Lesson for classes 4 to 10
How to find good information
The internet and the library hold more than anyone can read. This lesson shows how to find what you need, decide if you can trust it, and use it honestly and safely.
Step 1
Start with a clear question
Before you search, write down what you want to know. A clear question is easier to answer than a big, vague topic.
- Too big: "Space."
- Better: "Why does the Moon change shape?"
- Best: "What causes the phases of the Moon, and how long does one cycle take?"
Ask yourself three things: What do I already know? What do I want to find out? How will I know I have the answer?
Step 2
Pick good keywords
A search engine does not need a whole sentence. Pick the most important words in your question, the keywords, and leave out small words like "the" and "is".
| Question | Keywords to try |
|---|---|
| Why does the Moon change shape? | moon phases explained |
| How do plants make their food? | photosynthesis for kids |
| Who built the Red Fort? | Red Fort history builder |
- Use specific words: "monsoon causes India" works better than "rain".
- If you get too many results, add a word. If you get none, take one away or try another word with the same meaning.
- Put quotation marks around a few words to find them together, like "water cycle".
- Try your school book index and a dictionary too. Not everything is on the internet.
Step 3
Judge the website
Anyone can put anything on the internet, so check before you believe. Ask these questions about every page:
- Who made it? Is there an author or an organisation you can name, like a school, a museum or a government department?
- Why was it made? To teach you something, or to sell you something, or to make you click?
- How old is it? Look for a date. Some facts, such as a population, change over time.
- Does it give proof? Good pages say where the facts came from.
- Does it look careful? Many spelling mistakes, shouting words and "you will not believe this" titles are warning signs.
- Is it a fact or an opinion? Facts can be checked. Opinions are what someone thinks.
Websites ending in .gov.in (government) or .ac.in (colleges and universities) are often reliable, but check even those. A web address ending in .com, .org or .in does not tell you if the page is true.
Step 4
Check two sources
One page can be wrong. Before you use an important fact, find it in at least two places that did not copy from each other, like your textbook and a trusted website.
- If they agree, you can feel more sure.
- If they disagree, look for a third, or ask a teacher.
- Be careful when two websites say exactly the same words. One may have copied the other, so that is still only one source.
Try it: find how tall Mount Everest is in two places. Do they give the same number? Why might the numbers differ slightly?
Step 5
Ask a teacher, a librarian or a grown-up
Real people are some of the best sources. A teacher can tell you which website to trust and sort out a muddle quickly. A librarian is an expert at finding books and facts.
- Say what you have already tried: "I read this page and this book, but they say different things."
- Ask for help when a page makes you feel confused, worried or uncomfortable.
- It is always fine to say "I do not know yet". Good learners ask questions.
Step 6
Use your own words: do not copy
Copying someone else's words and saying they are yours is called plagiarism. It is unfair to the person who wrote them, and you do not learn anything.
Here is a better way:
- Read the page until you understand it.
- Close the page or look away.
- Write what you remember in your own words.
- Check with the page that your facts are right.
- If you must use their exact words, put them in "quotation marks" and say who wrote them.
Copying a picture or a whole text from the internet is not the same as making your own work, even though a computer makes it quick to do.
Step 7
Say where you found it
At the end of your project, list the places you used. This is called citing your sources. It shows you were honest, and it helps others check your facts.
For a book, write the author, the title and the year. For a website, write the name of the page, the website, the address and the date you visited.
Book example: NCERT. Science, Class 7. National Council of Educational Research and Training, 2023.
Website example: "Phases of the Moon". NASA Space Place. spaceplace.nasa.gov. Visited 14 October 2026.
Person example: Mrs Sharma, science teacher, told me about this on 3 September.
Your teacher may ask for a different order. Ask which style your school wants.
Step 8
Stay safe online
- Keep private things private. Do not share your full name, home address, school, phone number, photos or passwords with people you do not know in real life.
- Think before you click. Pop-ups, free prizes and messages that say "hurry" are often tricks.
- Do not download files or apps without asking a grown-up.
- Be kind. Do not say anything online that you would not say to a person's face.
- Tell a grown-up if something online upsets you, if a stranger messages you, or if someone asks you to keep a secret. You will not be in trouble.
- Ask first before you make an account anywhere. Many sites have a minimum age.
- Take breaks. Rest your eyes, stretch and go outside.
In India, CHILDLINE 1098 is a free helpline for children who feel unsafe.