K-12 Educators
This page is intended to support educators in using library resources to further lesson planning, and for personal and professional development.
If you would like resources for your students to assist them in completing their assignments, check out these pages:
You may also be interested in our page on the Student Success Initiative.
Premium Tools
Brought to you by CADL
BookFlix offers a wide range of video storybooks paired with non-fiction titles. Educational games add to the fun and learning.
CADL library card required (this includes Student Success Initiative cards)
Brought to you by MeL
Suite of Britannica School resources at four levels - Britannica Fundamentals, Elementary, Middle, and High. School code is MeL5. Each contains resources at the appropriate learning and skill level including primary sources in subjects such as people, countries, science, animals, current events, and biographies.
If you are having issues accessing this resource with the link above, try using this link instead. You will need to sign in with your CADL library account login information.
Brought to you by MeL
Covers subjects of interest for elementary aged children through adults, including: test preparation materials, interactive practice exams, job and career acceleration tools, and skill building resources.
Brought to you by CADL
Access live online tutors with no need for an appointment from 2-9pm. Or, use a number of services anytime, including: Drop-Off Review for essays/writing, resumes/cover letters, and even math help; and Self-Study Tools, with standardized test prep resources and more!
Learn How to Get Started Using Tutor.com
CADL library card required (this includes Student Success Initiative cards)
Brought to you by MeL
Recommended for: Early elementary. Learning about colors, numbers and other fun things. Strengthen reading foundations with stories, activities and videos. Includes materials for educators. For ages 3-8.
Brought to you by MeL
Easy to use online encyclopedia in eight major subject categories: Arts, History and Government, People, Places, Plants and Animals, Science and Mathematics, Sports and Hobbies, World Religions. Has full-featured pictures, sounds and videos. Also includes a section for teachers.
Finding Reliable Information
Sort Fact from Fiction Online with Lateral Reading (video, 4min) - Stanford History Education Group
Perhaps the most agile and useful skill for evaluating the info you encounter on the web, watch this video for an introduction to Lateral Reading.
Check Yourself with Lateral Reading (video, 14min) - Crash Course Navigating Digital Information series
John Green demonstrates how to read laterally, using multiple tabs in your browser to look stuff up and fact check as you read online.
Evaluating Internet Sources - Lydia M. Olsen Library (Northern Michigan University)
Category checklist and questions to consider when evaluating websites.
Information Literacy - Top 3 Basics (infographic) - Michigan eLibrary
Infographic introduction to fact checking basics.
How eResources Help You (infographic) - Michigan eLibrary
Compares subscription eResources (like those freely available to all Michigan residents through the Michigan eLibrary) to search engine results (such as Google) so you can determine which is most beneficial in a given situation.
Databases vs. Websites (video, 5min) - Hennepin County Library, Minnesota
Introduces two types of information resources: databases and websites. Learn the difference between the two resources and when it is best to use one instead of the other.
Other Resources
MeL – Educators
MeL has brought together their educational resources for teachers on one page, with promotional materials, design help, curriculum sources and more.
MeL Minute - Using Google Tools to support student research and lesson planning
Article featured in the “MeL Minute” newsletter from August 27th, 2020. Includes brief explanations, video tutorials, as well as a list of vendors that offer Google Tools.
Digital Public Library of America
DPLA connects people to the riches held within America’s libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions. All of the materials found through DPLA—photographs, books, maps, news footage, oral histories, personal letters, museum objects, artwork, government documents, and so much more—are free and immediately available in digital format. CADL Local History is a contributor through the Michigan Service Hub.
Learn How to Get Started Using the DPLA
Michigan Memories Classroom Resources
Lesson plans and other teaching tools drawing on primary source material from cultural heritage organizations in Michigan.
Top 10 Free Lesson-Planning Resources for Teachers
Resources compiled by the website Hey Teach! from Western Governors University to help teachers in all subjects and grade levels.