Information Literacy - Classes 4 & 5

The situation

We have observed that students in Grades 4 and 5 are developing stronger critical-thinking skills and a more nuanced understanding of social dynamics. At home, you may notice them exploring different digital tools and conducting online research for school projects with growing independence and confidence.

The problem

Children are often exposed to questionable information, from social-media feeds and news headlines to viral videos and AI-generated search results, that can look convincingly like credible facts. Without the right skills, it can be difficult to tell the difference.

The need

Students need strong information-literacy, media-literacy, and news-literacy skills to distinguish fact from fiction and make sense of the content they encounter every day.

The solution

This workshop introduced students in Grades 4 and 5 to the SIFT method—a practical, four-step strategy for separating online “information gold” from “fool’s gold.” It was designed to help students develop the critical-thinking skills needed to navigate online sources with discernment and make informed decisions about what to believe and share.

Workshop objectives

By the end of the workshop, students were able to:

• Understand the difference between fact and fiction.
• Practise finding facts and spotting fiction in the media.
• Identify credible sources of information using the SIFT method.
• Spot AI-generated content by noticing visual clues, such as text errors and unusual details, and by drawing on prior knowledge.
• Think critically about digital images and learn to verify what is authentic and what has been altered.
• Explain their reasoning through discussion, practising both quick decision-making and thoughtful analysis.

SIFT

The SIFT method is an evaluation strategy developed by digital-literacy expert Mike Caulfield to help determine whether online content is credible and reliable. The information about SIFT on this page is adapted from his materials under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

Determining whether online resources are credible can be challenging. Use the SIFT method to help evaluate information, especially news and other online media.