Home - Executive Branch - 7th Grade Civics (Schuh) - LibGuides at The Episcopal Academy

START HERE - ENCYLOPEDIA

1. Click the icon below to launch Britannica

2. Select HIGH SCHOOL (this is important--middle school doesn't give much info)

3. Search for your department in this format: Department of [name]

Citation Tools

Got a Question?

Ms. King

Middle School Librarian

Episcopal Academy

484-424-1536

aking@episcopalacademy.org

Remote Access

***To access the databases from home, you need to log in using your EA Email username and password. You will be prompted to log in when you click on the database icon***

WHITEHOUSE.GOV

White House
Scroll down for a paragraph intro to each department that explains its purpose.

Resources for all groups/departments

Find recent news related to your department and/or photos for your slideshow.

This database provide Reference material, Magazines, Newspapers, Primary Source, and Multimedia images

In the search bar, enter your Department's name. Then, narrow down the results by which source type you want (Reference, Images, Magazines, etc.)

Citing/NT note: GALE databases (like this one) rock because you can click the CITE button to automatically cite the article/photo/source you're viewing.

Click CITE and either click the Export to NoodleTools button

or copy/paste the citation into NoodleTools!

GOOGLE TIPS

Feel free to search on Google for your department.

Remember to search with the term U.S. to ensure that you are looking at info for the U.S., not states/other countries.

For example, search "U.S. Department of the Treasury" NOT "Department of the Treasury"

GENERAL TIPS

Pro Researcher Tip:

Make sure to skim all the information on the homepage of your Department's website. It will show you what their current priorities are and any news/discussion/

blogs/social media posts about their work.

AGRICULTURE

U.S. Department of Agriculture website
For basic info, look at the Agency tab

For important issues, check out the trending topics (on the homepage) and Topics tab

For news/photos, click the Press tab. You may need to click around for photos on different sites like their Instagram page.

COMMERCE

U.S. Department of Commerce website
Click each of the dropdown tabs for information related to your research

To see other agencies within the Department, click "Bureaus and offices" above the Search bar (upper right corner)

DEFENSE

U.S. Department of Defense website
Explore tabs for What's New and Our Story to answer basic info

In What's New, check out the Photo Gallery to find images. They have REALLY cool photos!

EDUCATION

U.S. Department of Education website
Scroll down to the bottom to see About Us topics (for background info)

Click FAQs to see common topics of concern for the Department

Click Laws and Guidance to see some of the legal work that the Education Department does

ENERGY

U.S. Department of Energy website
Click About for info about history and leadership

To see other programs within the Department, click Offices (top right corner)

Click through the main tabs (Science & Innovation; Energy Economy; Security & Safety) to find recent issues/initatives

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website
Click About HHS for basic info

Click Programs & Services tab for more info about what the Department does (they have short explanations of each--very easy to read)

Scroll down on the homepage for Top Tasks & Priorities
AND
Agencies (click each graphic to see that agency)

HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Department of Homeland Security website
Check out the tabs: Topics; News; In Focus; About DHS

Scroll down to the bottom of of the homepage to "Frequently Requested Pages" to see what info people usually are looking for when they visit the page

Click the right arrow to see other topics that have to do with DHS, like: Combating Human Trafficking; What Can I Bring on a Plane?; Myth Vs. Fact; Active Shooter Preparedness, etc.

HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development website
Click Secretary of HUD and What We Do for basic info

For photos, click Humans of HUD (many of these are videos, so you may want to screenshot or click the states and read the stories of people helped by HUD)

Click Press Room and Program Offices to find out more

INTERIOR

U.S. Department of the Interior website
This is a really attractive, well-organized website. You should find all the info you need in the tabs.

Don't miss the Webcams section of the website (if you scroll down on the front page, look for the picture of a bear.)

JUSTICE

U.S. Department of Justice website
Use the tabs to find basic info

Scroll down to Quick Links to see other frequently visited webpages/topics

LABOR

U.S. Department of Labor website
Use tabs for basic info

Click FAQ (top right) to see Topics related to the Department

Scroll down to Quick Links at bottom of page to see popular topics/issues

STATE

U.S. Department of State website
Explore tabs for About; Bureaus & Offices; and Policy Issues for more info

The Countries & Areas tab is interesting; click the country's name to see the U.S.'s relationship with that country.

Scroll down on the homepage to see Travel information

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. Department of Transportation website
Click About DOT for basic info and Operating Administrations (departments within the larger Department)

Click Priorities tab for issues

Scroll down on homepage to Explore DOT to see information about each type of transportation

TREASURY

U.S. Department of the Treasury website
Click all the tabs to learn more

Scroll down to the bottom of the homepage to see other links, like the Bureaus within the Department

VETERANS AFFAIRS

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website
Click the tabs to learn more about the Department

Scroll down the homepage to see the headings of the benefits and services veterans can receive

Scroll down to the very bottom of the homepage to see other Veteran Programs & Services

Executive Branch - 7th Grade Civics (Schuh): Home