Evaluating Web Sites

Media Literacy and Detecting "Fake News"

Critical Thinking Through Conspiracieshttps://knowledgequest.aasl.org/critical-thinking-through-conspiracies/Article and video, with quiz – to spur discussion about ‘fake news’. Recommended for older students (late grade 7 – grade 8)
How to Know Who to Trust: Seven Stepshttps://newslit.org/updates/how-to-know-what-to-trust-seven-steps/

Do These Sites Pass the F.A.R.T. Test? - If it smells funny, it's probably no good...

(Note: F=Friendliness, A=Authority, R=Reliable, T=Timeliness)

F - Friendliness* Attractive to look at (colors, graphics, fonts)* Organized design helps you find what you need* Design does not distract from the information* No dead links* No technical problems* No advertisements
A - Authority* Author(s) identify themselves* Author's qualifications are easy to find* There is a link to contact the author* Web site has an "ABOUT US" link
R - Reliable* Sources of information are CITED* You can find the same information in other reputable resources* Information is factually correct
T - Timeliness* Web site has been updated recently* Rapidly changing information is updated more often (for example: current events, science, sports and celebrities)* Date of last update, preferably month and year, is easily visible on the web site
All About Explorershttp://allaboutexplorers.com/(RELIABILITY - There are so many wrong facts...)
Astronomy for Kidshttp://www.kidsastronomy.com/(AUTHORITY is a problem)
BBC Nature - Habitatshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats(TIMELINESS - last update not specified)
Bread Dangershttp://www.geoffmetcalf.com/bread.html(RELIABILITY - check the facts!)
Geography and Geology for Kidshttp://www.kidsgeo.com/(AUTHORITY - who made this site?)
The Great Plant Escapehttp://extension.illinois.edu/gpe/case1/c1facts1a.html(FRIENDLINESS - not easy to use - you have to keep clicking for more info)
Hunkin's Experimentshttp://www.hunkinsexperiments.com/default.htm(TIMELINESS - the last update was 2003!)
Matter - Basic Informationhttp://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Graduate/TI/pages/LEWIS/matterweb.htm(FRIENDLINESS - too many flashing, wiggly things are distracting)
Round and Round it Goes - The Water Cyclehttp://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/groundwater/watercycle.htm(PASSES ALL TESTS - I do think it should be updated soon, though...)
Save the Pacific Tree Octopushttp://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/(RELIABILITY - There is no such thing as a tree octopus!)
Science-Class.Nethttp://science-class.net/archive/science-class/Physics/energy.htm(FRIENDLINESS - boring looking, with long lists of links in very small print with no description)
Spiders - EEK!http://www.tooter4kids.com/Spiders/Spiders.htm(AUTHORITY - info from kids for a school project rather than from a scientist)
The Water Cycle - The USGS Water Science Schoolhttp://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html(PASSES ALL TESTS - younger readers will have to be patient. There is a LOT of information on each page, but otherwise it could be helpful for research.)

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