Welcome to the
McCarter Elementary Library

Encyclopedia Wars is an information science and social studies unit for 3rd to 5th graders at McCarter Elementary. Over a six-week period, Encyclopedia Wars teaches students how to use an online encyclopedia in an engaging and competitive manner. Students are divided into four teams across their grade (there are some students on each team in each class). Students of all ability levels are on each team. They start the unit by learning how to use World Book Online (World Book Kids for 3rd graders, World Book Student for 4th and 5th graders). They practice answering questions about many different topics both as a class and in pairs. Finally, the war begins!

For four weeks, students battle it out during library by answering questions individually using World Book Online. They have their entire library period (minus check out time) to compete. Teams are awarded one point for every question a student on that team gets correct. At the end of each week points are tallied and battle winners are posted both in the library and on this webpage. At the end of four weeks, the team with the most points wins the war! Prizes include lunch in the library with dessert provided, a team picture with the Encyclopedia Wars trophy (which will hang in the library until next year's Encyclopedia Wars competition), and a certificate for an extra book check out from the library for each team member.