Chariho Middle School Library: Sayer Research

Clara Barton founded the Red Cross to provide aid for soldiers and people in need after natural disasters.

Short article about Barton's life.

Article about Barton's life and work.

Short article about Barton

Known as the Angel of the Battlefield, Clara Barton cared for Civil War soldiers and formed the American Red Cross. Photographs and easy-to-read text tells the story of this great woman in history.

Examines the remarkable life of Clara Barton including Barton's creation of a New Jersey public school, her work helping the soldiers of the American Civil War, and her establishment of the American Red Cross.

Biography of Barton

Video about Barton from Biography.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Clara Barton

This is an encyclopedia article on Misty.

This site includes biographical information

This site features an interview with Misty by PBS.

This is a brief overview of Misty's life.

This is an encyclopedia article. (charihoms/chariho)

The article offers information on ballet dancer Misty Copeland. It presents the views of gymnast Gabby Douglas referring Copeland as a role model.

This is Misty talking about her life and inspirations. (3:26 min)

Provides information about the rainforest, the dangers they are facing, and the efforts being made to help them survive.

What covers a tiny fraction of Earth’s surface, but is home to more than half its plant and animal species? Tropical rainforests are the most biodiverse places on the planet. From the emergent layer to the forest floor, rainforests teem with life, thanks to their year-round warm temperatures and plentiful precipitation. You’ll find out about how species in this biome are specially adapted for life there, and how rainforests help all life on Earth—including humans.

Check out the "threats to rain forest" and "saving rain forests" sections at the end.

This engaging title introduces readers to one of the the richest biomes in the world-the rain forest. A special section on this habitat under threat helps readers use their mapping skills to research endangered rainforest animals.

Concludes the program by discussing the rain forest biome and some examples of the interactions people have with their ecosystems. The rain forest is home to almost half of the world’s species and can be either tropical or temperate.

Provides statistics on the valuable medicines and resources that are found in the Amazon rain forest, and reveals how many trees are cut down daily. The segment also highlights the relationship between carbon and the rain forest.

Listens to Greg Asner and Sandra Osores summarize how they believe the rain-forest conflict can be solved.

Identifies the physical characteristics of tropical rain forests around the world and reveals the different types of life forms that flourish in a rain forest. The program demonstrates how deforestation and forest fragmentation lead to the loss of ecosystems, the loss of resources for traditional societies, and the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

A description of the rainforest habitat

Facts about Narragansett Bay and some history.

Quick facts about Narraganset Bay

Shellfish on Narragansett Bay

The health of the living resources of Narragansett Bay and our coastal waters are an important indicator of the overall health of the Bay.

Check out the last section on Fisheries Protection and Management.

Simple ways YOU can help keep Rhode Island’s waters clean

What does 30 years of change look like at the bottom of Narragansett Bay? Dive in with us to find out.

Click "load more" to learn more about specific types of turtles.

Click "related information" to access articles about specific types of turtles.

Do sea turtles have teeth? Where do sea turtles lay their eggs? Which tortoise can flatten itself like a pancake? Read this book to find out!

What kind of personality might a box turtle have? What does a box turtle eat? For how long can box turtles live? Read this book to find out!

Explores the key characteristics of sea turtles. The program takes a look at the physiology, habitats, and migration patterns of multiple sea turtle species.

This book takes readers on a journey under the sea to discover the fascinating facts about sea turtles, including physical features, habitat, life cycle, food, and more.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a cold-blooded, creepy-crawly sea turtle? Learn all about this incredible reptile in this title. This title offers an in-depth look at sea turtles, including their physical characteristics, behavior, survival, techniques, life cycle, habitat and range, and threats to the animal.

Overview article about turtles and tortoises.

Sea turtles have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. Find out about the ancient mariners' oldest known ancestor, how certain adaptations may have helped the reptiles survive, and the conservation efforts being made to save these creatures.

General info about the Hawksbill sea turtle.

General info about the Leatherback sea turtle.

General info about the Loggerhead sea turtle.

Want to know more about Flipper and Willy? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim will teach you all about dolphins, a family of sea mammals that includes more than forty different species! You’ll get all the basic dolphin facts, including how fast they swim, how big they can grow, what they eat, and where they can be found.

Here's an animal lover's one-stop source for in-depth information on dolphins! What do they eat? How do they behave? Are they at risk? This book also includes loads of fun and fascinating facts about dolphins, as well as maps, charts, and wonderful photographs of these clever creatures.

Check out the "related information" for more articles about dolphins.

General info about the bottlenose dolphin.

Investigates dolphin intelligence, and interviews researcher Katy Donegan at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida. The segment showcases dolphin imitation, coordination, problem solving, and hunting strategies, and witnesses a bottlenose dolphin that can mimic actions while wearing blindfolds.

Sound, unlike light, travels extremely well through water. Dolphin sonar takes the form of clicks, which they use to navigate through their environment, locate food, and avoid obstacles. This is known as echolocation.

This book takes readers on a journey under the sea to discover the fascinating facts about bottlenose dolphins, including physical features, habitat, life cycle, food, and more.

Learn about different types of pollution, their causes and effects, and ways to prevent them.

Is that water safe to drink? In this BrainPOP movie Tim and Moby will tell you all about water pollution! Discover what water pollution even means as well as how water becomes polluted and where the pollution can come from.

Cough…hack…wheeze…if the air in your city isn’t as clean as it could be, check out this BrainPOP movie on air pollution!

You can’t always see water pollution, which is any condition that makes the water unhealthy, such as chemicals, oil spills, factory dumping, and smokestack emissions that can cause acid rain. Point source pollution is pollution that comes from one source, such as a factory or a farm. People cause non-point source pollution, such as oil leaking from motors, runoff from fertilizers, and weed killers that are put on lawns. Pollution causes much damage to the environment and the water we need to survive.

Reports that human activities have led to an increase in air pollution and acid rain, and states that chemicals released by fossil fuels mix with other pollutants to make smog.

Follows a team of researchers as they estimate how much plastic waste goes into oceans annually. The segment then reveals how much plastic waste will increase by 2025 if humans continue to use plastic at the present rate.

Everyone needs to eat, yet farming is a major cause of pollution around the world. But did you know that certain types of farming create less pollution than others? Or that some types of waste can be made into energy? Investigate what we can do to reduce agricultural pollution.

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas create many types of pollution. But did you know that scientists have found ways to limit the pollution's effects? Or that even small changes can greatly reduce the pollution you create? Find out more about how we can reduce fossil fuel pollution.

Factories create large amounts of pollution when making their products. But did you know that new technology helps factories significantly reduce the amount of that pollution? Or that governments have rules about how much pollution factories can put into the environment? Get the inside story on manufacturing pollution.

Pollution from nuclear power plants can have extremely harmful effects on people, animals, and the environment. But did you know that scientists have made nuclear power much safer? Or that governments have rules to ensure that waste materials are handled correctly? Explore the story behind nuclear pollution.

Vehicles such as cars, trucks, planes, and ships create much of the pollution in our environment. But did you know that engineers have developed cars that don't produce any pollution at all? Or that good city planning greatly reduces the amount of pollution being produced? See what you can do to reduce transportation pollution.

Scientists have identified at least 100 million pieces of space debris—from paint chips to nonoperational zombie satellites—floating in Earth's orbit. And over 100 tons of those pieces enter Earth's atmosphere each year! Journey into outer space and learn about the dangers of space junk collisions, how scientists track them, and how space agencies are working to develop new technologies to clean up the space junk.

Are you a galactic superstar? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will teach you how to be one by learning about the wonders of galaxies, those massive clusters of stars, gas, and dust. Learn just how many zillions of objects a galaxy can have (okay, a zillion isn’t a real number...) in addition to what exactly is lurking inside each galaxy.

Defines galaxies and profiles the different types of galaxies. Galaxies have a variety of shapes and other characteristics that set them apart from one another.

Our home in the universe is the Milky Way galaxy. In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby spout off fun facts about the huge clump of stars that Earth and the rest of the solar system is a part of! Find out just how many stars there are in the Milky Way (hint: it’s a LOT!) as well as what exactly makes up a galaxy like ours.

Identifies galaxies, which are clusters of billions of stars, dust, and gas.

Check out the "related information" tab for more information about specific galaxies!

Description of a Sombrero shaped galaxy

Description of a pinwheel shaped galaxy

Description of a barred spiral galaxy

Learn all about the sparkling world of stars from their beautiful births to their dramatic deaths. This fun book describes our very own star, the Sun, as well as best-friend binary star pairs and dense neutron stars. Gaze at gorgeous galaxies and marvel at the Milky Way.

Our galaxy, the Milky Way, and others, are so vast and varied that there is virtually no limit to what we can learn about them. This comprehensive book aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards focusing on the universe and its stars, and offers readers a detailed and scientific look at nearly all facets of the Milky Way and galaxies in general. Readers will study the different types of galaxies and their behaviors, the stars that compose them, and the interstellar medium.

Includes links to stories about Greek monsters!

5 TERRIFYING TALES FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Listen to the story of Perseus and the gorgon Medusa.

The myth of Perseus and Medusa told in dramatic format!

Read about Perseus and Medusa on page 28.

Short article about Medusa

Perseus is challenged to slay the gorgon Medusa, whose look can turn him to stone.

Includes the myth of Pegasus.

Short article about Pegasus

Short article about the cyclops

Listen to the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops

Listen to the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.

The Minotaur and the Labyrinth of Crete. ... The third year, Theseus, son of Aegeus decided to be one of the seven young men that would go to Crete, in order to kill the Minotaur and end the human sacrifices to the monster. King Aegeus tried to make him change his mind but Theseus was determined to slay the Minotaur.

Part 1 of the story of Daedalus and the Labyrinth.

Part 2 of the story of Daedalus and the Labyrinth.

Short article about Cerberus

Describes various mythical creatures in a top-ten format, including Hydra, Pegasus, and Centaurs.

Read about Thesus and the Minotaur on page 46.

Ibtihaj Muhammad, U.S. Olympic Fencing Bronze Medalist, discusses her experience as the first Muslim woman to wear hijab while representing the United States in the Olympics. She also talks about inspiring the next generation of diverse athletes.

Biography about Muhammad's life and athletic career.

Timeline of Ibtihaj Muhammad's career highlights

Profile about Muhammad from USA Fencing.

Q&A: Ibtihaj Muhammad Talks about Fencing, "The Proudest Blue," and Advice for Young Athletes

Biography about Muhammad from Biography.com

What does it take to become the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize? Ask Malala Yousafzai! In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby introduce you to the extraordinary young woman who's been standing up for educational rights since she was a child.

Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi are announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winners of 2014. (2:32 min) Remember to log in with cms in front of your student id number and your birthdate.

The article presents a profile of Pakistani school student and activist Malala Yousafzai who was a runner-up for "Time" Magazine's Person of the Year award in 2012.

Activist. Malala Yousafzai has been an advocate for education and schools for girls around the world.

Malala Yousafzai : defender of education for girls from Remarkable Lives Revealed.

Get to know the life and legacy of Malala Yousafzai. Vivid photographs and easy-to-read text give early readers an engaging and age-appropriate look at her incredible effort to support girls' education. Features include sidebars, a table of contents, two infographics, Making Connections questions, a glossary, and an index.

Short biography about Malala Yousafzai

Brief biography of Elizabeth Blackwell.

Biography of Elizabeth Blackwell from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

A closer look at Blackwell's experience in becoming a doctor, with direct quotes from Blackwell.

The article focuses on the life and career of American doctor Elizabeth Blackwell. Topics include her struggles of entering a medical schools and training hospitals considering the notion that medical professions are for men during her time, her contribution in advancing the course of women physicians after she achieved gaining the support of Quaker women back in New York, and the success of the hospital she and other women worked together to provide efficient and quality medical services.

Biography about Blackwell

Learn about the life of Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910), the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States and a pioneering force in medical education for women.

Short biographical account of Blackwell's life.

Learn all about three extraordinary women who broke down barriers for other women entering the medical field.

General information about freight trains, passenger trains, and other kinds of trains.

Covers the evolution of railroads as a form of mass transportation.

Click the links to learn more about types of trains!

Information about trains, history to modern day

What are the different rail car types and what can they ship? See this list of train car types and what they’re used for, including these rail equipment types: auto rack, boxcar, centerbeam, covered hopper, coil car, flatcar, gondola, intermodal equipment, refrigerated boxcar, open-top hopper, tank car, well car.

For more than a century, if you wanted to send goods from one state to another, or visit distant friends and relatives, the railroad was pretty much your only option. In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby explain how railways spanned continents, spurred commerce, enabled the settlement of the American West, and even helped the North win the Civil War!

Australia's Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its coral in the last three decades and scientists fear the loss caused by frequent bleaching will compromise its ability to recover.

Describes the features of the Great Barrier Reef, explains how coral reefs are created, discusses ways that people have caused environmental problems for the Great Barrier Reef, and details efforts to protect this structure.

"Explore the Great Barrier Reef and learn all about what it's like to live in this biome, from what kinds of plants and animals are found there to what kinds of weather it receives."

Note: High reading level; As the largest coral reef system on the globe and home to 1,500 species of fish and other diverse marine life, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is unquestionably one of the great wonders of the natural world. Unfortunately, it is also in grave danger of dying. Recent annual back-to-back coral bleaching events have drastically accelerated the existing damage to the Great Barrier Reef and its rich biodiversity. The reef is under threat from numerous pressures, both natural and man-made.

Short article about the Great Barrier Reef

Check out page 6 to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef!

Learn about blue sharks, great white sharks, whale sharks, greenland sharks, thresher sharks, tiger sharks, and hammerhead sharks.

Check out the images and videos of sharks from the shark channel on Discovery Education.

Razor-sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and the ability to track prey using electricity! No wonder sharks are the most efficient killing machines in the ocean! In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will give you the scoop on these powerful predators.

Check out the "related information" tab for links to other articles about specific types of sharks!

Where in the world’s oceans do sharks live? Why are hammerhead sharks always on the move? How did the cookie cutter shark get its name? Read this book to find out!

"High-energy text and photos cover the phenomenon of sharks in pop culture. Chapters explaining how sharks are threatened species are balanced by stories of environmental protection efforts to save them."

Sharks are powerful, super-efficient eating machines. But how do they hunt? Discover the specialized features and tactics they use to capture prey, such as touch-sensitive teeth to identify food, an upper jaw that unhinges from the skull, and a vast array of specialized teeth. Meet all kinds of species, from the fearsome great white and hammerhead to the super-fast shortfin mako and the attack-launching angel shark.

Article with general info about sharks and rays

Click "load more" to learn about different species of sharks!

Check out the "related information" tab for more information about specific types of whales.

General info about the beluga whale.

General info about the blue whale.

General info about the humpback whale.

General info about the killer whale.

Teaches that a blue whale can grow to over 100 feet, and reports that the blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on earth. The segment explains how a blue whale can grow so large, and states that whales began growing longer than 30 feet approximately 4,500,000 years ago.

Provides background information on Beluga Whales. This excerpt elaborates on these whales' habitats, color, and communication with each other.

What is a toothed whale? How does a killer whale stay warm? Do dolphins ever save people? Read this book to find out!

Investigates how whales evolved to become the largest creatures on Earth. Multiple environmental factors contributed to a surge in food supply for whales and led to their increase in size.

Where does all your trash go? In this BrainPOP movie on waste management, Tim and Moby tell you all about what happens after you take the trash out. You’ll discover how waste is treated to make it smaller, lighter, and easier to handle; how incineration can reduce waste volume by up to 90 percent; and how composting can create fertilizer for the soil.

Americans throw away millions of tons of waste at home every year. But did you know that much of this household waste can be recycled? Or that there are ways to turn this waste into energy? Learn how you can be part of the solution.

Explains the impact that waste and plastic in the ocean can have on marine wildlife such as sea turtles, and explores how you can make a difference.

Investigates what happens to objects that people throw away. The program discusses natural materials which decompose, the types of objects that become garbage, and what happens to garbage after it is thrown away. Ways to reduce garbage, reuse objects, and recycle materials are also discussed.

Demonstrates the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.

General information about waste disposal.

General info about recycling

Students will take a fascinating trip to a landfill and a recycling center and learn multi-digit numbers through real-life math problems! Learn what happens to garbage and recycling after it is discarded. This nonfiction book combines math and literacy skills, and uses practical examples of problem solving to teach math and reading content.

On a global scale, humans create around 2.6 trillion pounds of waste every year. None of this trash is harmless—landfills and dumps leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater, while incinerators release toxic gases and particles into the air. What can we do to keep garbage from swallowing up Earth? Reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling are some of the answers.

Explores global energy consumption and the resources that provide the world with the energy we need for transportation and electricity. As our energy consumption increases, renewable resources like wind, solar, and geothermal can provide a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. While renewable resources are better for the environment, they still have an impact on land and wildlife in the area.

Check out the "related information' tab for more articles about specific types of alternative energy.

Vast amounts of heat exist below the planet's surface. Geothermal Energy shows how scientists are tapping into this source of energy to heat homes and generate electricity.

Fossil-fuel cars emit poisonous gases, but the only thing that comes from the tailpipe of a car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell is water. Hydrogen Fuel Cells shows how these fuel cells work, how they came to be, and how they are coming into wider use.

Fuels made from plants such as corn and sugarcane are powering millions of cars on the road today. Biofuels shows how plant-based fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are beginning to replace gasoline in many types of vehicles.

The sun shines down on Earth every hour of every day. In Solar Energy, learn how scientists are turning sunshine into electricity, discover the history of solar technology, and explore how solar power fits into the planet's energy future.

The movement of a rushing river is a valuable energy source. Hydroelectric Energy shows how engineers build and operate dams, turbines, and generators to turn this movement into electricity.

Throughout the world's oceans, the tides are always in motion. In Ocean Energy, learn how scientists harness this motion to generate clean electricity, discover where ocean energy is being used today, and explore what the future of this technology may hold.

Across the country, huge open spaces are covered in gently turning wind turbines. In Wind Energy, explore how these machines generate electricity, learn about the history of wind power, and discover the latest advances in the field.

Fossil fuel — that’s what dinosaurs used to power their cars, right? Wrong! So, what are fossil fuels? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby introduce you to fossil fuel energy sources — like natural gas, coal, and oil. You’ll learn how fossil fuels form and what we use these important resources for.

s a comet the same thing as a shooting star? In this BrainPop movie, Tim and Moby will tell you the cool story of comets. You’ll find out what they’re made of (hint: you probably have some in your freezer!) as well as where they come from. And you’ll be able to tell your friends about the different parts of a comet, as well as why you don’t see most of the parts until a comet gets close to the sun. Meet some of the most famous comets in history and find out why you don’t see them very often!

Highlights the origin of meteors and comets, including the distinguishing characteristics of meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites. Comets are collections of ice, gas, and dust that orbit the sun.

Explores comets, which are irregularly-shaped celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun.

General information about comets

General information about meteors

Differentiates between a meteoroid, a meteor, and a meteorite.

Climb Aboard! Explore the difference between meteor, meteorite, and meteoroid! Investigate comet composition and development and their observation through history! Learn about asteroids! Learn about key astronomers tools such as telescopes and the Deep Impact spacecraft! See an infographic showing a comet's orbit!

Did you know that a comet is like a big, rocky snowball with a tail of gas and dust millions of miles long? Or that an asteroid can be as small as a car, or as big as a mountain? These and dozens of other fascinating facts provide a perfect high-interest introduction to the icy, rocky voyagers of the solar system that so often hit the headlines: Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids.