Atomic EduThe Source Audit
Give students one interesting claim — something plausible but worth checking. They have 10 minutes to find three sources. Then they evaluate: who wrote it, why, when, and what they want you to believe. The debrief question: which source would you trust with something important?
How it works
- 1
Pose the claim. Examples: 'Cell phones in school improve learning' or 'The average teen sleeps less than 7 hours' or 'Reading on paper is better than reading on screens.'
- 2
Pairs have 10 minutes to find 3 sources. Any source counts: article, video, social post.
- 3
For each source, they answer: WHO made it, WHY did they make it, WHEN, and what do they want you to believe?
- 4
Each pair ranks their 3 sources from most trustworthy to least.
- 5
Class debrief: how did people decide? What signals matter most?
Teacher Tip
If you can pre-load one obviously sketchy source, do it. Watching them realize 'wait, this is just one guy on Reddit' is the lesson.
Adapt it for your grade
Grade 4
Use simpler claims ('chocolate milk is better than white milk for energy'). Provide 3 sources yourself — they evaluate, don't search.
Grade 5
Let them search, but limit to 2 sources. Add a simple rubric: stars 1–5 for trustworthiness.
Grade 6
3 sources. Introduce the concept of 'who benefits if I believe this?'
Grade 7
Require at least one peer-reviewed or .gov/.edu source. Compare a primary source to a TikTok summary of the same topic.
Grade 8
Run a 'red team' version: one pair has to find the most CONVINCING but actually unreliable source. Class has to spot the flaws.
Debrief question
If you had to make a real decision based on these 3 sources, which would you trust — and why?
Printable student worksheet
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