Research in writing is “write” around the corner!
Web 2.0 Research Tools - https://sites.google.com/site/webed20/research (Check Terms of Use and Age Requirements column for each tool)
Kid-Safe Search Engines
Suggested research activities for Grades 1-3
Biography Writing
Some of these are good for people searching and aids/guides to writing about people or events…..but a few have some distractors (ads and such) that you might not like:
Insect Research Butterflies - Enchanted Learning - http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/ BioKids Critters - http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Insecta/