Challenge 3 - SIRS Discoverer and SIRS Issues Researcher

SIRS Discoverer and Issues Researcher have been challenging.  I have had some trouble finding what I am looking for and also interpreting the results.

SIRS Discoverer:
1.  The third grader may have trouble reading many of the articles I found about the solar system.  I did an advanced search and limited the results to Easy articles.  The results listed 44 "all articles." [Okay, here's my question:  there are 4 newspapers, 28 magazines, and 7 reference sources listed.  I'm no math whiz, but I am sure that those numbers add up to 39, not 44.  So what are they counting??]
      I do not know the specific lexile range for students in third grade, but I notice that the lexiles for these articles (all rated as Easy) are all over the place!  I went to the Lexile website for clarification, and it seems to me that most of the articles will be too difficult for a student reading below a 3rd grade level.  A read-aloud feature would be useful here, so more information could be accessible to this student....  [I did not find an option for an article to be read aloud.  Is there one and I just missed it??]

2.  There are several ways to find pictures and maps of volcanoes.  They all give different results.  The first way is to choose the "pictures" option in the box under "Database Features" on the lower right side of the screen.  Then type in "volcanoes" - this results in 105 graphics.  Another way is to type in "volcanoes" in the search box at the top of the home page.  This results in 933 articles, with 137 graphics.  The third way I found volcano pictures, maps, and diagrams was to click on the science icon on the home page.  I chose "Weather, Climate, & Natural Disasters" (from the topics box on the right).  I then chose "Volcanic Eruptions" (also from the topics box).  This resulted in 130 articles, with 156 graphics.  This last search resulted in the highest number of graphics, but it was such a round-about way to get there.  [Once again, the number of "all articles" does not equal the sum of the other types....]

SIRS Issues Researcher
1.  To assist the teachers needing websites on suicide prevention, I typed in the topic (suicide prevention) in the search box, then narrowed the results to "WebSelect Sites" from the Narrow Your Results box on the left side of the screen.  This resulted in seven sites.  As to why this is better than Google, check out the article under Educators' Resources (top right, near the Help button) about SIRS vs. Google.  The major advantages of SIRS are that the sites listed are age-appropriate, curriculum-relevant, and editorially selected.  Google is consumer oriented, with many questionable sites.  It would take a lot of time researching to find the best sites using Google, and time is something most teachers and librarians do not have an abundance of!

2.  Pros and Cons of Water Restriction can be found by searching the topics box on the left side of the home page under Leading Issues.  Click on "Water Use" to get 98 results.  The Pro/Con Issues box at the top has opposing views as well.  This would be a great place to start researching the issue of water restriction.

I had some issues with SIRS, but it does have good information about current issues.  Discoverer also has a variety of kid-friendly of activities!  The Chinese New Year Snake looks like a fun project!