As the web increasingly becomes one of the first forums many people turn to when beginning to research, many directories and search engines have been developed to help us navigate the vast and growing resources on-line. A previous Weekly Website called "Be a Web Detective" gives us some strategies for web searching through the well know engines such as AltaVista and Excite and directories such as Yahoo. But even with these tips, finding resources that are appropriate for children and young adults can still be hard to find.

In order to address this need there are some directories and search engines that have been created to help educators working with students find the resources that are appropriate.

• US Department of Education's Directory and Search site
• The GEM: Gateway to Educational Materials
• Co-Nect organizes by subject and lets you search
• Blue Web'n organizes by subject, lets you search, and rates sites
• And don't forget Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators who is now being hosted by the Discovery Channel (you can search the Discovery Channel too!)

Some site are specially organized for students of certain grade levels. The Internet Public Library has both a Youth and Teen Division, bringing together evaluated and cross-reference resources for students to browse themselves.

• Internet Public Library, Youth Division
• Internet Public Library, Teen Division

There are others who have put together sites which have a variety of resources (some more or less educationally valuable) that are for kids.

• Yahoo, for instance, has created a website just for kids called "Yahooligans". This site can used as a search engine or as directory because it has subject headings.
• Ask Jeeves for Kids uses natural language to search this directory for kids. (There is also the original Ask Jeeves for older folks which again uses natural language to search the web)

For teachers and students doing more advanced research there are some excellent resources with which to begin:

• For educators and older kids try the Academic Info Directory
• Ask ERIC Virtual Library

Best wishes for successful hunting! -- Christina