Lesson summary
Students look at information reliability on the Internet. They begin by assessing the motivations and opinions of a range of websites that appear in response to a general search term, and then they research and categorise website extensions according to reliability. They are then asked to compare information found in books to internet-based information. Finally, they create a checklist for website validity.
These activities “… are an invaluable tool for teachers to address climate change in an educationally relevant, scientifically sound, and action-based way.” – Tim Flannery (Read more)
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand the variety of website extensions and are able to evaluate websites according to self generated criteria
- be capable of critical analysis of web-based information.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian Curriculum content descriptions:
Year 7 & 8 Digital Technologies:
- Acquire data from a range of sources and evaluate authenticity, accuracy and timeliness (ACTDIP025)
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, ICT capability.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.1, OI.5.
Time required: 60 mins
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity and facilitate discussion
Resources required
- Internet searching and analysis
- Digital sharing capabilities
- Key reading from We Are the Weather Makers: Chapter 14 – Extreme Weather
Additional info
Cool Australia would like to acknowledge:
- Tim Flannery
- David Harding, Rose Iser, Sally Stevens
- Text Publishing and Purves Environmental Fund
- Climate Council
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