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Reliable vs Unreliable Sources

Seventh graders learn how to judge what they read online, from who wrote it to whether it is backed up, and sort common sources and signals into reliable versus unreliable.

Grade 7Reliable vs Unreliable Sources55 minutes1 class periodCSTA / ISTEExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Spot reliable signals.
  • ✓Spot red flags.
  • ✓Check the author.
  • ✓Sort each source.
Essential Question

Online, anyone can publish anything. What separates a reliable source from a shaky one, and how do you tell the difference?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Sort the Signals

Project this and sort each signal into reliable or unreliable — tap a signal, then tap where it belongs.

🔎 Sort each signal: reliable or unreliable?Try it
✅ Reliable
🚩 Unreliable
Tap a signal, then tap whether it points to a reliable source or a shaky one.
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Says Who?

5 min

Anyone can publish anything online. When two pages say opposite things, how do you decide which to trust?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show two conflicting pages.
  • Ask which to trust.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Sort the Signals

12 min

Students sort reliable and unreliable signals.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Sort the Signals.
  • Drop each one.
  • Explain each choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
3

Modify — Vet a Page

13 min

Students evaluate a real source.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick an online page.
  • Check author, date, and evidence.
  • Rate its reliability.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Check.
  • Rate.
4

Create — Source Checklist

15 min

Students build a checklist.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List the signs of a reliable source.
  • Turn them into questions.
  • Make a checklist.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Turn.
  • Make.
5

Reflect — Trust, but Verify

5 min

Students reflect on evaluating sources.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Why check who wrote something?
  • What is one red flag?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and the ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
2-DA-08

Evaluate the quality and source of information.

CSTA
2-IC-21

Judge the reliability of online content.

CSTA
2-DA-09

Explain how data and sources can mislead.

ISTE
3

Evaluate the credibility of digital sources.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Signal cards with icons.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is a reliable / unreliable sign.”
  • Sort two signals at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with author and date.
  • Discuss one example together.
  • Sort reliable fully before the rest.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Vet a real controversial page.
  • Compare two sources on one topic.
  • Research how misinformation spreads.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Signal cards
  • 💻Sort the Signals
  • 🔎Sample web pages
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

sourcewhere a piece of information comes fromreliabletrustworthy and supported by evidencecredentialproof that an author has relevant expertiseevidencefacts or data that back up a claimbiasa slant that can distort informationmisinformationfalse information, whether or not on purposecross-checkto confirm a claim against other sourcesdomainthe part of a web address, like .gov or .com
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name one sign that a source is reliable.
For example, a named author with credentials, evidence behind its claims, or a recent date.
QUESTION 2
Name one red flag that a source may be unreliable.
For example, no author, lots of errors and all-caps hype, or strong emotion with no evidence.
QUESTION 3
Why should you check who wrote something online?
Knowing the author and their credentials helps you judge whether the information is trustworthy.

Create: a source checklist.

Have students list the signs of a reliable source, turn them into quick check questions, and make a checklist they can use whenever they research online. A printable source-evaluation worksheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Reliable vs Unreliable SourcesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Reliable vs Unreliable SourcesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Reliable vs Unreliable SourcesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: bias, credential, cross-check, domain, evidence, misinformation, reliable, source
  1. facts or data that back up a claim
  2. a slant that can distort information
  3. to confirm a claim against other sources
  4. the part of a web address, like .gov or .com
  5. proof that an author has relevant expertise
  6. false information, whether or not on purpose
  7. where a piece of information comes from
  8. trustworthy and supported by evidence

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name one sign that a source is reliable.
  2. Name one red flag that a source may be unreliable.
  3. Why should you check who wrote something online?
Answer key — Part A: 1) evidence · 2) bias · 3) cross-check · 4) domain · 5) credential · 6) misinformation · 7) source · 8) reliable
Part B: 1) For example, a named author with credentials, evidence behind its claims, or a recent date. 2) For example, no author, lots of errors and all-caps hype, or strong emotion with no evidence. 3) Knowing the author and their credentials helps you judge whether the information is trustworthy.