Search Engines and Online Research
👩🏫 Teacher’s Guide
Objective
Students will use search engines safely, choose good keywords, and identify reliable sources for simple online research.
Teaching Notes
- Teach keyword choice: use short, clear words instead of full sentences.
- Model refining searches: add a word like ‘kids’ or a place name.
- Discuss trustworthy sources: school sites, museums, libraries, kid-safe encyclopedias.
- Remind students not to click ads and to ask for help when unsure.
🧒 Student Worksheet
Concept and Helping Material
Search engines help you find information online. Good researchers use strong keywords, check if a source is trustworthy, and compare more than one website.
Computer Vocabulary and Definition
- — A tool that helps you find information on the internet.
- — An important word you type to search.
- — Where information comes from.
- — Something you can trust to be correct.
- — A message trying to sell something online.
Computer QA
1. What is a search engine?
2. What is a keyword?
3. What is a source?
4. What does reliable mean?
5. What is an advertisement?
6. True or False: Long sentences are always the best keywords.
7. Give a good keyword to learn about penguins.
8. If your search is too big, what can you do?
9. Why should you check more than one website?
10. Should you click every result you see?
11. What should you do if a result looks like an ad?
12. Name one reliable place to get information.
13. What can you add to a search to make it safer for kids?
14. If you want facts about planets, what keyword could you use?
15. True or False: A source tells where information comes from.
16. What is one sign a website might not be reliable?
17. What is one way to stay safe while searching?
18. If you cannot find the answer, what can you do?
19. What does it mean to research?
20. What is a good keyword for ‘how tall is a giraffe’?
Computer Prtactices
- Keyword practice: Turn these into keywords—‘Tell me about sharks’ → ‘sharks facts’.
- Search result check: Circle the result that looks most reliable (museum, school, library).
- Make 3 searches on paper for one topic: broad, better, best (more specific).
- Source hunt: Find the title and author on a sample webpage screenshot.
Reflection
- What keyword helped you the most today?
- How can you tell if a source is reliable?