This document provides an overview of different types of reference materials including dictionaries, thesauruses, almanacs, encyclopedias, and atlases. It describes what each reference material contains and how it is organized. Key points include that dictionaries are organized alphabetically and contain word definitions, pronunciations, and parts of speech. Thesauruses contain synonyms and antonyms. Almanacs provide yearly facts and events. Encyclopedias have alphabetical topic entries. Atlases contain maps of various locations. Each reference material comes in different editions tailored for specific audiences or topics.

1. A Reference Materials Presentation
Where do I find
that?
Almanac
Created byJessi Olmsted

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3. Dictionary
A bookthatlists the definitionof words in
alphabetical order
Elementary
School
Dictionary

4. What can I find in a dictionary?
• How pronouncea word
• How many syllables are in aword
• How many definitionsthere are of a word
• The word’s part of speech

5. How are dictionaries set up?
They are inalphabetical order.
There are two guidewords at the top of each page
that let’s you knowwhat words willbe onthat
page.

6. What if my word isn’t in the
dictionary?
• Didyouspell itcorrectly?
• Are you onthe right page?
• Are youlookingup a difficultword ina
dictionaryfor youngerstudents?

7. How many types of dictionaries are
there?
There are many types!
There are dictionaries that are booksand
dictionaries that are online.
www.dictionary.com

8. Thesaurus
A bookthatlists synonyms andantonyms for
words
Elementary
Thesaurus

9. What can I find in a Thesaurus?
Youcan findsynonyms and antonyms of different
words.

10. How is a Thesaurus set up?
They are set up inalphabeticalorder.

11. What if my word isn’t in the
thesaurus?
• Didyouspell itcorrectly?
• Are you onthe right page?
• Are youlookingup a difficultword ina
thesaurus for youngerstudents?

12. How many types of thesauruses are
there?
There are many types!
There are thesauruses that are booksand
thesauruses that are online.
www.thesaurus.com

13. Almanac
A yearly bookthatlists the importantevents and
facts from that year.
Indiana
Almanac

14. What is an Almanac?
• Almanacs have beenaround since there was
writing!
• Peoplewouldwrite almanacs so that people
knew what was goingto happenduringthe
year –kind of likea calendar book.

15. • When almanacs first started, they were fullof
jokes,stories, predictions,important dates, and
weather predictions.
• They were written for the current year, so they
made predictions.

16. • Today,most almanacs are factual and are
written after the current year.
• Youcan buythe 2013 Almanac now,but you
can’t buy the 2014 almanac now because 2014
isn’t over yet.

17. How many types of almanacs are there?
There are general almanacs thatcover alltopics, but
there are alsoalmanacsthatcover specific topics.
Example:Sports Almanac,NutritionAlmanac, Almanacs
dedicatedto a specificcity or audience, etc.

18. Encyclopedia
A set of booksthatgives information ontopics
listed alphabetically.
A
A
Encyclopedia
B
B
Encyclopedia
C
C
Encyclopedia

19. What can I find in an encyclopedia?
Encyclopediaswill have alphabetical information
on almost any topicyoucan thinkof!
Want to learn aboutSpace? Youcan lookthatup in
the “S”encyclopedia.

20. How is an encyclopedia set up?
They are set up inalphabeticalorder.
If youwant to learn about Frogs, youwouldlookin
the F book.
*Note: You look up a person by the first letter of their LAST name.

21. What if my topic isn’t in the
encyclopedia?
• Didyouspell itcorrectly?
• Are you onthe right page?
• Youmight needto change your word to a
synonym ofyour originalword.

22. How many types of encyclopedias are
there?
There are many types!
There are encyclopediasthat are booksand
encyclopediasthat are online.
http://www.britannica.com/

23. Atlas
A bookof maps
Atlas of
Colorado

24. What can I find in an atlas?
Youcan findmaps of many differentplaces!
Example:The world,a continent,a country,a state,
a city, a town, a neighborhood

25. What if my place isn’t in my atlas?
• Didyouspell itcorrectly?
• Are you lookingon the right page?
• Are youlookingin the right Atlas? (Are you looking
for a country in an Atlas that hasstates in it?)

26. How many types of Atlases are there?
There are many types!
There are atlases that are booksand atlases that are
online.
www.nationalatlas.gov

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Created byJessi Olmsted