How to Evaluate Online Sources about History

The internet is increasingly where people of all ages turn for information, including information about the past. Websites and social media accounts often present information about themselves and their authors, but this information may not provide the full story or be completely truthful. This lesson will introduce students to lateral reading, a strategy for investigating a website or post by going outside the source. Students will watch the teacher model the strategy and then have a chance to practice determining who’s behind a source and, ultimately, whether it’s a trustworthy source of historical information.