Helping Students Discover, Explore, and Learn Independently
For schools serving upper elementary students, the library plays a critical role in helping learners explore new ideas, build research skills, and develop confidence as independent readers. In DeForest Area School District (WI), Kids Discover Online helps students discover science and social studies topics in an engaging and accessible way while providing teachers with curriculum-connected resources they can trust.
Michelle Folk has spent 27 years in education, most of that time as a school librarian. She also spent two years as a STEAM teacher before returning to the library, an experience that deepened her focus on helping students explore topics through research and multimedia learning. Today, she serves as the librarian at an intermediate school serving grades 4–6 and nearly 1,000 students, connecting students and teachers with resources that support both classroom learning and independent discovery.
Kids Discover is a must-have resource for school libraries serving upper elementary and middle school students.Michelle Folk, School Librarian (WI)
NAME
Michelle Folk
DISTRICT
DeForest Area School District
LOCATION
DeForest, WI
GRADES
4-6
SUBJECT
School Librarian
KDO MEMBER SINCE
2023
A Library Hub for Exploration
In the school library, curiosity often begins with a single question or topic of interest. Michelle uses Kids Discover Online to help students turn that curiosity into meaningful exploration and deeper learning.
During her time as a STEAM teacher, Kids Discover became the starting point for a research unit where students selected a science topic and created their own explanatory videos. The platform’s colorful and engaging design made students excited to explore the site and begin learning about new subjects. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by research, students quickly discovered that they could navigate the platform easily and begin building background knowledge about their chosen topic.
Tools like the Discover Map helped guide students as they navigated the library of topics. By visually connecting related concepts, the feature encouraged students to click deeper into subjects and discover new areas they might not have considered before. This structure supports natural curiosity while helping students build stronger research habits, allowing them to move from one idea to the next as their understanding grows.
▲ Discover Map reveals direct and indirect connections across subject matter.
The leveled text is incredibly empowering for students. They can switch the reading level to find their comfort zone and take ownership of their learning.
Putting Students in the Driver’s Seat
One of Michelle’s favorite features of Kids Discover Online is the ability for students to adjust the reading level of each article.
Because her library serves multiple grade levels and a wide range of reading abilities, this flexibility allows students to engage with the same high-quality content while selecting a reading level that fits their comfort and comprehension. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by challenging text, students can take control of their learning experience and approach new topics with greater confidence.
According to Michelle, this feature is particularly powerful because it gives students agency in the research process. When students are able to adjust the text to match their reading level, they spend more time exploring and less time struggling with the material. This creates a more inclusive learning environment where every student can participate in discovery and research, regardless of reading ability.
A Resource Teachers and Students Both Enjoy
As a librarian who works closely with classroom teachers, Michelle often recommends Kids Discover Online as a trusted instructional resource.
Teachers appreciate the wide range of science and social studies topics that align with classroom curriculum, making it easy to integrate Kids Discover into lessons and research activities. At the same time, students enjoy exploring the platform and discovering new information about topics that interest them.
The intuitive design encourages curiosity while supporting learning goals, creating an experience that feels both structured and exploratory.
Kids Discover Online helps school libraries across Wisconsin empower students to explore science and social studies topics with confidence and independence. Is your school ready to strengthen social studies instruction with a resource designed to support curiosity, discovery, and learning at every level?
