Find Information Like a Research Star!

When you want to learn about something, you need to find information. You can use many different sources, like books, maps, websites, and people, to get the facts you need. Learning how to find information is a key research skill that you will use every day.

Before you start researching, think about what you want to learn. Writing down your questions first helps you stay focused and find the right sources. You can explore Finding Answers to build on this skill.

A source is any place where you can find information, such as a book, website, or person. You should always use more than one source to make sure your information is correct and complete.

Here are some great sources you can use:

• Non-fiction books contain real facts and true information about topics like Canadian history, science, or geography.
• Atlases are books of maps that show provinces, territories, cities, and landforms.
• Newspapers give you information about what is happening in Canada today.
• Educational websites include videos, articles, and images about many topics.
• Interviews let you gather information by asking questions directly to a person.
• Libraries are community spaces where you can borrow books and access many resources. A librarian is a trained helper who works in a library and knows how to find books and other sources of information.

Knowing the parts of a book helps you find information faster. You do not need to read every page when you know where to look.

• The table of contents is near the front and lists chapters with page numbers so you can jump to the right section.
• The index is at the back and lists topics alphabetically with page numbers.
• The glossary defines key words used in the book.
• The title page is at the very front and shows the book's title and author.

You can also look at pictures and captions in a non-fiction book because they give extra details about the topic.

Source: A source is a place where you find information, such as a book, website, or person.

Atlas: An atlas is a book of maps that helps you find places like provinces and territories in Canada and around the world.

Interview: An interview is when you gather information by asking questions directly to a person, like an Inuit Elder or a geographer.

Dictionary: A dictionary is a book that helps you understand the meaning of words, like 'province' or 'territory.'

Legend: A legend on a map tells you what the symbols and colours on the map stand for.

Table of Contents: The table of contents is near the front of a book and lists chapters with page numbers so you can find information quickly.

Index: The index is at the back of a non-fiction book and lists topics in alphabetical order with page numbers.

Glossary: The glossary is a list of difficult words and their meanings found in a non-fiction book.

Title Page: The title page is at the very front of a book and shows the book's title and author.

Non-fiction Book: A non-fiction book contains real facts and true information, making it great for research.

Primary Source: A primary source is something created during the actual historical period, like an old letter or a pioneer's diary written long ago.

Keyword: A keyword is an important word that describes your topic and helps you search for information in a library or online.

Paraphrase: To paraphrase means to rewrite the facts you found in your own words to show you understand what you read.

Cite Your Source: To cite your source means to tell where you found your information, such as the book title and author.

Librarian: A librarian is a trained helper who works in a library and guides you to find the right books and resources.

Reliable Source: A reliable source is one that contains accurate, trustworthy information, like a non-fiction book written by an expert.

Diagram: A diagram uses pictures and labels to visually explain how something looks or works.

After you find information, you should write down the important facts you learned. Sorting your notes into groups helps you understand and present your information clearly. For example, if you are researching Canadian seasons, you can sort your notes by winter, spring, summer, and autumn.

When you finish your research, review your notes and share what you learned. You can also learn more about this in Sharing Information, which is the next step after finding information. You can also explore Sharing Ideas to practise presenting what you discovered.

You have already learned skills that help you with finding information. In Finding Answers, you practised looking for answers to questions. In Asking About Community, you learned how to ask good questions about the world around you.

You also explored Understanding Evidence to learn how to check if information is trustworthy, and Sharing Findings to learn how to tell others what you discovered. In Using Historical Sources, you learned about primary sources like old letters and diaries. In Thinking About Learning, you reflected on how you learn best.

Finding information connects to many other important topics. When you use Analyzing Evidence in Innovation, you take the information you found and decide if it is trustworthy and useful. This helps you become a stronger researcher.

Once you find your information, the next step is Sharing Information, where you present your facts to others in a clear and organised way. You can also practise Sharing Ideas to communicate what you have learned with your classmates.

All of these topics work together to help you become a confident researcher who can find, check, and share information about Canada and the world around you.