Website detective
Can you trust this web page? Look for clues, then decide.
Web page 1 of 5
Tap each part of the page to look for clues.
A made-up page, for practice
FROG NEWS!!!!!!
Your checklist
- Date, not checked yet
- Author, not checked yet
- Does it sound realistic?, not checked yet
- Spelling and grammar, not checked yet
- Design, not checked yet
Five things to check
- Date: when was it written? It could be out of date.
- Author: who wrote it? Are they an expert?
- Does it sound realistic? Are these facts or opinions? Can you check them?
- Spelling and grammar: are the words spelled correctly?
- Design: are the pictures sensible? Is it easy to follow?
One clue is not enough
A web page can look smart and still be wrong. A young writer can be right. Think about all five checks together. If you are still not sure, check another source.
For teachers
This tool goes with Unit 2, Lessons 1 and 2 of the Year 4 Inspire Computing student book.
- Before the screen: print two short "web pages" and let pairs circle anything that makes them doubt each one.
- A step beyond the book: the book says a student's page or a poor design is a sign of unreliable information. Here those are clues and not verdicts, so there is a third answer: not sure, check another source. Mihi's bird diary and the old computer page are there to start that discussion.
- After the last page, use the book's Activity 2 in Lesson 1: pairs put the five checks in order of importance and defend their order. There is no right answer.
- Exit question: name three things you would check on a web page, and why.
- Every page is made up. Nothing a pupil does here is saved or sent anywhere.
More to try
- Choose a real website with an adult and go through the five checks.
- Make your own unreliable web page on paper. Can a partner find every clue?