Computer Science
Grade 3
20 min
Finding Reliable Information
Finding Reliable Information
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify at least three clues that show a website is reliable.
Explain the difference between a fact and an opinion found online.
Use a simple checklist (algorithm) to decide if a website is a good source of information.
Compare information from two different websites to check if a fact is correct.
Identify the purpose of a website (to inform, to sell, to entertain).
Explain why the first result in a search engine is not always the best one.
Have you ever heard a 'fact' that sounded too silly to be true, like that squirrels can fly? 🐿️ Let's learn how to be super sleuths and find the real truth online!
In this lesson, we will learn how to be digital detectives! We'll discover clues to tell if information on the internet is true and tr...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SourceThe place where you get your information, like a website, a book, or a person.The National Geographic Kids website is a source for facts about animals.
ReliableSomething you can trust to be true and correct. It's like a friend who always tells the truth.A website from a museum is usually reliable for information about history.
FactA piece of information that is true and can be proven with evidence.Fact: The Earth has one moon. We can prove this by looking at data from scientists and telescopes.
OpinionWhat someone thinks or feels about something. It can't be proven right or wrong.Opinion: Jupiter is the prettiest planet. That's what someone feels, but another person might disagree.
EvidenceProof that helps you know if something is a fact.A photog...
3
Core Syntax & Patterns
The Clue-Checker Algorithm
IF a website has an author who is an expert, has a professional look, and has a purpose to teach, THEN it is more likely to be reliable.
Use this like a detective's checklist. Look for clues about who made the website, why they made it, and if it looks trustworthy. This is a conditional rule: IF you find good clues, THEN you can trust it more.
The Cross-Check Pattern
Find a fact on Website #1. Then, search for the same fact on Website #2 and Website #3. IF the fact is the same on most of the reliable websites, THEN it is very likely to be true.
Don't trust just one source! Always try to find at least two or three good sources that say the same thing. This pattern helps confirm your data is accurate.
The URL Ending Clue
Check the las...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
You are researching penguins. Website #1 (a zoo's .org site) says they live in the Southern Hemisphere. Website #2 (a blog called 'animal-fun-time.com') says they live in the Arctic with polar bears. What is the most logical next step to find the reliable fact?
A.Find a third source, like an encyclopedia or another museum website, to see which fact it supports.
B.Assume the blog is correct because it sounds more exciting.
C.Mix the information and say that penguins live in both places.
D.Give up because the information is confusing.
Challenging
A website about the solar system is written by 'Dr. Astro,' has a '.edu' address, and looks professional. However, it states that there are 12 planets. You know from school that there are 8. What does this situation teach you?
A.Websites with '.edu' addresses are always wrong.
B.Your teacher must be wrong about the number of planets.
C.Even a website with good clues can sometimes have incorrect or outdated information, so it's always good to cross-check.
D.You should never trust a website written by a doctor.
Challenging
Which of the following is the BEST example of a student using the full 'Clue-Checker Algorithm' from the tutorial?
A.Leo trusts a website because it has a '.org' address.
B.Mia checks a website and sees it's by a museum, looks professional, and is meant to teach visitors, so she decides it's a reliable source.
C.Sam finds a website that looks professional and decides it must be true.
D.Chloe trusts a website because her friend told her it was good.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free