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THE KEY TO KEYWORDS / LESSON PLAN
DIGITAL LITERACY AND CITIZENSHIP IN A CONNECTED CULTURE
© 2012 www.commonsense.org
The Key to Keywords
LESSON PLAN
UNIT 1
Essential Question
Which keywords will give you the best search results?
Lesson Overview
Students learn strategies to increase the accuracy of their keyword
searches. They compare the number and kinds of sites obtained and
make inferences about the effectiveness of the strategies.
Working in pairs, students use the Fetch! Student Handout to
answer an assigned question. They use one, two, then multiple keywords,
and discover that when it comes to keyword searches, more words are
better than one. Using the Doggy Data Student Handout, students
then devise their own search strategies to find information, using multiple
keywords, synonyms, and alternative words and phrases.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to ...
experiment with different keyword searches and compare
their results.
refine their searches by using multiple words, synonyms, and
alternative words and phrases.
Estimated time:
45
minutes
Standards Alignment –
Common Core:
grade 3: RI.1, RI.4, RI.10,
RF.4a, W.4, W.7, W.10, W.1a,
W.1b, W.1c, W.1d, W.3, W.4,
W.6, L.3a, L.6
grade 4: RI.1, RI.4, RI.10,
RF.4a, W.4, W.7, W.10, W.1a,
W.1b, W.1c, W.1d, W.4, W.6,
L.3a, L.6
grade 5: RI.1, RI.4, RI.10,
RF.4a, W.4, W.7, W.10, W.1a,
W.1b, W.1c, W.1d, W.4, W.6,
L.3a, L.6
3b, 3c, 3d
Key Vocabulary –
keywords: the most important
words related to a subject,
which you type into a search
engine to find the information
you want
precise: clear and exact
results page: the screen
showing what a search site
found in response to your
keyword search
synonyms: two or more words
with the same meaning or
nearly the same meaning
alternative: a different
way to say or do something
Materials and Preparation
Copy the Fetch! Student Handout, one for every two students.
Copy the Doggy Data Student Handout, one for every two students.
Family Resources
Send home the Smart Searching Family Tip Sheet
(Elementary School).