1. Reference Books

2. When you want to find information, where can you look?
You can use special types of books called REFERENCE books to find information.
What are REFERENCE BOOKS?
Atlas
Dictionary
Glossary
Encyclopedia
Click on any of the hyperlinks to go directly to the first slide of those sections.

3. Atlases
Atlases are books that contain maps and information about land.
Explain to students what an encyclopedia is and what kinds of information can be found in an encyclopedia.
Explain that some encyclopedias are specialized.

4. Inside an Atlas
Maps
Map Key
Compass Rose
Information

5. When would you use an atlas?
To find out where some place is
in the world
To find out information about a
place in the world like
How many people live there
what language people speak
The flag
special food
special animals

6. Where can you find atlases in the Media Center?
You cannot check out books from this section.

7. Dictionaries
Dictionaries are books that contain words and meanings of words.
Explain to students what an encyclopedia is and what kinds of information can be found in an encyclopedia.
Explain that some encyclopedias are specialized.

8. Inside a Dictionary
Guide Words
Definitions

9. When would you use a dictionary?
To find out what a word means

10. Where can you find dictionaries in the Media Center?
You cannot check out books from this section.

11. Glossaries
Glossaries are similar to dictionaries. They are at the back of a book and give definitions to words that you can find in that book.
Explain to students what an encyclopedia is and what kinds of information can be found in an encyclopedia.
Explain that some encyclopedias are specialized.

12. When would you use a glossary?
To find out what a word in a book means

13. Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias are big, thick, books with LOTS of information about LOTS of different things.
Explain to students what an encyclopedia is and what kinds of information can be found in an encyclopedia.
Explain that some encyclopedias are specialized.

14. How to Use an Encyclopedia
Information in encyclopedias are in alphabetical order and are grouped together by letters.

15. How to Use an Encyclopedia
Use the guidewords at the top of the page to locate the subject you are looking for.
Words are in alphabetical order like in a dictionary.

16. When would you use an encyclopedia?
To find out information about a
specific person, place, or thing
For school projects

17. Where can you find encyclopedias in the Media Center?
You cannot check out books from this section.

18. Let’s Practice it!

19. What would you use to find…
…information about blue birds, like where they live and what they like to eat?

20. What would you use to find…
…the meaning of the word “bird”?

21. What would you use to find…
…the meaning of the word “fly” that you read in your story, the Story of a Bluebird in your reading book?

22. What would you use to find…
…where Bluebird Island is located in the world?

23. Great job!

24. Any questions?