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The Universe Pathfinder
Goodlettsville Middle School Library
Grade 5
Basic Reference Sources
Use these links
Starting Points
to navigate this
Print Subject Reference Sources
pathfinder to go
Online Databases
only to the
Journals
section you
Media Resources
need!
Websites
Basic Reference Sources
 Compton’s Encyclopedia R 031 Com
o Very detailed encyclopedia with many pictures on Outer Space and Space Travel.
 The New Book of Knowledge
R 031 New
o Great encyclopedia with many graphics, best for students who are good readers and
who know what they’re research is going to be about.
 World Book Encyclopedia
R 031 Wor
o One of the best encyclopedias to start your research. This book contains many,
many pictures and information; good for middle school.
 The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia R 034 Wor
o A very colorful encyclopedia, great for 5th grade and up!
 The Kingfisher Children’s Encyclopedia R 031 Kin
o This dictionary is great for putting difficult science vocabulary into student-friendly
language. Lots of graphics and pictures!
 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2008 R 317.3 Wor
o This is one of the most up-to-date books in our library currently, so this is a great
source for the most recent information, from 2008 and earlier.
 E.encyclopedia: the ultimate online learning resource R. 371.33 Een
o Published with the help of Google, this encyclopedia gives a broad overview of the
area of the Universe and helps link keywords and locations for you to search to find
further information on the Internet.
 Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science R 503 Ult
o This dictionary is all about the pictures—looking for detailed illustrations? Go no
further—this is the book for you!
 Encyclopedia of Earth and Physical Sciences
R 500.203 Enc
o This book is best for students who are great readers and very interested in scientific
topics for their research.
 Random House Unabridged Dictionary 2nd Edition R 423 Ran
o When you come across words that they do not know (such as synchronous!!) in one
of the other scientific texts, it is a great idea to use an unabridged dictionary to help
them understand the meaning of those tricky words.
 Scholastic Children’s Dictionary R 423 Sch
o Looking for student-friendly language? Go no further! This is the dictionary for
you to really understand what you’re reading! .
Starting Points for subject sources:
The DVD entitled “Our Amazing Solar System” gives an awesome overview of the Sun, our
planets, and a brief picture of the Universe outside of our Solar System. It is middle-school friendly with
stunning images and contains great, factual information.
In addition, the non-fiction book All About Space by Sue Becklake (Call Number 550 Bec) has a
great introduction to the major concepts of space with visuals and good explanations.
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Subject Reference Sources
Print Subject Reference Sources:
 E.Encyclopedia of Science R 500 Goo
o Published with the help of Google, it gives a great overview of the area of the Universe and
helps link keywords and locations for you to search to find further information on the
Internet.
o Very student-friendly and easy to use.
 Space Encyclopedia R 520 Spa
o This book uses lots of fancy scientific language, but the written blurbs about each topic are
usually accompanied with a picture and are written using as simply as possible. Great
graphics and explanations!
 Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide
R 523.1 Uni
o If you want a book that contains EVERYTHING about the Universe, go here first! There
are tons of great, colorful pictures—but be prepared to have to look up a few scientific
words if you have questions!
 World Book’s Solar System & Space Exploration Library R 523.7
o This is a set of ten books dealing entirely with Space studies, mostly with our Solar
System. The books include specific books on the planets (leaving Pluto as an “outer dwarf
planet” and thus appearing more modern and up-to-date with current ideas), the Sun,
telescopes, space exploration, and other galaxies. Very visual and a great overview—
without so much fancy Science language!
 In addition, browsing the 550s section of Non-fiction (Located on the back wall of the library, near
the right-hand corner) will be helpful for finding books on specific topics such as the planets, space
travel, constellations, and stars!
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Online Databases:
 Grolier Online—a fantastic resource for students. Easy to search and includes a dictionary and an
atlas. When you search, it lets you know the source using a key that is on the left-hand side of the
page to help students narrow your results.
 Kids InfoBits (part of TEL)—extremely easy to use because you can either enter a specific search
term, or can use the subject guides to find lots of information on space. There is a section on
Science & Math which leads you to a list of science topics, one of which is ONLY about Space &
Astronomy. Once you get to an article you’re interested in, ask your librarian for a set of
headphones if you’d like to have it read aloud to you!

NetTrekker—an internet search engine where you can select your reading level to make sure that
the information you get is something you can read and really use in your research! You can also
search directly for pictures or on specific topics!
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Journals:
 Newsweek—this journal often features articles about Space Science and is located in the
periodicals section of the library in alphabetical order.
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Media Resources:
 The New Solar System: An Epic Adventure 523.2 Sol
o This video provides “The Complete Saga” of our Solar System—everything you need to
know about the planets. Published by Holiday as part of their Space & Science Series.
 Space Science: Living in Space by Science Scren Report from Kraft General Foods 540 Spa
o If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live in Outer Space, this is the video for
you! Produced in 1993, this video provides detailed, if somewhat out-of-date, information
about life in Space, focusing in particular on exploring Space Station Freedom and the
living conditions for the astronauts there.
 Passport to the Solar System: Program 1 Solar System 550 Pas
o This VHS is a 15-minute overview of our Solar System, providing a “family portrait”
listing basic differentiating characteristics between each of the planets in our Solar System.
 Passport to the Solar System: Program 2 Our Star, The Sun 550 Pas
o This VHS is a 15-minute overview of our Sun, including details about the parts of the sun
and how it affects the Earth and space weather in general.
 Discover Channel School Presents Black Holes: The Ultimate Abyss
o This video provides a closer look at one of life’s great mysteries—Black Holes. A highinterest, topic-specific VHS.
 Google Earth http://earth.google.com/
o This website allows you to look at the night sky from any point on Earth. It allows you to
view things like Hubble Telescope images as well as different constellations.
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Useful Web sites:
1. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/ Amazing Space. Great website for middle school-aged students!
Learn all about the Universe through the “eyes” of the Hubble Telescope!
2. http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html Earth and Moon Viewer. This page allows you to
view both the Earth and the Earth’s moon through satellites and video clips based on latitude and
longitude!
3. http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/ Galileo Project Home. This page allows you to research the
scientists who are trying to learn as much as possible about Jupiter—see pictures, view maps, and get the
skinny on this gas giant through the eyes of Galileo, a Jet Propulsion Laboratory!
4. http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/ Planet Quest. This site allows you to learn lots (and see some amazing
pictures) of the planets in our Solar System.
5. http://www.spaceweathercenter.org/ Space Weather Center. Learn all about the weather in space—
solar flares, the solar wind, and asteroids nearby!
6. http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/ The Constellations and their Stars. Use this website
when researching all things about stars and constellations!
7. http://www.windows2universe.org/ Windows to the Universe. Exciting website all about the universe,
astronomy, stars, and planets!
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Alison J. Maliszewski
Page 4
6/30/2017