Project # 15

Since I am majoring in Elementary Education, I wanted to find search engines that are kid-friendly and can be used in the school system and my future classroom. Here are the search engines I accumulated:

KidRex is a search engine that can be used by a child to search for many things. This site was created for kids by kids. It uses Google Custom Search and Google Safe Search to filter any inappropriate material. It does not filter one hundred percent, but there is a parent's tab where you can notify them if you found an inappropriate site. I thought the site was very cute and it looked kid-friendly. I found it intriguing that children made the webpage and hope to use it in a future classroom.

KidzSearch is another search engine that students can use to look up information. This site also uses Google Safe Search to filter inappropriate material. When students save it has their homepage, they can customize the background. It has a lot of links on the homepage for homework help or free learning sites and many other kid-friendly websites. I am absolutely in love with this website.

WolframAlpha is a search engine that would be most useful for questions with homework. However, students can use it as a regular search engine as well. If a student has a question about a certain subject, he or she can look below the search bar and find the subject in question. Then, the search engine goes to a webpage that has numerous sub-topics to specify the question. I thought this site was intriguing. If you go to "About" and scroll to the bottom of the page, there is a link that says "For Educators" and it has different ideas on how teachers can use this website.

Kidtopia is an even more kid-friendly search engine that is a lot like WolframAlpha. There is a main search bar and below it are subjects to choose from, once you click on them, it takes you to sub-topics. After narrowing your search, you can type in whatever your question or topic is. I will definitely have to remember this website if I end up in a younger classroom. Love it!

KidsClick! is search engine I found that could be useful for gathering information to do a report. Once again, below the search bar are subjects; however, after clicking on the subtopics, it gives links for the information. You do not have to type in exactly what you are searching for. I did not like this site as much as the others, but I think it can still be useful.

Start Squad is another website that students could use for help with homework. However, you can not type in your search. It once again has subjects to choose from and then takes you to links with the information needed. You can also choose from preschool, elementary school, and middle school. I like how this site is interactive, but I did not like that you can not type in your search.

SearchyPants is a search engine that children can customize. When you open the link, you have to add a name in the tool bar. Once you do this, it will take you to the search engine. I do not think this website is as filtered, if at all, as the other sites. However, I think it is cool that the children can create and customize their own search engine.

Awesome Library is a search engine for regular searching but also has a mode for teachers, kids, teens, parents, librarians, and college students. Each mode has the main subjects to choose from, but then they each have different topics that relate to them specifically. For example, the teacher's mode has a lessons plan tab which has different lesson plans for multiple topics. I liked this site as well, and will use it in the future.