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Is It Real?

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lestrella

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Is It Real?

Students will be able to identify key characteristics of credible online sources and apply simple strategies to evaluate websites.

In today's digital age, knowing how to find trustworthy information online is essential for making informed decisions, completing schoolwork accurately, and understanding the world around us. This lesson equips students with critical digital literacy skills.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

This lesson will use an interactive discussion, guided analysis of website examples, and a concluding reflective activity.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Computers/Tablets (optional, for individual exploration), Is It Real? Slide Deck, Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet, and Exit Ticket: Fact or Fiction Cool Down

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Is It Real? Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
    * Print copies of the Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet for each student.
    * Print copies of the Exit Ticket: Fact or Fiction Cool Down for each student.
    * (Optional) Identify 2-3 examples of websites to use for discussion: one clearly credible (e.g., a well-known news site, a reputable educational institution) and one with questionable credibility (e.g., a satirical site, a conspiracy theory blog). Be mindful of age-appropriateness.
    * Ensure projection equipment is working.

Step 1

Introduction: The Internet Jungle

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "How many of you use the internet to find information for school or just for fun?" (Allow for a show of hands).
    * Introduce the idea that while the internet is amazing, it's also like a big jungle – full of helpful things, but also some things that might try to trick you.
    * Present the first few slides of the Is It Real? Slide Deck to set the stage.
    * Engage students with a quick question: "Why is it important to know if the information you find online is true?" (Guide discussion towards making good decisions, accurate schoolwork, avoiding misinformation).

Step 2

What Makes a Website Trustworthy?

10 minutes

  • Using the Is It Real? Slide Deck, introduce key elements of website credibility (e.g., author, source, date, purpose, design).
    * Distribute the Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet.
    * Go through each item on the checklist, explaining why it's important. Provide simple, relatable examples.
    * Guided Practice: Display one of your pre-selected website examples (or one from the slide deck) and, as a class, use the checklist to evaluate its credibility. Discuss observations and conclusions.

Step 3

Practice & Discussion

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups (2-3 students).
    * Assign each group a different website example (either pre-selected by you or from the Is It Real? Slide Deck).
    * Instruct groups to use their Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet to evaluate their assigned website.
    * Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
    * Bring the class back together and have each group briefly share their findings and explain why they deemed their website credible or not credible.

Step 4

Cool Down: Fact or Fiction

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Exit Ticket: Fact or Fiction Cool Down.
    * Instruct students to independently complete the cool-down.
    * Collect the exit tickets as students leave or as a quick assessment of understanding.
    * Conclude by reinforcing the importance of being
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Slide Deck

Is It Real?

Navigating the Internet Jungle for Truth!

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them to think about how often they use the internet and for what purposes. Emphasize that the internet is a powerful tool but needs careful navigation.

The Internet: A Jungle of Information

  • The internet is full of amazing information!
  • But not everything online is true or helpful.
  • How can we tell the difference between fact and fiction?

Ask students: 'How many of you use the internet to find information for school or just for fun?' Explain the analogy of the internet as a 'jungle' with both helpful and misleading information. Ask, 'Why is it important to know if online information is true?'

How to Spot a Trustworthy Website:

Your Credibility Checklist:

  • Author: Who wrote this? Are they an expert?
  • Source: Where did this information come from? Is it a well-known organization?
  • Date: When was this published? Is it up-to-date?
  • Purpose: Why was this created? To inform, entertain, or persuade?
  • Design: Does the website look professional? Are there lots of errors?

Introduce the five key elements. Explain each briefly and why it matters. This is where the Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet will be introduced and used for the next steps.

Let's Practice Together!

  • We'll look at a website example.
  • Use your [Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet](#website-credibility-checklist-worksheet) to evaluate it.
  • What do you notice about the Author, Source, Date, Purpose, and Design?

Display a pre-selected website example (or one from the slides). Go through the checklist items one by one with the whole class, discussing how each applies to the example. Encourage student input.

Your Turn! Group Challenge:

  • Work with your group to analyze a new website.
  • Use your [Website Credibility Checklist Worksheet](#website-credibility-checklist-worksheet).
  • Decide together: Is your website credible? Why or why not?
  • Be ready to share your findings!

Explain the group activity. Assign different websites to different groups or have all groups analyze the same one if time is short. Circulate and assist. Afterwards, facilitate a brief sharing session where each group presents their findings.

Before You Go: Be a Digital Detective!

  • Always question what you see online.
  • Use your checklist to find credible sources.
  • You are now a digital detective!

Complete your [Exit Ticket: Fact or Fiction Cool Down](#fact-or-fiction-cool-down).

Distribute the Exit Ticket: Fact or Fiction Cool Down. Emphasize the importance of critical thinking online in their daily lives. Collect the cool-downs as a quick check for understanding.

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Worksheet

Website Credibility Checklist

Name: _____________________________

Website Title/Link: __________________________________________________

Use this checklist to help you decide if a website is trustworthy. Circle "Yes" or "No" for each question, then explain your reasoning.

1. Author: Who wrote this?

  • Can you find information about the author or creator of the website? (e.g., their name, qualifications, or organization)
    • Yes / No
  • Explain:


2. Source: Where does the information come from?

  • Is the website from a reputable source (like a university, government agency, or well-known news organization)?
    • Yes / No
  • Can you see where they got their information (like links to other studies or articles)?
    • Yes / No
  • Explain:


3. Date: When was this published?

  • Can you find a date when the information was published or last updated?
    • Yes / No
  • Is the information recent enough for the topic?
    • Yes / No
  • Explain:


4. Purpose: Why was this website created?

  • Does the website try to inform you, entertain you, sell you something, or persuade you to believe something?
    • Inform / Entertain / Sell / Persuade / Other (specify): _________________
  • Does the website seem fair and objective, or does it try to push a strong opinion?
    • Fair / Opinionated
  • Explain:


5. Design & Accuracy: How does it look and sound?

  • Does the website look professional and well-maintained (no broken links, lots of typos)?
    • Yes / No
  • Is the information easy to understand and organized?
    • Yes / No
  • Explain:


Overall Conclusion:

Based on your checklist, do you think this website is a credible (trustworthy) source of information? Explain why in 1-2 sentences.












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Cool Down

Exit Ticket: Fact or Fiction?

Name: _____________________________

1. Imagine your friend shares an article online about a new type of alien found in your town. What is ONE important question you would ask yourself to decide if the article is true or false?




2. Circle the characteristics that usually mean a website is credible (trustworthy):

  • Lots of typos and grammar mistakes
  • Information from a well-known university
  • No author listed
  • A very old article about current events
  • Clear evidence and links to other sources
  • Trying to sell you something with big flashing ads

3. Why is it important to be able to tell if information online is real or fake? Give one reason.




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