1. Strategic Searching & Evaluating Sources 1. Question & Research Task
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Strategic Searching & Evaluating Sources 1. Question & Research Task
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What are some strategies you have used to search for information online? Do you sometimes have trouble sifting through your search results to find exactly what you need?
How could make your searches more efficient and effective?
When you get your search results, how do you know if the sources are trustworthy or credible? You should always carefully evaluate the websites you use, to decide which ones you can trust and make sure you are getting accurate information. What criteria should you use to judge the trustworthiness and credibility of websites?
You may have been provided with some targeted websites for your current research project. These were examples of trustworthy, credible sources. Now you’ll have an opportunity to search for and evaluate some additional sources on your own.
Select the image above to view a segment of the video Searching the Internet, which recommends a search strategy called “For Sure.” View and listen up to the 5:33 mark.
Image Source: Safari Montage
How can I conduct efficient and effective online searches and evaluate the quality of the sources I find?

2. 2. Information Sources Next 1 2 3 4 5 6
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Use these resources to learn about strategies you can use to conduct efficient and effective Internet searches, and to complete Student Activity #1 on Slide 3.
Tips for Strategic Searching
5 Ways to Make Online Research Easier
What is Boolean Searching?
How to Search the Internet
How to Master a Google Search
Use these resources to learn about evaluating websites, and to complete Student Activity #2 on Slide 3:
Discovery Education video: Evaluating Sources
The 5 W’s of Website Evaluation
Select the image above to view the BrainPOP video about Internet Searches. You can take the BrainPop Quiz to check your understanding.
Select the image above to view the BrainPOP video about Online Sources and how to evaluate them. You can take the BrainPop Quiz to check your understanding.

3. 3. Student Activities Next 1 2 3 4 5 6
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1. Strategic Searching: Choose resources on Slide 2 to learn about strategies you can use to search for information related to your current research topic. Complete this SEARCH Planner, which includes steps for identifying research questions and keywords about your topic.
For example: If you were researching exotic animals, a research question could be: Why exotic animals are illegal to own? Some keywords derived from that question might be: illegal exotic animals pets (synonym)
Think/discuss: Why might planning a search BEFORE you start searching be an efficient and effective way to find the most relevant information?
2. Evaluating Sources: Choose resources on Slide 2 to learn about how you can evaluate websites you find. Choose 1 website from your completed SEARCH Planner and evaluate the site using this Evaluating Websites Checklist.
Add up your score at the end of the checklist. What score did the website receive? Is this a trustworthy source of information?
3. Share your findings with a partner. Explain how you found this website, and why you plan to “use it” or “lose it” for your research.
Select the image above to learn more about evaluating websites from EasyBib.
Image Source: EasyBib

4. 4. Assessment Activity Next 1 2 3 4 5 6
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1. Use the Evaluating Websites Checklist to find and evaluate two more websites from your SEARCH Planner.
2. Complete the Assessment section of your completed SEARCH Planner.
3. Your teacher will have you take the BCPS One Quiz for Strategic Searching & Evaluating Sources.
Remember to use what you have learned about strategic searching and evaluating sources … not only for class research projects in different subjects, but also whenever you are seeking information for your own personal needs!
Select the image above to see an Infographic about How Search Engines Work. Click on the image in your browser to Zoom In and read the text.
Image Source: Kids DIscover

5. 5. Enrichment Activities
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Want more practice with strategic searching and evaluating websites?
Play A Google a Day, an online search game where a player tries to find the answer to a complex search question from a myriad of topics. Points go down the longer you take!
Try using the SEARCH Planner and Evaluation Checklist from this lesson to plan your search and evaluate the results.
Try Boolify, an interactive website to practice using Boolean phrases while conducting Internet searches.
Select the image above to use an interactive tool that visually shows the difference between Boolean operators for searching.
Image Source: Rockwellshrock.com

6. 6. Teacher Resources 1 2 3 4 5 6 Learning Standards Alignment
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Learning Standards Alignment
Maryland Technology Literacy Standards
Standard 2.0 Digital Citizenship: Demonstrate an understanding of the history of technology and its impact on society, and practice ethical, legal, and responsible use of technology to assure safety.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy
Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
AASL Standards Framework for Learners Inquire: Build new knowledge by inquiring, thinking critically, identifying problems, and developing strategies for solving problems.
Think: Learners display curiosity and initiative by:
I.A.2 Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning.
Create: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes:
I.B.1 Using evidence to investigate questions. I.B.3 Generating products that illustrate learning.
Share: Learners adapt, communicate, and exchange learning products with others in a cycle that includes:
I.C.1 Interacting with content presented by others.
Grow: Learners participate in an ongoing inquiry-based process by:
I.D.2 Engaging in sustained inquiry.
P21 Framework: 21st Century Student Outcomes
3. Information, Media & Technology Skills: Information Literacy: Access information efficiently and effectively; Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand.
ICT Literacy: Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information.
Grade 6 English Language Arts (Standard and Advanced Academics) FLEX Digital Citizenship Integration Lesson: Strategic Searching & Evaluating Sources
Objective: Students will be able to apply search strategies and evaluation criteria to locate relevant, credible information sources for research.
Time Frame: 1-2 class periods
Notes to the teacher:
This lesson and the BCPS One Quiz are REQUIRED for all students in Grade 6 through Standard and Advanced Academics ELA classes, as outlined in the BCPS Digital Citizenship Scope and Sequence of instruction on the Growing Up Digital website. Refer to the Digital Citizenship Integration: Implementation Overview chart for Standard or AA ELA, available also in your BCPS One Course Map, for suggestions about Units where this lesson could be integrated. The BCPS One Quiz for this lesson is linked in in ELA Course Map > Digital Citizenship Integration Folder.
Collaborate with your school library media specialist to plan and implement this lesson.
Use the PDF version of this Slam Dunk to enable direct links to the Safari Montage video on Slide 1 and the BrainPOP videos on Slide 2. Post the URL for the PDF version on a BCPS One Lesson tile, or have students access it from the Middle School ELA Slam Dunk index page.
The PowerPoint version is provided on the Middle School ELA Slam Dunk index page, for teachers you may wish to customize this lesson; if you customize the PowerPoint version, save the revised file as a PDF and then post the PDF on a lesson tile (direct links to Safari Montage and BrainPOP will not work from a PowerPoint).
To ensure accessibility to all links, have students access the Slam Dunk in Schoology through Google Chrome
Last updated: August Created by Anna Conner Report broken links to: Library Media Programs BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2017, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. This lesson may be used for educational, non-profit school use only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson model.