Lesson 3: Sources, Credibility, and Trust
Duration of Days: 3
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to evaluate the credibility of sources using evidence, sourcing, and verification rather than personal agreement.
What makes a source trustworthy?
Why do people trust unreliable information?
Is credibility the same as accuracy?
Credibility
Verification
Primary source
Secondary source
Misinformation
D1.INQ.4.9–12 – Evaluate sources for credibility, bias, and relevance
D1.INQ.8.9–12 – Assess the strengths and limitations of evidence
D2.CIV.5.9–12 – Analyze how media influences public decision-making
Assessing source reliability
Distinguishing evidence from opinion
Students evaluate multiple sources about a global issue and justify credibility judgments.
DOK Level: 3
Connections to viral misinformation
Discussion of why false information spreads quickly
“If I agree with it, it’s credible”
“Professional design equals accuracy”
Credibility checklists
Teacher modeling
Choice in sources
Source evaluation write-up
Discussion-based justification
Articles
Videos
Social media posts