Computer Science
Grade 3
20 min
Keywords and Searches
Keywords and Searches
What you'll learn
- Identify at least three common tricks scammers use in online messages or emails, such as creating a sense of urgency or asking for personal information.
- Explain in your own words why it's important to ask a trusted adult before clicking on links or sharing information online, scoring at least 3 out of 4 on a rubric assessing clarity and completeness.
- Apply the learned strategies to correctly identify at least 2 out of 3 examples of potential online scams presented in a worksheet.
- Describe one thing you can do to help protect yourself from online scams, and one thing you can do to help protect others.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the term 'keyword' in the context of internet searches.
Identify the search bar on a search engine website.
Choose at least two specific keywords to find information on a given topic.
Explain why using more than one keyword gives better search results.
Turn a simple question into a keyword search.
Compare the results from a general search and a specific search.
Imagine the internet is a giant library with millions of books! 📚 How do you find the exact one you need without looking at every single one?
In this lesson, we will learn how to use special 'magic words' called keywords to tell the computer exactly what we are looking for. This helps us find information super fast, like a computer detective!
Real-World Applications...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
KeywordA special, important word you type into a search bar to tell the computer what to look for.If you want to learn about lions, your keywords could be 'lion facts' or 'what do lions eat'.
Search EngineA helpful website (like Google, Bing, or Kiddle) that looks all over the internet to find information based on your keywords.You go to Kiddle.co and type your keywords in its search bar to start your search.
Search BarThe empty box on a search engine website where you type your keywords.The long white box at the top of the page with a little magnifying glass icon next to it.
Search ResultsThe list of websites and pages that the search engine finds for you after you search.After you search for 'how to draw a cat', the list of links to vi...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The Two-Word Rule
Use at least two keywords.
Using just one word is too general. Combining two or more keywords helps the search engine understand exactly what you want to find.
The Be Specific Rule
Choose keywords that are exact.
Think about the most important details. Instead of 'cake', try 'easy chocolate birthday cake recipe'. This gives the computer better clues.
The Question to Keyword Rule
Turn your question into keywords.
If you are wondering 'What is the biggest planet in our solar system?', use the keywords 'biggest planet solar system'. You don't need to type the whole sentence.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
You want to draw a picture of a dolphin and label its parts. Which search order makes the most sense?
A.First search 'simple dolphin picture', then search 'parts of a dolphin diagram'
B.First search 'how to draw', then search 'what is a mammal'
C.First search 'what do dolphins eat', then search 'how to label'
D.First search 'dolphin flipper', then search 'ocean'
Challenging
A friend searches for the single keyword 'games'. The results are about video games, board games, and sports. Your friend says they wanted games to play on the computer. What is the BEST advice you can give them?
A.Your computer must be broken if it showed sports.
B.Add the keyword 'computer' to your search to be more specific.
C.Try searching for 'fun' instead of 'games'.
D.You should never search for just one word.
Challenging
You upload a photo of your cat, but you don't type any words to describe it. Why would it be hard for someone to find your photo by searching for 'cat'?
A.Because the internet doesn't allow cat photos
B.Because your cat is not famous enough
C.Because search engines understand words and tags, not just what's in the picture
D.Because you need to search for the exact color of your cat
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Keywords and Searches"?
Keywords and Searches is a Grade 3 Computer Science lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Keywords and Searches?
You'll be able to: Identify at least three common tricks scammers use in online messages or emails, such as creating a sense of urgency or asking for personal information; Explain in your own words why it's important to ask a trusted adult before….
Is "Keywords and Searches" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Keywords and Searches?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.