Most search engines are intended for adults and will give you too many 'hits'. Save time and start with some kid-friendly sites. I recommend ...
http://www.factmonster.com/
http://www.linktolearning.com/
(lots of fun stuff, but look for the encylopedia link too)
(connected to the Ontario Curriculum)
http://www.altavista.com/
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/
(a family filtered search engine)
(a search engine developed specifically for kids)
http://www.sandiegozoo.com/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/
(quick info on lots of animals)
