Search Strategies on the Internet

There are three ways of finding sites for student use:

1. Browse by subject. Yahooligans gives you a categorized list of sites. For example if you were looking for information on "bears", you would first click on "science& oddities", then on "animals," then on "mammals", which would then bring you to a list of 22 sites about bears.

2. Search by keywords. If you use Lycos type "polar bears" in the white field provided for you. Click on "Go Get It". They will begin searching for you. If you see a site you think might be good, click on it, and examine it.

3. Use someone else's list of useful sites. In Kathy Schrock's site, she has reviewed and categorized the best sites for student and teacher use.

Listed below are some recommended search engines.

• Yahoo – Provides topical categories as well as a search. 

• Yahooligans – Yahoo for kids. Most sites listed are kid-friendly.

• KidsClick!-   Awesome new site like Yahooligans, but reading levels are given.

• Ask Jeeves- You can ask him a question and he will help lead you in your search. This search engine is more for teacher use. Checks spelling for you.

• Ask Jeeves for Kids – Filters other search engines, limits search. ask a question, no good direct links, can’t bookmark sites you find, good for use with kids. Checks spelling for you.

• Northern Light – It divides your results into categories.  Results are relevant but not kid-oriented.

• Infoseek – If you use quotation marks you will get a more specific result.  Information is provided regarding the creators of the sites.  It offers links to similar sites. 

• Lycos – It is easy to use.   Good results, however, the page is cluttered and difficult to read. 

• Excite – If you use quotation marks you will get a more specific result.  Some of the advertising is not appropriate for kids.

• Alta Vista – You can search in different languages.  You can ask it a  question.  The results can   be too broad.  You can do advanced searches.

• Hot Bot – Broad search for kids and adults, thought the screen is distracting for adults, it may be attractive for kids. You can limit your search by language, country, and time period.

• MetaCrawler – It searches the seven top search engines. It has lots of advertising.  The advanced search allows you to select which search engines to use. Beware, the "exposed"  filter gives access to adult materials!!

• DogPile – This searches 20 search engines, you can prioritize which search engines are used. It shows how it revises your search to find your results.