1. What is an encyclopedia? We use an encyclopedia to get information for a report, to find an answer to a question, or to read about something in which we are interested. An encyclopedia is a reference source Why would we use an encyclopedia?

2. If you are looking for information about a topic for a report the encyclopedia is a good place to start. The article will give you a good general overview of the topic. You will want to find additional information sources as well. The encyclopedia gives you information about persons, places and things and answers the questions “who?” “where?” “when?” and “how?” But an encyclopedia does not usually answer the question “why?”

4. What is a print encyclopedia? A print encyclopedia is a set of books that contains information about many different subjects. Because the amount of information cannot all be put into one book, it is divided into many smaller books. Each book is called a volume.

5. How are the volumes of an encyclopedia organized? The volumes in each set are arranged in alphabetical order to make it easy to find the information. They are also numbered to make it easy to keep them in order.

6. How are the subjects in an encyclopedia organized? On the pages, the subjects are arranged in alphabetical order with guide words on each page like a dictionary.

7. To find a subject, look for the letter it begins with and choose that volume. The subjects on each page are usually printed with large, dark letters. Example: d inosaurs

8. To find a person, look for the person’s last name. Example: George W ashington

9. If a person has a title, you will find information about him or her under the last part of his/her name. Example: Queen Elizabeth would be found under “E” for Elizabeth

10. To find a place named with two parts, look for the first part. Example: G rand Canyon

11. No one knows the answer to everything, but clever people know where to find answers. Many answers to questions can be found in the encyclopedia. But you must know what to look for. When you have a question, look for the most important or specific name ( key word or words).This will most likely will be the topic, or subject, to look under for the information you want.

12. In which volume of an encyclopedia would you find the answers to these questions?

13. What is a UFO?

14. In what year was George W. Bush born?

15. When was the first Thanksgiving Day celebrated?

16. Who is Prince Charles?

17. Where is Easter Island?

18. What does a python eat?

19. How many legs does an arachnid have?

20. What are the names of the nine planets in our solar system?

21. Let’s go find it in the encyclopedia!