Key Sites
These sites support learning across the curriculum. This list includes comprehensive and subject-related reference sources, as well as online tools for creating assignments.
Countries & Maps
- Atlas of Canada
- BC Stats - Statistical information for British Columbia
- BBC Country Profiles
Includes current news events as well as statistical and historical information. - Canadian Arctic
This is an excellent resource developed by the University of Guelph. There are large-scale and very detailed maps of northern Canada. Once you are in a detailed map, click on place names in the left navigation bar for a closer look and information about the area. - Canadian Atlas Online
This is a Canadian Geographic site. There are searchable and interactive maps. - Canadian Geographic: Mapping
also check out the latest articles relating to mapping and cartography from Canadian Geographic.
- Google Earth
Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others. - Google Ocean
With Google Ocean you can: Dive beneath the surface and visit the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench; Explore the ocean with top marine experts; Learn about ocean observations, climate change, and endangered species; Discover new places including surf, dive and travel hot spots and shipwrecks. - Human Development Indicators
The United Nations Human Development Index uses health, education, and other demographic information to rank countries. - Information Please
Brief information on many topics, combining the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas and several almanacs. - Library of Congress Country Studies
Comprehensive information about countries including history. - NASA's Landsat Science and EO Kids (Earth Observatory for students 9-14)
These sites provide satellite images over time. Select an area and see if you are able to detect differences. Click on the link below the image to get a closer look. - National Geographic Mapmaker Interactive
- NationMaster.com
This database uses reputable sources such as Statistical Yearbook, United Nations World Statistics and CIA World Factbook. You can generate statistical comparisons for a wide variety of demographic information. - Outline Maps
- Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection (U. Texas) - Includes online maps of the world, including those of current interest.
- Statistics Canada:
- Statistics Canada: Historical Statistics
- Census Teacher's Kit
- Historical Census Information (Censuses of Canada: 1665-1871) New France, Aboriginal Peoples et al.
BIOGRAPHIES
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
An extensive online reference for Canadian historical figures.
- Eric Weisstein's World of Scientific Biography
Brief biographies of scientists. - Who 2
Biographies of famous people. There is a brief biography and found good links for each person.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
- BC Health Guide
Information about BC Health Services. Includes a drug guide.
- HealthLink BC
Go to the web site for phone numbers and information about this 24 hour consultation service.
- Kids Help Phone
Help is available 24 hours a day for Kids Help Phone. Phone 1-800-668-6868 any time. Visit the web site for resources useful to teens.
- Red Book Online
The Redbook Online contains information on community services available in BC. This resources is available via the bc211 non-profit organization.
CURRENT EVENTS
In addition to the latest news, BBC provides a country profile and historical perspective.
Front pages from more than two hundred newspapers from around the world.
Vast news archive from global sources.
In addition to the latest news, BBC provides a country profile and historical perspective.
Front pages from more than two hundred newspapers from around the world.
- Science Daily: latest research news.
Vast news archive from global sources.
ENCYCLOPÆDIAS
Start here with the outstanding encyclopedias & databases via our school district.
NB Click on the database link to be automatically logged in from any school district computer. From home, you must enter the username and password (see your school newsletters for these). Included are:
Other:
Start here with the outstanding encyclopedias & databases via our school district.
NB Click on the database link to be automatically logged in from any school district computer. From home, you must enter the username and password (see your school newsletters for these). Included are:
- World Book Encyclopedia (several levels + French and Spanish versions).
- Know BC (Encyclopedia of BC)
- Historica Canada (Encyclopedia of Canada)
- Many other comprehensive & subject related databases
Other:
- Catholic Encyclopædia
Read the information about the mandate of the encyclopedia.
- CIA World Factbook: includes information about the people, government, history, and cultures of countries around the world, as well as a collection of world maps.
- Encyclopedia Britannica (not full version as it is a paid source)
- The Smithsonian Institution: The world's largest museum, education, and research complex.
DICTIONARIES & LANGUAGE ARTS
Verb practice, language games and vocabulary development for learning French, Spanish, German, Korean, Italian, Latin, &
Portuguese.
Writing and Teaching Writing, Research, Grammar and Mechanics, Style Guides (APA, MLA & Chicago),
ESL (English as a Second Language).
- Bartelby Project
This site contains many online texts as well as reference resources.
- Bartleby.com : Verse
Look here for a wide selection of poems.
Verb practice, language games and vocabulary development for learning French, Spanish, German, Korean, Italian, Latin, &
Portuguese.
Writing and Teaching Writing, Research, Grammar and Mechanics, Style Guides (APA, MLA & Chicago),
ESL (English as a Second Language).
- Simpson's Contemporary Quotations (Quotations from 1950 to 1988)
- The Word Detective
Word meaning, origin, usage.
GENERAL
Click on the Database link and you will be automatically logged in to the databases from any school district computer. From home you must enter the username and password (see your school newsletters for these).
- Canadian Information by Subject
The National Library of Canada provides a list of Canadian sites organized by subject.
- National Library of Canada (Collections Canada)
- Government of Canada
All about Canada, including topics such as culture, history, sport, environment, industry, science, immigration, health.
- Measurement Conversion
This site provides converters for weights, measures, speed, volume, temperature and other measures.
- Flags
World flag database. Note the copyright information.
- Google Earth
Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others.
- Google Ocean
With Google Ocean you can: Dive beneath the surface and visit the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench; Explore the ocean with top marine experts; Learn about ocean observations, climate change, and endangered species; Discover new places including surf, dive and travel hot spots and shipwrecks.
- Martindales's: The Reference Desk
Contains a wide variety of reference resources.
Click on the Database link and you will be automatically logged in to the databases from any school district computer. From home you must enter the username and password (see your school newsletters for these).
- Refdesk.com
An enormous resource, with a wide variety of topics. Select the Facts Subject Index for a list of the resources that are indexed.
- Refdesk.com : Science and Technology
Science links arranged alphabetically.
- Virtual Library
The Virtual Library is an immense project that lists websites by topic.
- World Digital Library
The World Digital Library (WDL) , is an online partnership between the Library of Congress, UNESCO, and 32 partner institutions to share cultural materials. The site will include a wealth of manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, and prints and photographs, all available free to the public, browseable and searchable in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) but with content offerings in dozens of languages.
Articles: Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers
Directory of Open Access Journals.
DOAJ is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides free access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed
journals.
Search by continent, country, province, state, or city. Here are the BC Newspapers.
- EBSCO - Large index of all kinds articles.
- EXPLORA - EBSCO’s interface middle school or high school makes searching EBSCO easier.
Click on the Database link and you will be automatically logged in to the databases from any school district computer. From home you must enter the username and password (see your school newsletters for these).
Directory of Open Access Journals.
DOAJ is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides free access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed
journals.
Search by continent, country, province, state, or city. Here are the BC Newspapers.
- JournalismNet
Look here for newspapers and magazines from around the world. This site also includes access information for online archives.
SPECIALIZED DICTIONARIES
- MoMA Glossary of Art Terms
You can search the glossary for terms or browse by theme or artist. Illustrated.
- Biology Dictionary
Biology online.org - Enter term in the search box.
- Culinary Dictionary from What's Cooking America. See also: Encyclopædia of Spices and Herbs
- Duhaime's Law Dictionary
A comprehensive source for Canadian law.
ONLINE TOOLS
Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything offers this list of tools for learning and teaching. Includes video, audio & image recorders/editors, mind mapping, coding & programming, survey, collage, timeline, drawing, screen-casting, animation, presentation, citation, comic, avatar, math, podcast & webpage creators, infographics, graphing, collaboration, curation and more. Kids' Zone graph creator for Pie Charts, Area Graphs, Line Graphs, and Bar Graphs for the statistics that you have collected.