Evaluating Websites - 5th Grade
Learning Target
- Today I will evaluate websites
- Using academic vocabulary (credible, valid, validity, online source, accurate, unbiased, evaluate)
- So that I can choose online sources that are trustworthy
- I'll know I've got it when I can identify credible sources.
Discuss with a partner:
- Is everything on the internet true?
- How do you know?
How is the validity of information determined?
- valid - having a sound basis in logic or fact
- validity - the quality of being logical and factually sound
- credible - able to be trusted and believed
- accurate - correct in all details
- unbiased - neutral; showing no favor of one thing, person, or group over another
- online source - where you found the information on the internet
- evaluate - to judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of
- domain name - an easy to remember/spell website address that represents an invisible, technical IP address.
- domain extension - the suffix at the end of a web address like .com or .net. For example, in the domain name www.learn2yoga.com, com is the extension.
How to Evaluate the Content of a Website
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Domain extensions in website addresses can also give you information about a website. Which domain extensions do you think are always trustworthy? Which domain extension are more likely to be trustworthy?
- .org represents the word "organization"; it is intended to be used by non-profit groups, but anyone can use it
- .gov represents the word "government" ; it is used only by United States government agencies
- .edu represents the word "education"; it is used only by college universities
- .net represents the word "network"; it is intended to be used by internet service providers, but anyone can use it
- .com represents the word "commercial" and is intended to be used by businesses, but anyone can use it
Let's Practice
Directions: Below are seven websites about the civil war. Work with your group to visit each link and answer the questions on the website evaluation worksheet. Use the whole website to answer the questions on the worksheet. Make a copy of the Google Doc "Evaluate Civil War Websites" found in the Research folder located in the 5th Grade Activities Folder. Record and explain your group's decision.
- Website 1: Mrs. Huber's Class--The Civil War for Kids
- Website 2: American Civil War--What Caused the American Civil War?
- Website 3: Ducksters--The American Civil War
- Website 4: History.com--10 Surprising Civil War Facts
- Website 5: Find Facts--Facts about the Civil War
- Website 6: Social Studies for Kids--The American Civil War
- Website 7: PBS--Kids in the Civil War