Is It Reliable? Sorting News and Online Sources

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Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8
SP-SS68-006  ·  Free to print and use in your classroom  ·  substituteplans.com
Page 2
Is It Reliable? Sorting News and Online Sources
Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8 · Grades 6-8 · 50 minutes
Time needed
50 minutes (one class period)
Prep
Copy the 2-page worksheet (one per student). Write the five checking questions on the board.
Technology
None.
Student
independence
High. Students work alone, then compare ratings with a partner.
Copies to make
One 2-page worksheet per student
Materials
Pencils, Worksheet, Whiteboard or chalkboard
Goal for today: Students will use a checklist to judge how reliable different kinds of sources are and will distinguish
facts from opinions.
Before the bell
☐ Copy the worksheet, one per student (2 pages).
☐ Write on the board: 1) Who made it? 2) What is the evidence? 3) When was it made? 4) Why was it made? 5)
Do other trusted sources agree?
☐ Keep the answer key on your desk. Some ratings may vary if students explain their thinking.
Say this to start
Good morning! Every day we see news, posts, and ads. Some are accurate and some are not. Today you will practice
checking sources like a detective. You will use five questions to judge six made-up sources. There is no politics in this
lesson. We are checking how well each source earns trust.
Run of show
Minutes
What you do
What students do
0–5
Take attendance. Hand out the worksheet. Ask students to
write their names and wait.
Settle in and write their names.
5–13
Read the five questions on the board aloud. Read the
passage on the worksheet aloud. Ask: “Which of these
questions do you already ask when you see a post?” Take
two answers.
Listen and share.
13–28
Tell students to complete the Part A table, rating each
source Strong, Medium, or Weak and giving one reason.
Rate each source and write a reason.
28–38
Tell students to do questions 1–5 (fact or opinion).
Write F or O for each statement.
38–46
Tell students to answer questions 6–10. Walk the room.
Answer the multiple-choice, true/false, and
written questions.
46–50
Ask two students to share their new headline from question
10. Collect all worksheets.
Share and hand in.


SubstitutePlans.com
Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8
SP-SS68-006  ·  Free to print and use in your classroom  ·  substituteplans.com
Page 3
If things go wrong
• If students want to name real news outlets or sites, remind them that today’s sources are made up and they
should rate the descriptions.
• If students argue that an opinion piece is “bad,” explain that opinion pieces are fine if they are labeled and
honest. They just are not the same as reports.
• If a student finishes early, use the early finisher list.
• If students seem upset about a topic, redirect them to the checking questions. The goal is to evaluate the
source, not the topic.
Early finishers
• Write your own description of a source and trade with a neighbor to rate it.
• List three clues that a post might be too good (or too shocking) to be true.
Support and challenge
• Support: Let students rate only sources A, B, and C first. Point to the five questions on the board.
• Challenge: Ask students to explain why a source can be accurate about some things and unreliable about
others.
Notes for the teacher (you fill this in)
Jot a few lines before you leave. A full Daily Sub Report is in the free Sub Survival Kit at SubstitutePlans.com.
How far the class got / what to pick up next:
Students who were especially helpful:
Anything the teacher should know: