Checking where information comes from — Media, 7–10 years
Learn simple ways to pause, ask who made a claim and compare it with another trustworthy source.
A source is where information starts
A source is the person, group or record that gives us information, such as a scientist, a museum, a witness or an official notice. Checking a source means asking where a claim came from and whether that source has a good reason to know. A confident voice alone is not proof.
Why check before believing?
Messages can contain mistakes, old information, jokes presented as facts or claims designed to make people react quickly. Checking slows that rush down and gives us a chance to avoid passing on something untrue. It began as a need in newspapers and science, and it matters just as much in group chats.
Worked example: will it rain?
A message says, “A storm is coming at noon—stay indoors!” First, notice that it gives no author or date. Next, check the weather service and a local news report, both showing the forecast and time. They disagree with the message. You do not forward it; you ask an adult what to do if the weather changes.
The trap: a shared message can still be wrong
We often trust a message because a friend, relative or many other people shared it. That is reasonable: people we know often help us. But sharing shows that people saw the claim, not that they checked it. Look for the original source and compare important claims before passing them on.
Where this helps
Use source-checking when you see a surprising animal fact, a warning about school or a post asking you to share urgently. You can ask: Who made it? When? What evidence is shown? A trusted adult, library, museum or official service can help you check without making you feel silly for asking.
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