Reference SourcesGrade 2

What is a Reference Source?

Something that contains information that can be used for help or support. Examples would be Dictionary, Atlas or Thesaurus

Dictionary

contains information that help understand the meaning or words

Dictionaries can tell us many details about words!

How to say a word—pronunciation

Meaning of a word—definition

How the word can be used in a sentence—part of speech (like noun, verb or pronoun)

How to spell a word

How the word is divided into parts—syllables

Examples of how to use the word in a sentence

Picture of the word

Multiple meanings of the word

Encyclopedia

a set of books containing general information about topics such as people, places, and things

Characteristics of Encyclopedias

Each book is called a VOLUME in the set

Volumes are organized in number and ABC order

They are ALPHABETICALLY organized

They are the BEST first stop in a research project

Encyclopedias can also be used ONLINE

Set is updated EVERY year

Contains information on PEOPLE, PLACES and THINGS

Thesaurus

contains information that can be used to support writing

Contains words that mean the opposite-antonyms and words that mean the same-synonyms

Also uses guide words to find the words more easily

A Thesaurus is a reference source to help with writing. Example: Synonyms for the word RUN

Jog

Trot

Dash

Race

Sprint

Example: Antonyms for the word HAPPY

Sad

Unhappy

Depressed

Blue

Dictionary, Encyclopedia, or Thesaurus?Susy is writing a story about the Spelling Bee. She wants to find another word to use instead of saying “great” all the time. Where should she look?

A glossary is most like what kind of reference source?

Where would you look to find a word with the same meaning as “beautiful”?

Jimmy is writing sentences with each of his spelling words. He comes to a word he does not know. Where should he look to find the definition of the word?

Where would you look to find out about airplanes and how they fly?

Where is the best place for Dan to find out about different kinds of dogs?

Where would you look to find the opposite of the word “plentiful”?

Where is the best place to look to find out when dinosaurs lived?

Which is the best resource to use to quickly find information about the food zebras eat?

Tracy wants to find the antonym of a vocabulary word her teacher explained in class. What reference source should she use?

What resource would you choose to find out how to pronounce a word?

This source has informational articles in volumes that are organized in ABC order. What is it?

Dictionary, Encyclopedia, or Thesaurus?

What resource has information on people, places and things?

Hector wants to find out more about cars. Where would be the best place to look?

Where would you look to find the meaning of the word “blast”?

Where is the best place to find antonyms and synonyms of words?

What resource uses guide words to help find something more quickly?

Where is the best place to begin any sort of research project?

A Thesaurus is used to help with writing.True or False

Where would Bill go to find out how many syllables a word has?

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