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Learn how to find facts and information from different places like books and the internet.
Imagine you are a detective solving a mystery. If one witness says 'The thief was 6 feet tall' and another says 'The thief looked scary,' which one helps you catch the bad guy?
To be a great researcher, you first need to know the difference between a fact and an opinion. A fact is a statement that can be proven true or false. For example, 'The Earth has one moon' is a fact. An opinion is a statement that tells how someone feels or what they believe. For example, 'The moon is beautiful' is an opinion.
When we do research, we look for facts because they provide solid evidence. Opinions can be interesting, but they don't help us build a report based on truth. Think of facts as the bricks of a building and opinions as the paint color—the bricks hold everything up!
Let's look at two sentences about dogs: 1. Dogs have four legs. 2. Dogs are the best pets in the world.
Sentence 1 is a fact because we can count the legs. Sentence 2 is an opinion because some people might prefer cats or hamsters!
Quick Check
Is the statement 'Math is the hardest subject' a fact or an opinion?
Answer
It is an opinion because 'hardest' is a feeling and different people find different subjects easy or difficult.
Not every place on the internet or in the library is a good place for research. We want to find reliable sources. A reliable source is a place that experts have checked to make sure the information is correct.
Encyclopedias are like giant 'fact-books' written by experts. On the internet, look for websites that end in .gov (government) or .edu (education). These are usually 'Super Sources' because they are run by schools or scientists. Avoid personal blogs or websites where anyone can write whatever they want without checking it first!
If you are writing a report on the planet Mars, which source is better? 1. A website called 'MarsIsCool.blog' written by a random person. 2. The NASA website (ending in .gov).
Step 1: Look at the name. NASA is a space agency with scientists. Step 2: Look at the ending. .gov is a reliable marker. Result: NASA is the 'Super Source'!
Quick Check
Name one type of book that is considered a reliable source for facts.
Answer
An encyclopedia (or a non-fiction textbook).
Sometimes, even 'Super Sources' might have slightly different information. A smart researcher always uses the Rule of Two. This means you check at least two different sources to see if they agree.
If Source A says 'The Blue Whale is 100 feet long' and Source B says 'The Blue Whale is 98 feet long,' you know the answer is somewhere around feet. But if Source A says 'Whales are fish' and Source B says 'Whales are mammals,' you need to keep digging! Comparing sources helps you find the most accurate truth.
Imagine you are researching the height of the Eiffel Tower. 1. Source 1 (a book from 1950) says it is feet tall. 2. Source 2 (a modern website) says it is feet tall because of a new antenna.
Step 1: Notice the difference ( feet). Step 2: Check the dates. The newer source explains the change! Step 3: Use the most recent, detailed information.
Which of these is a FACT?
Which website ending is usually the most reliable for a school project?
If two different books say the same thing about a topic, the information is likely a reliable fact.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the 'Rule of Two' and why it's important for researchers.
Practice Activity
Find a non-fiction book in your house or library. Find one fact and one opinion inside it!