Checking civic information — Civics, 7–10 years
Before repeating a claim about a public issue, check who said it, what evidence supports it and whether another reliable source agrees.
Pause, check, then share
Civic information is information about how a community is run and what is happening in public life. Before believing or sharing a claim, pause and ask: Who made it? When? What evidence is shown? Checking does not mean trusting nobody; it means giving trust a reason.
Why checking matters
People have always needed ways to tell reports from rumours, especially when a decision affects many others. False claims can make people panic, blame someone unfairly or support a harmful plan. Checking sources became even more important as messages began travelling quickly through newspapers, television and the internet.
Checking a claim about a park
A message says, “The park will close tomorrow.” Step 1: notice that the message has no named source or date. Step 2: look at the council's official notice and find that only one path closes for repairs next month. Step 3: ask who sent the message and share the corrected information, not the alarming version.
A confident message is not proof
A message can sound official because it uses a logo, capital letters or a serious tone. It is reasonable to trust that style, since real organisations often look formal. But appearance is easy to copy, so check the original website, date, author and evidence before passing the claim on.
Information before action
Checking matters when deciding whether to sign a petition, attend a meeting, warn a neighbour or repeat a claim online. It also helps with ordinary news about closures, health advice or emergencies. A careful citizen can still act quickly, but does not make speed an excuse for spreading confusion.
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