Top 10 Searching Techniques

1.) Plan your search.

Brainstorm about what information your need for your project.  You can use a concept web to help organize your brainstorming session.  Use these keywords from your concept web to search the internet.

2.) Choose the right words.

 It is important to be specific when searching. Instead of using vague or general terms, type in exactly what you want to find.

3.) Spell it correctly!

It helps you to find your information quicker and become a better speller!

4.) Use the + Symbol

If you prefer search results containing all of your search words, use the + symbol.  This strategy makes sure your results contain all of your key words and not just some of them.

5.) Narrow your search.

If time is tight, use quotation marks around an phrase to narrow your search results.  The quotation marks direct the search engine to find only the pages that contain your exact phrase.

6.) Get the most out of your search engine.
Most search engines have advanced search capabilities that allow you to more closely target your topic.

Take a look at the all search options available with Google's Advanced Search!

7.) Don't trust just any website!

The internet is a great resource to find lots of information, but don't trust everything you read!  Anyone can create a web site and provide information.  Therefore, it is important to have a critical eye when you search web sites.  Make sure the website is credible, the information is current, and that the information is not biased (look it up!).

8.) Remember our Web Site Evaluation Checklist!

Don't forget to use our Web Site Evaluation Checklist.  This checklist will help you determine if the web site and the information from the site is reliable.

9: Be a Safe-Searcher! 

Remember, you are a responsible kid! Use the internet appropriately. Most search engines have filtering ability which keeps out the bad stuff.  Sometimes it doesn't work as good as it should.  It is up to you to tell an adult when the filters aren't working. 

10.) Practice! Practice! Practice!
The more you do something, the better you will become at it. Before you know it you'll be expert.

Ready, Get Set ...

Ask for Kids

Ask for Kids (formerly known as Ask Jeeves for Kids) provides a fun and safe way for kids to search online.  This site is designed to be a fun and educational.  Ask for Kids uses natural-language technology that allows kids to ask questions and perform web searches, such as "When did Hawaii become a state?" or "What's it like to live in space?" or even "Convert 122 inches into feet" in the same way they would ask a parent, friend or teacher.

This web page is designed for 3rd-5th grade students.

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