Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Yudt
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dry but reliable social studies site.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
The Library of Congress's COUNTRY STUDIES Web site contains simple HTML versions of books that were originally published in hard copy by the Federal Research Division between 1986-98. They cover history, culture, geography, and other key topics about several dozen countries from around the world. The site also has shorter, more up-to-date profiles of countries, presented in PDF format. Users can browse by country, choose a location from a map, or search by keyword.
Is It Any Good?
Country Studies is a useful alternative to textbooks for teens doing history or social studies research -- it's easy to navigate and find information quickly. Of course, since the books are 10-20 years old, they can't be used for current events projects. The Portals to the World section helps fill in that gap, providing a wealth of links to country-specific resources. Although Country Studies contains excellent information, the site is extremely text-heavy -- teens looking for an interactive educational experience won't find it here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about doing research online. How do you know if a Web site has reliable information? What sources can you trust, and why?
Website Details
- Genre : Educational
- Pricing structure : Free
- Last updated : August 25, 2016
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