Chapter 3: Exploring the Internet
Exploring the Internet 🌐
Section titled “Exploring the Internet 🌐”Finding Things — and Knowing What to Believe
The internet is like the biggest library in the world, but not everything in it is true. Smart explorers learn how to search well and how to tell what they can trust.
3.1 — Getting Online 📶
Section titled “3.1 — Getting Online 📶”To visit websites you use a browserbrowser: An app you use to visit websites, like Chrome, Safari, or Edge. — like Chrome, Safari, or Edge. Devices get online with Wi-FiWi-Fi: A way to connect to the internet without wires, from a box called a router at home or school. (no wires, at home or school). Look for the Wi-Fi symbol to see if you’re connected.
Your browser has an address bar (where the web address goes), tabs (more than one page open), and back and refresh buttons.
3.2 — Reading a Web Address 🔗
Section titled “3.2 — Reading a Web Address 🔗”A web address is called a URLURL: The address of a web page, like www.example.org, typed in the address bar.. The ending tells you something: .com (a business), .org (a group), .edu (a school), .gov (the government). And https with an “s” means the site is more secure.
Tricky people make fake addresses that look almost right. So look carefully at the address before you type anything or click.
3.3 — Searching Smart 🔎
Section titled “3.3 — Searching Smart 🔎”To find things fast:
- Use clear words — “how do frogs breathe” is better than “frogs.”
- Look before you click — the first thing isn’t always the best, and some are ads.
3.4 — Is It True? 🤔
Section titled “3.4 — Is It True? 🤔”Not everything online is true! Before you believe something, ask:
- Who made it? A school, library, or news site is more trustworthy than a random person.
- Do other places say the same thing? If only one strange website says it, be careful.
- Ask a grown-up if you’re not sure.
Chapter 3 Activity: Be a Web Detective 🔍
Section titled “Chapter 3 Activity: Be a Web Detective 🔍”Part 1: Read Addresses
Section titled “Part 1: Read Addresses”Find two websites. Write each address. What does the ending (.com, .org, .edu) tell you? Does it have https?
Part 2: Search Smart
Section titled “Part 2: Search Smart”Pick a question you’re curious about. Search it with clear words. Write down one good answer and where it came from.
Part 3: True or Not?
Section titled “Part 3: True or Not?”Find a fact online. How could you check if it’s really true? Write down two ways.
Key Concepts Checklist
Section titled “Key Concepts Checklist”- I know a browser is used to visit websites
- I know Wi-Fi connects a device to the internet
- I can read a web address ending like .com, .org, or .edu
- I can search using clear words
- I know some results are ads
- I can check if information is true by asking who made it
- I know AI answers can be wrong and should be double-checked