General Resources
Media Center Catalog
Walker Valley Media Center Catalog
Search the Walker Valley Media Center catalog using Destiny. Search available books and check-out when you visit. Go to the Walker Valley Media Center Destiny catalog
Example uses:
Need to checkout a book for a class project and want to see if it is available from the school media center.
Want to see the most popular books at Walker Valley or want to see what's new.
Walker Valley Media Center Suggestions
Not finding your favorite author in our media center? Are we missing the newest book in a series? Let us know. Suggest book titles, authors, etc. Use our suggestion form.
Citations
ZoteroBib
ZoteroBib is a free citation service. ZoteroBib helps you build a bibliography instantly from any computer or device, without creating an account or installing any software.
Go to ZoteroBib
Purdue University OWL
The Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers up-to-the-minute guidance and examples for correctly citing sources. This guidance reflects current editions of style manuals, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), and the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago). Go to the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Quick Links to Specific Style Manual Guidance
Go to MLA Style Introduction (9th edition)
Go to APA Style Introduction (7th edition)
Andy Spinks' MLA Help
Andy Spinks has a helpful MLA citation guide that condenses the basics of MLA into a two-page tip sheet with examples of the citations you are most likely to use.
Andy Spinks' MLA Citation Guide (PDF file download)
Research Databases
Tennessee Electronic Library
The Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) is a collection of 70 databases. It contains digital copies of scholarly journals, e-books, test prep material, magazines, videos, podcasts, newspapers, and much more. Go to Full List of High School Databases
Gale Onefile High School Edition
Gale OneFile is a general research database useful for almost any assignment. You'll find books, magazines, newspapers, videos, images, sound recordings and more. Search by subject or look for a specific publication. Go to Gale OneFile
Example projects:
Choose a 3-5 page science article published in the last week. Write a one-page summary and include source citation.
Create a slidedeck for a presentation on a chemical element. Describe the atomic structure of the element, its uses, and a current issue.
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints is a great database for argumentative writing or contemporary issues. This resource provides topic overviews, pro / con viewpoints, statistics, infographics and more. It's possible to browse by topic, if you need help selecting a topic for an assignment. Go to Opposing Viewpoints
Example projects:
Choose an issue from the news. Find three scholarly journals to support a pro or con point of view on the topic.
Your group is assigned to argue in support of "school uniforms". Collect 10 sources in support of your topic for an in-class discussion.
Give a 5-minute speech on the topic of "genetic engineering". Provide some background on the topic for your audience. Then, take a stance in support or against the topic. Cite your sources.
E-books & Audiobooks
Gale Literature: LitFinder
Gale Literature LitFinder provides access to full-text poems, short stories, speeches, and plays. It also indexes poetry by topic. Find authors by literary movement. Go to Gale Literature Litfinder
Example project:
Choose two poems from the English Romantic period and describe how they demonstrate characteristics of this literary movement.
Select a speech by Lincoln.
Gale E-books
Gale E-books is a collection of reference books and encyclopedias on many different topics. From ethics to literature to science and more, you'll find scholarly articles for research in many different subject areas. Go to Gale E-books
Example projects:
Research how caffeine use affects the human body.
Describe how a person's manner of dress was important during the Renaissance.
Tennessee R.E.A.D.S.
Browse for the Cleveland Bradley County Public Library. Then, enter your public library card number to access the thousands of e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and videos available through the public library. Discover literary classics, read popular authors, browse current issues of popular magazines. Once you have an account, you can also make use of the Libby app on your mobile device to read or listen to books or simply read in your web browser. Go to Tennessee R.E.A.D.S.
Example uses:
Get the audiobook version of a book you are reading for class. Slow down the speed of the narrator and pause so that you can take notes as you listen.
Reading for fun or personal interest. Read about historic events, notable people, learn how to do something you find interesting, or enjoy a fictional work.
Listen to the audiobook version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone while you are at lunch.
Libby by OverDrive, Inc. is the app that enables you to read or listen to books from a mobile device.
Libby (by OverDrive, Inc.) from the Apple App Store
Libby (by OverDrive, Inc.) from Google Play
Test Prep, College & Career Planning
Gale Presents: Peterson's Test and Career Prep
Peterson's Test and Career Prep offers full-length, timed practice tests for AP, CLEP, SAT, ACT, PSAT, and GED. Find study guides, test tips, and helpful vocabulary for other exams like ASVAB. College planning, financial aid, and career development tools are also available. Search scholarships, build a resume, and more. Go to Peterson's Test and Career Prep
Example uses:
Take a practice ACT exam. Make notes on skills/concepts that you need to study.
Search for a scholarship.
Use the AP World History Study Guide to prepare for the exam.
Other Resources
World Book: Timelines
World Book: Timelines allows you to view important events in a timeline format or create your own timeline. Browse the 400+ interactive timelines. Add/remove events to customize a timeline for an assignment. Go to World Book: Timelines
Example projects:
Create a timeline noting the major events leading to the first World War based on in-class discussions and research.
Create a timeline for an author of your choice. Include major events in his / her life, including contemporary events from the author's time period.
Choose an inventor. Create a timeline that notes important events in the development of the inventor's invention.
NASA Caltech Jet Propulsion Lab Infographics
The inforgraphics available from JPL include all sorts of space science topics. You can find everything from data on specific missions like the Voyager 2 by the Numbers infographic to informative graphics on aspects of rocket science like the What is a Sounding Rocket infographic. You'll also discover basic space science graphics like An Orbit Map of the Solar System and The Solar Wind Across Our Solar System.
Example projects:
Include an infographic relevant to your own research paper or add it to a slide deck to use as a visual for a presentation.
Take inspiration from the layouts or incorporate facts from an infographic into your own original infographic.
Assets for Projects
Video editing. Image by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
Creative Commons Resources
When using media assets like images, audio, and video, it can be tough to find resources that are legally free to use. Creative Commons provides licenses that range from 100% free to free to use so long as you credit the author. Learn about Creative Commons and use some of the resources below to ensure your next project respects copyright. For each service linked below, please review the "license" and the "terms of service" to figure out how to use a resource for your project.
Creative Commons Info. Learn about the different types of licenses.
Images
EDUimages by All4Ed. Images that depict schools and students. View the license.
Pixabay Images. Pixabay offers a wide variety of media assets. Find images, video, illustrations and music. View the license. View terms of service.
Video
Pixabay Video. Pixabay offers great stock video. Add a background for green screens, establish a location for a film project, create a scene for voice-overs, etc. View the license. View terms of service.
Audio
Pixabay Music. Stock audio great for podcasts and videos. View the license. View terms of service.
Example projects:
Create a website to market a product you design.
Create a video about a current issue. Support your argument with facts.
Choose a geographic area. Create an interactive museum exhibit or poster to tell about place, regions, and culture.
Creative Project Presentations
Project design. Image by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
Presentation Tools
Break out of the poster and PowerPoint grind! These services offer a variety of ways to present your project online or digitally.
WeVideo. Create videos, podcasts, and even GIFs. Use the free library of stock videos, images, and audio files to enhance your work without violating copyright laws. (Login with your school Google account to get full, free access to WeVideo premium level features.)
Genially. Create interactive presentations, guides, infographics and more. (See an example project).
Screencastify. Enables you to record your screen. Use it to record your presentation, make a tutorial, etc. Post your video in a website, add the video to a larger video project, send the link to your teacher, etc.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express. Edit images and videos. Create infographics, flyers, GIFs, videos, etc. Limited font selection. Library of free audio files, graphics, and stock images. CC Express searches Pixabay for images.
Study Tools
Studying. Image from Unsplash.com.
Focused Study
Time to study! Set focused goals. Remove distractions. Allow time for breaks on those longer, in-depth projects requiring high degrees of concentration. These tools can help.
Pomodoro Technique
Pomodoro Technique. View a short YouTube Video about this strategy.
Pomodoro Kitty. There are tons of Pomodoro timers available from YouTube video timers to purpose-built timers with video study partners and white noise to help you concentrate. This simple timer is one example of the many cool options out there. Also, it has a cute cat!
Playlists
WVHSMC Spotify Playlists. Check out our Spotify playlists for study tunes that can keep you in the zone!