Internet Premodule

LESSON 2: Searching for Information on the Internet

Materials Needed:          

  • Flip chart or board and markers/ chalk
  • Computers with Internet access
  • Copies of the "What Do You Remember Quiz: Partner A"
  • Copies of the "What Do You Remember Quiz: Partner B"

Web Sites Featured:
 http://www.google.com 

Word Bank:

search engine, keyword, hit, result, specific

Introductory Activity

Notes If this activity format is new to learners, you might want to demonstrate it with a student or volunteer.

  • In the last lesson, we learned vocabulary related to the Internet. Let's see what you remember.
  • Find a partner. You will both have different copies of a quiz, "What Do You Remember?" The person with the "Partner A" copy will read definitions of words used in the last lesson. The person with the "Partner B" copy of the quiz will listen to each definition as the partner reads it and then say the word on his copy of the quiz that matches. This should all be done out loud--don't show your partner your copy of the quiz!  When you are finished you can switch papers and start over.

Activity 1: How to Use a Web Search Engine

Today we're going to look at this question: How do you find the information you need on the Internet?

Notes Before explaining to learners what a search engine is, you can pose this question to learners and see if anyone is familiar with search engines; if so, have the learner or learners tell others how they have used Internet searches.

  • One way you can find information is by using a search engine. A search engine is a Web page that you use to find other Web pages with information you want. You go to the search engine Web page and type the words that describe the information you're looking for.
  • Let's look at how to use a search engine. One search engine you can use is called "Google." Type in the URL:

http://www.google.com

  • Imagine that you want to take your family to the Zoo in Washington, DC. You want to find out what time the zoo opens and closes. You can get this information from the Internet, but you don't know the address of the Web page for the zoo. So, you can do a search for it on the Google page.
  • What are some keywords you can use to search for the zoo home page?
  • Everyone type the word "zoo" in the Google search box. Then, hit "Enter." What do you see? How many entries are there for “zoo”?
  • What you see on the screen are the results of your search: Web sites that have the word "zoo" in them. Each result is called a "hit." For this search, you have millions of hits because so many sites have the word "zoo."
  • How can we make this search more specific? Let's try searching with some more specific words.
  • In the Google search box, type the words "National Zoo Washington DC". Then, click "Enter."
  • Look at the hits. Do any of the results look like they have helpful information for you?
  • Click on one of the hits and see if you can find the hours of the National Zoo.
  • What are the hours? (Answer at time of publication: May 1 to Sept. 15, grounds open 6 AM to 8 PM,  buildings open 10 AM to 6 PM; Sept. 16 to April 30, grounds open 6 AM to 6 PM,  buildings open 10 AM to 4:30 PM)

Activity 2: Finding Information on the Web

  • Let's try looking for some specific information on the Web. Imagine that you have some friends who are coming to visit you this weekend. You want to take them to a museum in Washington DC, but you don’t know which one.
  • You want to find some information about the museums so that you can decide which one would be the most fun to visit.
  • Find a partner and make a list of words you will use in your search. You can search with one or two words, like "Smithsonian Museums," or you can search with a group of words, like “Smithsonian Museums Washington DC dinosaurs".
  • After you have chosen some keywords, go to http://www.google.com  and try them out. When you see the hits, click on them and look at the Web sites.
  • With your partner, find one museum that you would like to take your friends to visit. Talk to each other about why you’d like to visit that museum.
  • Everyone will now take turns telling us about the museum and why you want to visit it.


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