[CASL-L] [EXTERNAL] Re: Best Search Engines for 3-5?

[Pia Ledina]

By the way, we do already have subscriptions to PebbleGo and Next, along
with World Book and a few others for that level. The elementary team is
just looking for some alternatives.  Personally, I would recommend ALWAYS
starting w/ the subscription databases before going out to the web at that
age, they'll just get better information and have an easier time finding
what they need...

Audra, I agree with you about curation too - our problem is that teachers
sometimes curate resources only to find that our students' access to
reasonable resources is blocked at school.  That's a different - but
important - issue... is anyone else finding this to be the case at the elem
and/or middle levels?






On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM Pia Ledina <pia_ledina at greenwich.k12.ct.us>
wrote:

> Yes, I love both of these resources and am planning a trial of
> News-O-Matic right now!  I am more interested to know if there's anything
> out there free on the web that you use (rather than a subscription research
> tool)...
>
> :) pia
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM Barbara Johnson <bajohnson at colchesterct.org>
> wrote:
>
>> I would second the use of Pebblego and next.
>>
>> I would also say to check out News-o-matic, they were at AASL and are a
>> strong competitor with NewsELA, for less money
>>
>> Remember, Explora available through the CT State Library,
>> www.researchitct.org
>>
>> And worldbook online is also an adorable item ...
>>
>> Barb
>>
>> *Barbara Johnson*
>> *Instructional Technology Coordinator*
>> Colchester Public Schools
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Nov 9, 2025, 8:44 AM Allison Loiseau <librarianallie at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Pia,
>>> I steer my 3-5 students to PebbleGo Next.  If you are using Google
>>> Classroom, another alternative is to use their LM Notebook feature to
>>> create materials from links you curate.  That way, they will get the
>>> information in a digestible, ad-free form.  I tend to have it make mind
>>> maps and video overviews.  Have a nice week!
>>> Allison Loiseau
>>>
>>> On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM Pia Ledina via CASL-L <casl-l at mylist.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Good morning!
>>>>
>>>> My school district is currently using Kiddle and Kidtopia for
>>>> elementary school searching and is looking for feedback on more robust
>>>> options that bring back solid resource results yet aren't cluttered with
>>>> ads... thought this was the perfect time for a group question!
>>>>
>>>> Any gems out there that you'd like to share?  I'd appreciate your
>>>> reasoning as well... thank you!
>>>>
>>>> :) pia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Allison Loiseau
>>> Library Media Specialist
>>> Mitchell Elementary School
>>> Woodbury, CT
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>>
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>
>
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