STAGE 1

Teacher-Led Whole Class or Small Group

• Identify key words relating to your topic and use these to develop an appropriate question or questions.

• Read a specific website to find the answers. Discuss why you might read that particular website to find that particular information (eg. Google maps to find a location, a nature website to find out about animals and their environments, a news website to find out about a current event etc).

• Model/Discuss reading for a purpose (i.e. to find the answer to your question)

• Identify together aspects of each website that may aide navigation or lead to other related pages (such as menus and hyperlinks).

• Use the site’s search box to find information (explain how it is similar to the function of an index in a non-fiction book)

• Model the recording and organisation of key information relevant to your query. 

STAGE 2

Teacher-Led Whole Class or Small Group

• Identify information you would like to find out, list key words.

• Form relevant questions and convert these into appropriate search queries.

• Search using kids’ search engines or appropriate reading level filters in Google.

• Analyse results to select the most appropriate pages.

• Identify author, date and purpose of websites to determine reliability

• Model reading for a purpose and recording information in a shortened form ‘in their own words’

Individual or Independent Small Group

• Identify what they need to find out and compose relevant questions based on this.

• Search an individual website, or an individual page of a website, supplied by teacher (using navigation features and the search box) for information that will answer their questions.

• Explain the usefulness of located data or information. Copy and paste useful information and pictures into their notes.

• With support, record answers to their questions as short notes.

STAGE 3

Teacher-Led Whole Class or Small Group

• Model forming targeted questions and search Google or a kids’ search engine as above.

• Model identifying relevant information, summarising or paraphrasing, and organising the information you have found in a logical manner, perhaps using a thinking tool or mind map.

• Discuss the use of more than one source to gain a better understanding and ensure reliability of what is being read.

Individual or Independent Small Group

• Identify questions and develop search queries as above.

• Locate relevant information from a short list of teacher supplied websites and a kids’ search engine.

• Summarise or paraphrase to make notes, organise information. Explain why that particular information was selected as being useful.

• Copy relevant quotes and pictures into a shared document for later use in their work.

STAGE 4

Teacher-Led Whole Class or Small Group

• Questioning and searching of Google as above.

• Model using filters to refine search queries, such as reading level, date, location etc.

• Model appropriate recording and organising of information, both in creating paraphrased notes and in copying and pasting selected passages or pictures into a document.

• Model finding and using a triangulation of sources to gain a deeper understanding and ensure reliability of information. Identify patterns in located data/information.

Individual or Independent Small Group

• Search Google as above to complement information found from teacher supplied websites. Select the most useful/reliable/relevant digital resources for their purpose.

• Summarise, paraphrase and organise information appropriately or ‘in a meaningful way’. Use tables, charts and graphic organisers such as concept maps to assist with this.

• Use triangulation of data to gain a deeper knowledge of topic and ensure accuracy of information. Identify patterns in sets of information.

• Acknowledge all sources used in any finished product, including referencing of pictures.