Introduction
There are a lot of really good sites out there and some of them are listed in this guide. As an example of what is on offer I am going to concentrate on www.ala.org/greatsites and a site that is linked to it, www.dawcl.com
When you connect to www.ala.org/greatsites by clicking into the URL address box and typing in the above address, take your time to look in the left-hand side column.
The first option is Search Great Websites for Kids. This search allows you to search by Intended Audience, Keyword or by URL. Intended audience refers to the age group for which you are searching. Keyword is obviously that and it is important that you be specific in your search terms to get the best results. URL refers to Unique Resource Locator which is the actual web page address.
The second option is Great Websites for Kids Selection Criteria. This information is very useful for anybody surfing the net and I would recommend that you take a look at it.
Other options included on this site are a users survey which, if completed, helps the web page administrators keep up with clients’ requirements; an option to suggest a good website (if you have come across or if you have created a good reputable website you can suggest it and it will be vetted by the committee and given the seal of approval); and there is also a link to the current committee with contact addresses and telephone numbers. The members are all based in the U.S.
The main page content is categorised by subject headings: Animals, Literature and Languages, Sciences, The Arts, Reference Desk, History and Biography, Mathematics and Computers, Social Sciences and there is a link in the bottom right hand corner to Sites for Parents, Caregivers, Teachers and Others.
If you click on Sites for Parents, Caregivers, Teachers and Others you will see that sites have been colour coded appropriate to age group.
- Appropriate for PreK aged youth refers to 0-4 year olds
- .Appropriate for Elementary aged youth refers to 5-10 year olds.
- Appropriate for Middle School aged youth refers to 10-14 year olds .
- For Parents/Teachers/Caregivers is self explanatory.
If you click on Literature and Languages there are links to sites aboutAuthors and Illustrators, which are all colour coded for age suitability.
There are a lot of sites listed but the list is not definitive.
Another heading in this section is Expanding the Classics. This is colourcoded with sites about Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Hemingway, CharlesDickens, To Kill a Mockingbird, Snow White and others.
Writing By Children has links to four interactive sites for young readers and writers. The links are fairly self explanatory.
Parents might want to look at these as well.
