School Subjects
Language Arts
School Subjects > Language Arts > General
Language Arts is a broad subject, which includes reading, writing, communications, and the study of literature. To achieve all the goals of a Language Arts education, you may wish to consult the Florida Department of Education's Sunshine State Standards. These standards define what students in public schools should know because of their elementary and secondary education. Upon entering the Web site, choose "Reading/Language Arts" in the drop-down Subject Area, and then choose your grade level. This site includes lesson plans, worksheets, and other curriculum resources for each benchmark.
The Library has resources that can help your student with their general Language Arts curriculum. The Homework Help @ OCLS: Language Arts Web page will give the student a general guide to both library and Internet resources in the area of Language Arts.
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Here are some of the resources you will find in the Homework Help @ OCLS: Language Arts section:
LearningExpress Library
This resource offers a wide range of practice exams to help prepare for the FCAT, GED, SAT, and other tests. Create an account to save your work and continue your program during your next visit, as well as chart your progress.
Read The Books
This guide presents book suggestions in a variety of ways. You can choose to search by topic, grade level, time period, or setting. This is a useful resource for picture book connections and historical fiction to use in your classroom. It also links to Accelerated Reader/Reading Counts! lists that give the reading level of children's books.
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TumbleBookCloud
TumbleBookCloud is an online collection of read-alongs, e-books, graphic novels, audiobooks and educational videos for older elementary, middle school and high school students. Imagine, reading Romeo and Juliet, then watching a performance in the Globe Theatre, travelling back to King Arthur's court in a graphic novel all before hitching a ride on a pilot whale off the coast of Hawaii with National Geographic. It's all possible with TumbleBookCloud!
School Subjects > Language Arts > Younger Students
Language Arts teaches a child to communicate with society. Everyday activities such as reading stories together, comparing street signs, or talking while you are eating dinner provide ways for children to learn. If you have a preschooler or kindergartner, we have several online resources and library materials for you to begin your homeschooling experience in Language Arts.
Alphabet Bites
Alphabet Bites is an interactive tool for learning the alphabet that will have your little one listening, playing, and reading all the way from A to Z!
Kindergarten Readiness
Kindergarten Readiness is a step-by-step guide which provides information and resources to help your child prepare for kindergarten. This resource includes booklists, recommended Web sites, and other useful educational materials.
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TumbleBooks
TumbleBooks animates picture books and has interactive puzzles and games, making this a fun choice for kids.
Library Materials: Phonics
Phonics is a method of reading instruction which breaks language down into its simplest components. These DVDs and books will help engage your child in learning phonics.
Library Materials: Reading
These titles relate specifically to reading abilities and grade levels, including the topic of reading aloud to your student.
Library Materials: Spelling
The spelling dictionaries, manuals, and fun fiction titles found in this list can help improve your child's performance.
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Library Materials: Vocabulary for Beginners
Strong vocabularies help students become successful across the curriculum. Find ways to increase word acquisition such as reading aloud to your child or choosing an audio book at a higher level than his or her current reading level. Use the titles in this list to accomplish your vocabulary goals.
Library Materials: Writing
Writing resources focus on the mechanics as well as the content and organization of the writing process. This list of titles will help your student read, write, and communicate.
School Subjects > Language Arts > Older Students
As students get older, the strands of the Language Arts topics divide and are taught in individual classes. In many schools, your child might register for a class focused on reading, speech, creative writing, or the works of Shakespeare. You may choose to teach that way, or perhaps you and your student will devise your own system.
To help with your older student's curriculum, the Library has guides for writing a paper, downloadable audiobooks and eBooks to supplement your lessons, and other materials to assist in comprehension, grammar, writing and more.
OverDrive
Use this downloadable resource to access titles about vocabulary, grammar, and works by Shakespeare in audio and PDF formats.
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Writing a Research Paper Virtual Gallery
This Virtual Gallery will help guide your student through the research paper writing process including planning/brainstorming, citing sources, writing, and revising.
Library Materials: Grammar
Use this list to find out what your student needs to know in order to speak and write with the best.
Library Materials: Reading Comprehension
This list of library materials for older students includes reading comprehension, study guides, and suggestions on how to improve your student's reading skills.
Library Materials: Vocabulary for Older Students
Learn about the English Language with this list of vocabulary building activities, from a word a day, to the fun and quirky. You will be surprised how much your vocabulary can grow as you learn about word origins.
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Library Materials: Writing Composition
These titles will help with prewriting, writer's block, sentence structure, common writing mistakes, vocabulary, and more.
Library Materials: Writing Poetry
Writing poetry will help bring out the poet in your student. We have manuals, dictionaries, and words of advice to inspire your student author.
Math
School Subjects > Math > General
Math, the study of numbers and geometric shapes and their relationships, is one of the core subjects in your student's education. It spans from simple skills such as counting, shape recognition, and telling time, to the complex branches of calculus. The Florida Department of Education's Sunshine State Standards are a great reference when planning your lessons. Upon entering the Web site, choose "Mathematics" in the drop-down Subject Area, and then choose your grade level. This site includes lesson plans, worksheets, and other curriculum resources for each benchmark.
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The Library has resources that can help your student with their general Math curriculum. On the Homework Help @ OCLS: Math Web page find links to items such as a tutorial on how to graph, books about math, videos that make learning math entertaining, along with these online resources:
LearningExpress Library
This database supplies practice examinations for math skills for elementary, middle school, high school, and college preparation. Enter the site and type "math" in the search bar on the left and then choose the test that's right for you. Create a username to track your progress as you make your way through the tests.
Tutor.com: Live Homework Help
For specific questions, this online resource provides interactive help from qualified tutors for students between the hours of 2 p.m. and 1 a.m. The Skills Center Resource Library offers tutor-recommended worksheets, tutorials, and study guides.
School Subjects > Math > Younger Students
If you plan on teaching your younger student with traditional materials such as worksheets, textbooks, or flashcards, you may also want to spice up your lessons with games, songs, or a manipulative. Here is a list of library materials to assist with your curriculum:
Library Materials: Math For Students
This list includes books and DVDs that deal with addition, division, sports math, fractions, word problems, and games.
Library Materials: Math For Study and Teaching
These titles can help you design lesson plans. There are DVDs to enrich your curriculum, student workbooks, and grade-level plans.
Library Materials: Math Fiction and Humor
Classroom teachers often make use of fiction and humor to stimulate the learning of math concepts for young students. Use the items in this list to engage your student in math-learning.
School Subjects > Math > Older Students
For your older students, we have materials designed to help you begin lesson planning. Here are some lists focused on specific branches of mathematics:
Library Materials: Algebra
These algebra books and DVDs cover concepts with review guides and workbooks.
Library Materials: Pre-Calculus and Calculus
These materials include pre-calculus and calculus books, DVDs, and calculator handbooks that support pre-calculus and advanced placement students.
Library Materials: Geometry
To make your geometry lessons more meaningful, look for ways to bring geometry into the real world. Explore the resources in this list for use in your geometry curriculum.
Library Materials: Trigonometry
You'll find the titles in this list contain useful information for both students and teachers.
Science
School Subjects > Science > General
Science education develops an understanding of the world around us. To reach your science goals, consult the Florida Department of Education's Sunshine State Standards when planning your lessons. Upon entering the Web site, choose "Science" in the drop-down Subject Area, and then choose your grade level. This site includes lesson plans, worksheets, and other curriculum resources for each benchmark.
The Library has resources that can help your student with their general Science curriculum. We have Web page guides that list materials based on subject along with online resources that we highly recommend for this area of study:
Homework Help @ OCLS: Science
In the science section of Homework Help we've brought together general science resources into one convenient spot.
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OverDrive
Through this resource you can browse eBooks, audiobooks, and even downloadable videos to enjoy at your leisure. The search term "science" returns over 100 titles with topics such as experiments and dissection. Use more specific search terms to find matches that exactly suit your needs.
Science Fair Virtual Gallery
We've gathered some of the best in one place for your ease of use. Included are suggested library materials and programs, online resources, kid-friendly Web sites, and even a short tutorial on how to find science resources at the Library. From idea to presentation, everything you need is right here!
Science Online
This database features a comprehensive overview of the sciences with definitions, diagrams, videos, and experiments all indexed by grade level. Check out the microscope images for unique views of everyday objects.
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The Library subscribes to several versions of World Book Encyclopedia. We recommend you choose the one that will work best for your student:
World Book Kids
This version of World Book assists children in younger grades with research through colorful images and simple text.
World Book Info Finder
This version of World Book contains content and features designed for school-aged patrons' homework and research needs. This database has collections of multimedia on a variety of topics and also provides information on science fair projects, world news, and much more.
World Book Online Reference Center
This version of World Book is a powerful reference tool for advanced researchers and information seekers. The site features e-Books, articles, and primary source documents and features developed especially for public library patrons such as Computer and Web Tutorials, How To Documents, and Government Resources.
School Subjects > Science > Younger Students
For younger students we have highlighted the following materials on common science topics:
Library Materials: Earth Science for Beginners
Discover Earth Science with topics such as land forms, global patterns, weather, and climate.
Library Materials: Plants and Animals
These titles uncover the science of life and living matter.
Library Materials: Science Experiments
Science experiments make the subject come alive. Get ideas for hands-on activities through these books.
Library Materials: Science Fair Stories
Science fairs are a rite of passage in the science classroom. Share these stories with your student.
Library Materials: Space
Explore space! This is often a fun topic for many students since the Kennedy Space Center is so close.
School Subjects > Science > Older Students
Sciences in middle and high school build on knowledge learned in the earlier years. We have included basic topics to help you plan your curriculum. Many of our resources will be useful to both the student and the teacher.
Library Materials: Biology
Biology is the study of life. This list includes several useful study guides.
Library Materials: Chemistry
Browse these different aspects of chemistry from atoms and states of matter, to study guides for the Advanced Placement Chemistry Exam.
Library Materials: Earth Science for Older Students
Earth Science books and DVDs can help your student learn about Earth and how our world works.
Library Materials: Physics
These materials cover matter, gravity, thermodynamics, and general relativity.
Social Studies
School Subjects > Social Studies > General
Social Studies promotes civic competence and helps people make informed decisions. Subjects include history, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, and sociology. To reach your social studies goals, consult the Florida Department of Education's Sunshine State Standards when planning your lessons. Upon entering the Web site, choose "Social Studies" in the drop-down Subject Area, and then choose your grade level. This site includes lesson plans, worksheets, and other curriculum resources for each benchmark.
Here are some general resources from the Library to help in designing your Social Studies lesson plan:
CountryWatch Youth Edition
Designed for the K-12 audience, this resource has information on every country in the world such as culture, history, maps, flags, economic news, recipes, quizzes, and many other interesting facts.
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CountryWatch
For advanced students, this database has the same great features as the Youth version, but includes more in-depth coverage of politics and social and environmental concerns.
Homework Help @ OCLS: Geography & Culture
Help your student learn about another culture and what it was like to live in another time period with the resources found in this section of Homework Help.
Homework Help @ OCLS: Government & Civics
Access official federal and state sites and have your child test his or her knowledge with the American Government Quiz.
Homework Help @ OCLS: United States History
Find links to history topics such as women's history, black history, Pearl Harbor, and presidents of the United States.
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InfoTrac: Junior Edition K-12
This resource provides magazine articles, newspapers, and reference books. It is easy to use and you can limit your search by type of material, or search all sources at once. It is a great source for current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, and sports.
School Subjects > Social Studies > Younger Students
Introduce young students to social studies with concepts like time, cultural symbols, historic leaders, map skills, and citizenship. Explore these subjects and create great Social Studies lesson plans. A study of community and state is part of every state's standards. Here is a list of library materials to assist with your curriculum:
Library Materials: Civics and Government
Help your student learn all about being an American citizen. Studying civics and government teaches about patriotism, holidays, and our national symbols.
Library Materials: Florida Fiction
These fiction titles take place in Florida. You may want to include a few into your curriculum.
Library Materials: Florida Geography
Begin exploring the Sunshine State with titles that include ABC books, plants and animals, famous people, and Florida crafts.
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Library Materials: Florida History for Beginners
Choose a few titles from this list and plan a field trip for a great unit of study.
Library Materials: Geography for Beginners
Geography is a good starting point for any social studies curriculum. This list includes fiction titles as well as study guides and atlases.
Library Materials: Popular Children's Authors in Florida
Marianne Berkes, Lois Duncan and Carl Hiaasen are all famous children's authors that live in Florida. Try including one of their books in your curriculum.
School Subjects > Social Studies > Older Students
Students in the middle and upper grades begin to study specific disciplines integrating skills from other subjects. For example, economics relies heavily on mathematics, geography requires an understanding of earth science, and history relates to current events. The history of each country and culture is a potential topic of exploration. Here are some library materials to help with your older student's curriculum:
Library Materials: Florida History for Older Students
Our titles include many interesting facts about Florida, from Michael Gannon's History of Florida in 40 Minutes to Florida's Hurricane History, there is sure to be something of interest to your budding historian!
Library Materials: Geography for Older Students
Geography can involve hundreds of topics. Use titles in this list to study continents as a whole then dive into regions and more specific places.
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Library Materials: U.S. History
Use encyclopedias, study guides, DVDs, and project guides to aid you in creating your U.S. History lesson plans.
Library Materials: World History
This list of general resources is a great starting point for exploring the broad topic of World History. Use specific search terms like the name of a country, war, or time period to get more precise results.