How to use Search Engines to Find Information
Subject: Library Media
Grade: 3 – 5
Timeframe: 45 minutes
Introduction:
As the internet increasingly becomes a more important source of information for student researchers, it is necessary that students learn how to use the search engine. However, while the search engine provides access to an endless directory of information, students should learn how to use search engines to access the maximum number of sources while ensuring that each source is high quality and credible. Therefore, this lesson plan teaches students between the grades of 3 and 5 how to appropriately use search engines when seeking information. It serves as an introduction to the numerous types of search engines available online, and provides an educational foundation to how to search the wealth of information online.
Objective:
- Understand the purpose and use of online search engines
- Define basic parts of the web search engine and web search terms
- Understand its advantages and limitations
- Refine keyword searches to get better results
- Understand that the top search results of search engines are not always the best sources available
Materials:
- Computer with internet access
Procedure:
- To begin, start with a class discussion on what a search engine is and what its purpose might be. Give examples of popular search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing) while differentiating them between more educational search engines, such as Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Have students define all of the necessary web search terms. Here is a list of some of the important terms you might want to include:
- Search engine
- Browser
- Website
- Query
- URL
- Domain
- Introduce a research question to the class. Make sure this is a question, and not a topic, to which the students must find the answer. Divide up the class in small groups (3-5) and have the students brainstorm different search keywords that they could use to help find the answer to this question. Remind the students that the more unique and specialized their search terms are the better results they will get.
- After each group has compiled a list of 5 keywords that they think will be the most useful in answering the initial research question, have each group submit that list to the teacher. Each group will be allowed to search their keywords online and use the information from only the top two search results to see if they can answer the question. Based on the 10 sources that their 5 keywords brought up, the groups will try and gather the most information possible to answer the research question thoroughly.
- Once every group has finished collecting information, the groups will then compare how much information they were able to gather in order to answer the research question. Which group’s search terms worked best and why? Could the students have furthered improved their search terms?
Assessment:
Students should be assessed on how much information they were able to find based on their search terms. The more specialized, unique, and well-thought out search terms should receive higher marks.
Self-Evaluation:
At the end of this assignment, students should have met the objectives outlined at the beginning of this lesson. They should have developed the necessary skills and understanding of using search engines to seek information online. Students will have realized that the top two search results of popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo are not as useful as research-oriented search engines, like Sweet Search.
Additional Resources:
- Google tools for educators
- Popular search engines:
Common Core Standards:
| Common Core Standard | 5th Grade Expectation | How the lesson plan addresses this standard |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor Writing Standard 8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism. | CC.W.5.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of source | This lesson plan teaches students how to gather relevant information from digital sources online using search engines. |
