Research Guides: Central Library Field Trips for Kids and Teens: Research

Teacher Tips for Assignments

Teacher Reflection Questions: Pre-Planning Assignments

Are there any recent books available about this topic at the library?

Are the books available at the right level for my students?

As an adult, are you able to find the answers you need? If not, then it may be very difficult for the students. Sometimes younger elementary students come in with research topics that can only be answered with adult or college level materials.

Are there enough books available at the library you are visiting for each of your students to have a copy to check out?

Does your assignment allow students to use Homework Help/Databases for some sources?

How will you teach your students how to use these database resources to prepare for their visit?

What work can you do together in the classroom before your visit so your students come prepared?

Need access to scholarly journals for your students beyond what you can find in our research databases? Consider getting a TexShare card from APL that you can then use for courtesy borrower privileges at the UT libraries.

Support from the Library

Our staff are eager to help make sure your visit meets your goals! Here are some of the ways we can help:

Staff-led Library orientation to cover resources, how to find what you need, and exploration tips (20 minutes)

Pull books and other resources on student research topics. Teachers are asked to send assignment and specific topics ahead of time.

Reserve tables for student use. (Limit of 25 seats)

Workshops for Teens. Available in your classroom before or after you visit. Available as staffing allows.

Database Orientation Workshop. Available for grades 8-12. (30-45 minutes)

How to Win at Research Workshop. Covers the steps in the Research Process + intro to databases. Available for grades 8-12. (30-45 minutes)

Critical Media Literacy Workshop. Intro to how to evaluate sources for bias, conflicts of interest, and more. Available for grades 9-12. (45 minutes)

Copyright and Fair Use Workshop. Intro to the concepts of copyright and fair use and how they are relevant to teens. Available for grades 9-12. (45 minutes)

Intro to Zines & Zine History. Teens can learn about zines and make one of their own to add to the Teen Central Zine Library. Available for grades 8-12. (60-75 minutes).

Before You Visit

The Library is great for exploration and inspiration.
Your classroom is best for instruction.

Best Practice: Come prepared.

The most successful students will come with a list of books, have spent time researching the databases at home or at school, will have a topic they can articulate clearly, a list of keywords to search with, and will know their research goals for the day.