Computing · Year 3

Active learning ideas

What is a Search Engine?

Ever wondered how you can find the answer to almost any question in seconds? This topic introduces pupils to the powerful tools we call search engines, which act as our guides to the enormous world of the internet.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• National Curriculum for England: Computing KS2 - Use search technologies effectively

• 15–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Search Engine Scavenger Hunt

Pupils are given a list of simple questions, such as 'What is the capital of Scotland?' or 'How many legs does a ladybird have?'. Working in pairs, they use a child-safe search engine like Kiddle or Swiggle to find the answers, recording both the answer and the website where they found it.

Explain how a search engine helps you find things on the internet.

Facilitation Tip

Encourage pupils to try different keywords if their first search is unsuccessful.

What to look for

Observe pupils during the 'Scavenger Hunt' activity, noting their choice of keywords and their ability to navigate to a website from the results page.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Small Groups

Book vs. Browser

In small groups, pupils are given a topic, for example, 'Roman soldiers'. One half of the group uses non-fiction books to find three facts, while the other half uses a search engine. They then come together to compare their findings and discuss the speed and type of information found.

Identify two different search engines you could use.

Facilitation Tip

Use a simple Venn diagram on the board to help pupils organise their comparisons.

What to look for

Pupils complete a short worksheet where they are given a question and must write down the keywords they would use to find the answer.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Individual

Keyword Challenge

Display an image, such as a squirrel eating a nut. Pupils individually write down three keywords they would use to find that image online. The class then shares and discusses which keywords are most effective and why.

Compare finding information in a book to finding it with a search engine.

Facilitation Tip

Model how adding more specific keywords, like 'red squirrel eating', narrows down the search results.

What to look for

Pupils use a simple 'thumbs up, middle, or down' gesture to show their confidence in using a search engine to find a piece of information.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Begin with a relatable analogy, comparing a search engine to a super-fast librarian who has read every book in the world. Use a child-safe search engine like Swiggle for live demonstrations to ensure a safe learning environment. Emphasise that good 'clue words' (keywords) are the key to finding the best information quickly.

By the end of this topic, your pupils will be able to explain what a search engine does and use one with simple keywords to find information. They will also begin to compare finding things out online versus in a book.

---

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• The first result on the page is always the best or most correct answer.

  Search engines rank results based on many factors, not just correctness. It's important to look at a few different websites to check information and see if they agree.

• The search engine knows all the answers itself.

  A search engine doesn't 'know' answers. It's a tool that looks for keywords on billions of web pages created by people and then shows you a list of pages that match.

• Everything you read on the internet is true.

  Anyone can publish information on the internet, so some of it might be incorrect or just someone's opinion. We need to think carefully about who created the website and why.

• Google is the internet.

  The internet is a huge network connecting computers all over the world. Google is a website on the internet that helps you find other websites.

---

Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share