Home›Lesson Plans›English Language Arts›Media Literacy · Grade 3

Trusted Sources

Third graders learn where reliable information comes from — and where it might not. They match sources to how much you can trust them, learning to check facts with experts, official sites, and reference books instead of guessing.

Grade 3Trusted Sources40 minutes1 class periodMedia Literacy · CCSSExplicit teaching4 StandardsCCSS / NAMLE
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Find trusted sources.
  • ✓Tell reliable from not.
  • ✓Match sources to trust.
  • ✓Check your facts.
Essential Question

Not everything you read or hear is true. Where can you find information you can trust?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Source to How Much to Trust It

Project this and match each source to how much you can trust it — tap the source, then tap the note.

🔍 Match each source to how much to trust itTry it
Source
How Much to Trust
Now tap the note!
The Lesson · Literacy Flow (Hook · Explore · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Who Can You Trust?

5 min

Not everything you read is true — where can you find trustworthy info?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask where to check a fact.
  • Ask who to believe.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Wonder.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Trusted Sources

11 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Source.
  • Match each one.
  • Note reliable vs not.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a trusted source.
  • Name an untrusted one.
  • Explain why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Name it.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

9 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a source to check a fact.
  • Say why it’s trusted.
  • Share your choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Say it.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

4 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a trusted source.
  • Say what to do with a guess.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core ELA Standards (informational literacy) & NAMLE media-literacy competencies.

CCSS
RI.3.1

Use evidence from text.

CCSS
W.3.8

Gather info from sources.

NAMLE
Evaluate

Judge source credibility.

CCSS
SL.3.3

Ask about information sources.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Source picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A ___ is ___.”
  • Use examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with a book vs a guess.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Check a fact two ways.
  • Compare two sources.
  • Explain “reliable.”
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔍Source cards
  • 💻Match the Source
  • 📚Reference books
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

sourcewhere information comes fromtrustedreliableexpertsomeone who knows a lotofficialfrom a real authoritycheckmake sure it’s truereliablecan be counted onevidenceproofguessnot sure — look it up
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name a trusted source of information.
A library book, a teacher/expert, or an official website.
QUESTION 2
Should you trust a random stranger’s comment online right away?
No — check it first.
QUESTION 3
What should you do with a guess?
Look it up to make sure it’s true.

Reflect: trusted sources.

Have students name one trusted source they could use to check a fact. A printable sources sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Trusted SourcesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Trusted SourcesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Trusted SourcesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: check, evidence, expert, guess, official, reliable, source, trusted
  1. not sure — look it up
  2. can be counted on
  3. reliable
  4. someone who knows a lot
  5. where information comes from
  6. proof
  7. make sure it’s true
  8. from a real authority

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name a trusted source of information.
  2. Should you trust a random stranger’s comment online right away?
  3. What should you do with a guess?
Answer key — Part A: 1) guess · 2) reliable · 3) trusted · 4) expert · 5) source · 6) evidence · 7) check · 8) official
Part B: 1) A library book, a teacher/expert, or an official website. 2) No — check it first. 3) Look it up to make sure it’s true.