On the Web: Databases

On the Web: Databases features integration ideas with databases, popular software options for database construction that are typically found in K-12 settings, and database tutorials. The sections are listed alphabetically. If you know of a site that is missing from this collection but is would provide helpful information to teachers, please contact us.

Integration Ideas || Software Options || Database Tutorials

Integration Ideas with Databases

Discovery School
There are lessons that use databases in research activities that are found at Discovery School, a searchable site. The lessons that are presented below are only a sample.

Earth and Beyond
In this one-week lesson, students in grades 6-8 or 9-12 investigate global warming, lunar exploration, space travel, Mars exploration, or terraforming, and develop a plan for the future.

Health Database
This lesson is designed for grades 2-5 and places students in inquiry learning as they log the information about their lunch menus to determine if they're getting a balanced diet.
Lesson Planet
This site sponsored by Educational Planet offers web-based resources, tools and services. In 2002, the company launched Lesson Planet, which provides many lesson plans; however to have complete access, there is a fee. There are three membership options that can be researched at the web site. Lessons that include the construction of databases can be found at this site.

Mathematicians are People too
This database lesson designed for students in grades 5-8 allows students to learn about the lives and contributions of mathematicians as they complete Internet research and ultimately are able to compare and contrast these findings.
Science Hits
Students in grades 6-8 or 9-12 listen to a recording of “The Elements” by Tom Lehrer (1960) and write their own song for recalling scientific information. Research is completed with online databases.

Wartime Posters
In this U.S. history lesson, students conduct research about the political, economic, sociological, and historical factors in the United States prior to World War II and take a position based on their research. Research is completed with students using online databases.

We the People
In this U. S. history lesson, students research to gather images from newspapers, magazines, television, and/or the Internet and show how the meaning of the Preamble is reflected in current American culture. Research is completed with students using online databases.

Software Options: Databases

Proprietary database solutions

FileMaker Pro
Travel to the Filemaker site to find special offers for K-12 educators with award winning database software. Download a 30 day trial of the latest version to see if it's a match for you and/or your students.

Inspire Data
Inspiration has recently published Inspire Data, a program that hold many databases that can be used for problem solving and graphing. This nifty tool provides database software so new databases can be created when students gather data. Try out a trial!! Great for the types of inquiry and problem solving that 21st century learners need.

Microsoft Access
Microsoft Corporation offers Microsoft Access, a powerful database program, with Office Professional but not the standard MS Office. While powerful, this software requires a high learning curve.

Open source databases solutions

Base
OpenOffice, an open source suite, offers a database option, Base, a free download. Take a look and see if this is a good choice for your classroom.
NeoOffice
NeoOffice is a full featured set of office applications for Mac OS X, based on OpenOffice. Take a look and see if this is a good choice for your classroom. Free downloads are available here.
Web-based database programs
Zoho.com
Zoho offers a host of programs that are web-based and free if you have an account. Zoho Writer is an online word processor, Zoho Creator is an online database application and Zoho Sheet is an online spreadsheet. These are fully compatible with MS Office counterparts and promote digital literacy and colllaboration. There is also a presentation tool as well as a wiki and more.

Database Tutorials

The following sites provide basic information, lessons and tutorials about computer basics. Annotations provide more information.

Databases from About.com
About.com offers more than you might want to know about databases however you can find information about database fundamentals, tutorials, query examples, books as well as desktop databases.

Databases: Step by Step Guides to Using Databases
A site that offers information about databases. This is not specifically for teachers however it covers all of the fundamental information.
Database Tutorials: Access
Microsoft Access is one of the major software programs for databases yet is quite opiate and is not appropriate for most of the students in K-12. A powerful program, it is doubtful that classroom work would require the powers of Access. Microsoft Office is not equipped with Access unless the Professional Office Version is provided.
FileMaker Pro 8.5 Tutorial
FileMaker offers a tutorial that contains lessons that can be downloaded in pdf format for this new version of FileMaker.