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Just Because It's Out There Doesn't Mean It's Good

Submitted by teachergwa on August 8, 2009 - 9:02pm
Summary: 

Students go on an Internet treasure hunt to find information about a famous world explorer. They compare information from two different sites to come to a conclusion about whether they can trust all Internet sources.

Objectives: 

After this lesson, students will

  • know that some information available on the Internet is not valuable for research.
  • understand the need to be familiar with a topic before beginning an Internet search for information.
Materials: 

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Preparation: 
  • Set up computers (1 per pair of students) with selected Hunt pages already loaded and ready for students to work.
  • Prepare 1 copy of Treasure Hunt worksheet per pair of students.
  • Prepare a sign for each team of 4 researchers (to aid in group formation at end of "Treasure Hunt" portion of lesson.
Time Activity
5 min

Introduction

  • Find out how many students have used the Internet before. “What is the Internet?”
  • Explain that students will be studying Explorers this year in social studies
  • We have a cool activity on the Internet to get started with Explorers
20 min

Treasure Hunt

  • Assign students randomly to a team researching one of the explorers (4 students per team, divided into two pairs)
  • One pair of students works together at one computer to complete the Hunt on their explorer.
  • Students should select and answer all three of the questions.
  • Teams reconvene as a group of 4 to compare answers and notes. Discuss and answer the “Big Question.”
15 min

Group discussion

  • Whole class discussion of findings and the “Big Question.”
  • Key points to bring out:
    1. Not everything on the Internet is useful
    2. Be familiar with your topic first by reading books
    3. Check facts with other sources
5 min

Preview of future lessons

  • Introduce culminating activity—the next three lessons will provide students with the tools to correct the mistakes they found at the AllAboutExplorers.com site
  • Tools and skills to locate good information
  • Ability to evaluate web sites and other Internet sources