRS Discoverer
Materials are carefully selected for their educational content, interest, and level of readability.
Because it includes middle and elementary curriculum topics, Discoverer can be easily integrated into classroom activities.

4. SIRS Discoverer WebFind
Now includes Discoverer WebFind as a content set.
Dynamically updated collection of websites.
Websites are evaluated for research value, high interest, credibility, and age appropriateness.
Sites are monitored for content changes by SIRS' sophisticated software.

5. How Can I Utilize SIRS in My Library or Classroom?
SIRS Solutions Make The Grade
How Can I Utilize SIRS in My Library or Classroom?
Research Papers
Persuasive Speeches
Debate Team Research
Current Events Discussions
Consult Primary Source Materials
Analyze Statistical Data
Find Materials Linked to State, National, Canadian Standards
Supplement Outdated Textbooks
Create Reading Lists
Provide Pathfinders
Curriculum Integration
Homework Help
Download Photographs, Graphics, Maps, Charts

6. Database Features What’s Inside Activities Biographies Country Facts
Careers
Fiction
Holidays
Pathfinders
Photo Essays
Pictures
Maps of the World
Websites

7. Database Features Top Pick
Articles, images, and websites are regularly selected by our SIRS research team comprised of 40+ professionals with diverse educational backgrounds.
Highlights interesting articles and images that are tied to timely themes.

8. Database Features Pathfinders
Research ideas to help pupils start researching right away. Includes:
Born this Month Biographies
Holidays & Celebrations World cultures
Challenge Quest Quiz and pathfinders aid information literacy
Suggested Research Topics
Start research with these top searches

9. Database Features Activities
Provides a shortcut to full-text articles that offer activities:
Science experiments
Craft projects
Writing activities
Activities are marked with a label in the article results list (an a) to make them easy to identify within results.

10. Database Features Biographies
1,500+ full-text biographies of famous and notable people are available, including U.S. Presidents.
Available in multiple reading levels.
WebFind features sites with biographical information on artists, scientists, inventors, historical figures, and more.

11. Database Features Fiction
From Historical Fiction to Myths and Fairytales, SIRS Discoverer provides hundreds of articles, and websites, to suit every interest.

12. Database Features Country Facts
Articles with information on nearly 200 countries.
Printable maps, flags, population statistics, government information, languages spoken, economic data, history.
Many countries also have links to Culture Facts.
In addition, profiles and graphics are included for every U.S. State and Canadian Province.

13. Database Features Photo Essays
Photo Essays portray social issues and global concepts.
Each topic consists of several essays containing photographs, maps, or other graphic elements, along with brief, informative text.

14. Database Features Pictures
Keyword search or browse for pictures using an alphabetical index.
33,000+ high-quality pictures accompany full-text articles.
Pictures include photographs, illustrations, maps, charts, and more.
Send pictures as attachments, or save to HD/CD/USB flash drives for use in presentations.

15. Database Features Maps of the World
More than 3,000 detailed, printable maps are available as an online reference almanac.
Maps include all 50 United States, the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as nations and regions of the world.
Includes U.S. Historical, World Historical, and Outline Maps.

16. Additional resources and usage boosters available @ proquestk12.com
Database Features
Educators’ Resources
Includes a collection of materials designed to help librarians and library patrons.
Access anywhere in Discoverer from a link provided in the footer of every page, and on the home page.
Additional resources and usage boosters proquestk12.com

17. Database Features Educators’ Resources Podcasts What's New
Newsletters
Reference Toolbox
Discoverer Workbooks
Source Lists
Directory of Publications
Library Promotional Materials
System Administrator Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Free online training
More

18. Database Features Reference Works Current Events
Spotlight of the Month
The World Almanac ® for Kids
Encyclopedia Britannica ®

19. Database Features Current Events
Dynamically updated with full-text articles and graphics.
New content added daily.
Editor-selected to encourage research and awareness of current events.

20. Database Features Spotlight of the Month
Spotlight of the Month features a new topic each month covering timely to encourage further research.
Preview the upcoming spotlight for lesson planning, or review the archive from the previous year.

21. Database Features World Almanac
The World Almanac for Kids provides information on a variety of topics including people, countries, animals, the environment, and history.
Search or browse a table of contents.
View maps and other related graphics.

22. Database Features Encyclopedia
Search Encyclopedia Britannica's 17,440 entries.
Research articles and images covering science, math, history, cultures, ideas, the natural world, places, people, and more.

23. SIRS Discoverer Search Paths
Three Search Methods
1. Subject Tree Search
Locate content via 15 category buttons.
Categories are divided into sub-topics, or “branches,” creating a subject tree.
Useful when you have a general subject in mind and allows you to explore many different fields without limiting you to predetermined topics.

24. Database Features Three Search Methods 1. Subject Tree Search
Topics appear in each category and may be followed by article or website titles.
An < indicates the branch has been expanded.
Select the branch to return to that level of the tree.
An > indicates there are additional levels beyond this branch in the tree.

25. Database Features Three Search Methods 2. Keyword Search
Boolean Operators AND, OR, NOT
Truncation farm* -> farmers, farming
Phrase Searching “affirmative action”
Natural Language Why is the sky blue?
Article Sorting Relevance Date Lexile

26. Database Features Three Search Methods 2. Keyword Search (Advanced)
Additional search fields available, search by Title or Author, or together in conjunction with Full-Text.
Reading Level Selectors: Easy, Moderate, Challenging
Search in almanac or encyclopedia
Limit results to a Lexile range.

27. Database Features Three Search Methods 3. Subject Headings Search
Use this method when you have a specific research topic in mind.
Articles are indexed according to Library of Congress subject headings.

28. Database Features Search Results
Results are returned with special icons and tools that aid in selecting content:
1. Source & Summary
2. Article or Website Title
3. Subjects
4. Pictures
5. Article Labels
a – Activity
f – Fiction
p – People
6. Source/Publisher
7. Date
8. Size

29. Database Features Source Tabs & Modify
Source tabs have been added to help further narrow your results.
A search box at the bottom enable users to modify a search without having to start over.

30. Database Features Source & Summary
Source information accompanies every full-text article and website.
Summaries are written by SIRS editors to help students and teachers judge relevance quickly.

31. Database Features Full-Text Articles 100% Full-Text
Keyword bolding of search terms
Article Reading Levels
In-line pictures support reading
Links to related articles
articles and pictures
Print for reading or reference

32. Database Features WebFind Sites
Selected by subject specialists to ensure age appropriateness, credibility, reliability.
Continually monitored for content changes.
Source, Summary, and Descriptor information aids in determining content.
Supports curriculum through assigned Reading Levels, Topics, and Subjects.

33. Database Features Reading Levels General (All grades)
Articles and sites are assigned a reading level according to editorial judgement, the Flesch Reading Ease and Lexile scale.
Limit searches to include articles or websites of a single reading level or broader Lexile range, in any combination.
General (All grades)
Easy (Grades 1-4)
Moderate (Grades 5-7)
Challenging (Grades 8+)

34. Lexile Score Table @ www.lexile.com
Database Features
Lexile Score Table @
Reading Levels
Age
School Year
Typical Lexile Level
Why use two separate reading levels?
SIRS editorially-assigned reading levels take into account subject matter, depth of coverage and Flesch Reading Ease scale.
Lexile Scores provide a formalized measurement by which students and teachers can track their reading progress, one of the necessary requirements for NCLB funding.
(All grade levels) (Grades 1-4) (Grades 5-7) (8th Grade & Beyond)

35. Database Features Subjects
Subjects are words or phrases based on Library of Congress subject headings that describe what an article is about and link to related articles.
All articles and websites are hand-indexed to ensure relevant results.

36. Database Features Pictures
The Camera icon signifies that there are one or more pictures available.
Select the icon to view a list.
In addition, articles include inline thumbnail images, which assist researchers and create context.

37. Database Features Article Labels
a - Designates the article contains an activity.
f - Designates the article is a work of fiction.
p - Designates the article contains biographical information about a person.

38. Database Features Email
Users may full-text articles and pictures to their personal addresses right from the article display.

39. Database Features Print
A Print button displays at the top of each article.
Allows quick and easy access to the print dialog box of your browser.

40. SIRS Discoverer Additional Help
SIRS educational and training materials meet the funding criteria for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
Provide a means for testing student achievement and highlighting performance improvement strategies with student research worksheets.

41. SIRS Discoverer Additional Help
In addition, SIRS provides links to Standards Correlations in our Educator’s Resources area.
Also online at proquestk12.com under Curriculum Support.

42. SIRS Discoverer Additional Help Tutorial Dictionary &Thesaurus
Help Index
Search Tips
How to Cite
Workbooks
Educators’ Resources
Bookmark

43. Additional Aids Dictionary + Thesaurus
A dictionary and thesaurus are available to assist users in defining words, checking spelling, choosing the perfect word, and more.

44. Additional Aids Help Index
Context-sensitive help provides detailed instructions on locating articles and using database features.
SIRS Discoverer's Help feature may be searched by keyword or table of contents.
All database keywords are indexed for easy reference.

45. Additional Aids Search Tips
Search tips are provided in a handy reference sheet that can be viewed or printed.
Review meanings and search syntax.
Learn how to choose a search method, use Boolean operators, phrase searching, and more.

46. Additional Aids How to Cite
How to Cite provides descriptions and real examples on how to cite using the Modern Language Association Format (MLA), the American Psychological Association Format (APA), and Turabian.

47. Additional Aids Workbooks
SIRS workbooks contain exercises that help users master search methods.
Educator’s Guide
Primary School Edition, targeting grades 1-5
Middle School Edition, targeting grades 6-8
Available in PDF and HTML.

48. Additional Aids Educators’ Resources
Includes a collection of materials designed to help librarians and library patrons.
Access anywhere in from a link provided in the footer of every page.

49. SIRS Source Lists & More
@ proquestk12.com
Download the latest source lists.
Researcher, Discoverer, Renaissance, Decades
Additional background information, training materials, posters, custom flyers, videos.

50. SIRS Discoverer Questions. Call our ProQuest representatives at 1. 800