Learning objective
Information Retrieval & Search Skills
Search & Find
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Welcome to Search & Find! In this strand, you will master finding information, files, and text quickly using search engines, system search tools, keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+F, and advanced query filters.
Keywords & Images
Basic search terms and visual search.
Let's Go!
Learn
Search bars let you ask the computer to find information! Typing a simple, clear keyword like 'cat' or 'dinosaur' brings up matching pictures and facts instantly.
Try it yourself
Search for a picture!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identify a search bar on a webpage or browser.
Developing
Type a single keyword to find matching pictures.
Secure (Goal)
Select relevant image results from a search.
Mastery
Refine a search word if initial results are not helpful. Typing: 5 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Keywords & Images includes:
- Core Deliverable: Search for a picture!
- Target Quality: Select relevant image results from a search.
- Excellence & Polish: Refine a search word if initial results are not helpful. Typing: 5 WPM.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See, Think, Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identify a search bar on a webpage or browser.
- Developing: Type a single keyword to find matching pictures.
- Secure: Select relevant image results from a search.
- Mastering: Refine a search word if initial results are not helpful. Typing: 5 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.01.B.1.2
Outcome: SF-O-01 — Basic search terms and visual search.
PYP: Function · Technology connects us to information and answers.
Learner profile: Inquirer
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 2: Finding Apps & Files
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Finding Apps & Files
System search for applications and saved files.
Learning objective
Learning About: System Search. Learning To: Find apps & files. Learning To Be: Communicator.
Let's Go!
Learn
Don't waste time looking through dozens of desktop icons! Use the desktop or Start menu search box to type the app or file name and open it instantly.
Try it yourself
Find and launch an app!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Locate the system search bar on the desktop or taskbar.
Developing
Type an app name to open it from system search.
Secure (Goal)
Search for a specific document filename in File Explorer.
Mastery
Explain why system search is faster than hunting through desktop icons. Typing: 10 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Finding Apps & Files includes:
- Core Deliverable: Find and launch an app!
- Target Quality: Search for a specific document filename in File Explorer.
- Excellence & Polish: Explain why system search is faster than hunting through desktop icons. Typing: 10 WPM.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Zoom In
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Locate the system search bar on the desktop or taskbar.
- Developing: Type an app name to open it from system search.
- Secure: Search for a specific document filename in File Explorer.
- Mastering: Explain why system search is faster than hunting through desktop icons. Typing: 10 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.01.B.1.2
Outcome: SF-O-02 — System search for applications and saved files.
PYP: Form · Organization helps us locate tools and work quickly.
Learner profile: Communicator
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 3: In-Page Search (Ctrl+F)
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
In-Page Search (Ctrl+F)
Keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F for locating text on pages.
Learning objective
Learning About: Ctrl+F. Learning To: Locate page text. Learning To Be: Thinker.
Let's Go!
Learn
Pressing Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) opens the Find tool. Type any word, and the computer highlights every spot where that word appears on the webpage or document!
Try it yourself
Use Ctrl+F to find secret words!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Press Ctrl+F or Cmd+F to open the Find bar.
Developing
Type a specific word to highlight matches on a page.
Secure (Goal)
Navigate between multiple highlighted search results using arrows.
Mastery
Use Ctrl+F to answer research questions from a long article. Typing: 15 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for In-Page Search (Ctrl+F) includes:
- Core Deliverable: Use Ctrl+F to find secret words!
- Target Quality: Navigate between multiple highlighted search results using arrows.
- Excellence & Polish: Use Ctrl+F to answer research questions from a long article. Typing: 15 WPM.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Think, Puzzle, Explore
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Press Ctrl+F or Cmd+F to open the Find bar.
- Developing: Type a specific word to highlight matches on a page.
- Secure: Navigate between multiple highlighted search results using arrows.
- Mastering: Use Ctrl+F to answer research questions from a long article. Typing: 15 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.02.B.1.1
Outcome: SF-O-03 — Keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F for locating text on pages.
PYP: Connection · Shortcuts increase our speed and focus when analyzing text.
Learner profile: Thinker
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 4: Search Queries & Keywords
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Search Queries & Keywords
Formulating specific search queries and evaluating results.
Learning objective
Learning About: Search Queries. Learning To: Refine keywords. Learning To Be: Principled.
Let's Go!
Learn
Search engines don't need full conversational sentences! Focus on 2 to 4 essential keywords (e.g. 'Roman roads construction materials') for exact, high-quality results.
Try it yourself
Master query building!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Distinguish between a full conversational question and core search terms.
Developing
Formulate 2-3 word search queries for specific research.
Secure (Goal)
Evaluate search result titles and snippets before clicking.
Mastery
Modify query terms when initial results are irrelevant. Typing: 20 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Search Queries & Keywords includes:
- Core Deliverable: Master query building!
- Target Quality: Evaluate search result titles and snippets before clicking.
- Excellence & Polish: Modify query terms when initial results are irrelevant. Typing: 20 WPM.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See, Think, Wonder
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Distinguish between a full conversational question and core search terms.
- Developing: Formulate 2-3 word search queries for specific research.
- Secure: Evaluate search result titles and snippets before clicking.
- Mastering: Modify query terms when initial results are irrelevant. Typing: 20 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.02.B.1.1
Outcome: SF-O-04 — Formulating specific search queries and evaluating results.
PYP: Responsibility · Asking specific questions leads to clearer digital answers.
Learner profile: Principled
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 5: Operators & Filters
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Operators & Filters
Using search operators ("", -, site:, filetype:) and filters.
Learning objective
Learning About: Advanced Search. Learning To: Use operators & filters. Learning To Be: Knowledgeable.
Let's Go!
Learn
Search operators are power tools! Wrapping words in quotes ("climate change") searches for that exact phrase. Adding site:.org restricts results to trusted non-profit organizations.
Try it yourself
Execute an advanced search mission!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Use quotation marks (" ") for exact phrase matching.
Developing
Use the minus sign (-) to exclude unwanted terms.
Secure (Goal)
Filter searches by site domain (e.g. site:.gov or site:.org) or filetype (filetype:pdf).
Mastery
Combine multiple operators for advanced research tasks. Typing: 25 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Operators & Filters includes:
- Core Deliverable: Execute an advanced search mission!
- Target Quality: Filter searches by site domain (e.g. site:.gov or site:.org) or filetype (filetype:pdf).
- Excellence & Polish: Combine multiple operators for advanced research tasks. Typing: 25 WPM.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: I used to think...
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Use quotation marks (" ") for exact phrase matching.
- Developing: Use the minus sign (-) to exclude unwanted terms.
- Secure: Filter searches by site domain (e.g. site:.gov or site:.org) or filetype (filetype:pdf).
- Mastering: Combine multiple operators for advanced research tasks. Typing: 25 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.03.B.1.1
Outcome: SF-O-05 — Using search operators ("", -, site:, filetype:) and filters.
PYP: Perspective · Filtering search results gives us precise, reliable evidence.
Learner profile: Knowledgeable
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 6: Source Reliability & Bias
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Source Reliability & Bias
Fact-checking, lateral reading, identifying bias, and verifying sources.
Learning objective
Learning About: Source Evaluation. Learning To: Fact-check & detect bias. Learning To Be: Reflective.
Let's Go!
Learn
Never trust the first result blindly! Professional researchers use lateral reading—opening new tabs to check what OTHER independent sources say about the author, website, and claim.
Try it yourself
Fact-check a claim!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Recognize that not all search results contain true or accurate information.
Developing
Practice lateral reading by opening multiple tabs to cross-check claims.
Secure (Goal)
Identify author credentials, publication dates, and domain authority (.com vs .edu).
Mastery
Conduct thorough source verification and create an annotated bibliography. Typing: 30+ WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar Standard
A top-tier student project for Source Reliability & Bias includes:
- Core Deliverable: Fact-check a claim!
- Target Quality: Identify author credentials, publication dates, and domain authority (.com vs .edu).
- Excellence & Polish: Conduct thorough source verification and create an annotated bibliography. Typing: 30+ WPM.
📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
⭐Self-Assessment: How confident do you feel with this skill?
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Step Inside
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Recognize that not all search results contain true or accurate information.
- Developing: Practice lateral reading by opening multiple tabs to cross-check claims.
- Secure: Identify author credentials, publication dates, and domain authority (.com vs .edu).
- Mastering: Conduct thorough source verification and create an annotated bibliography. Typing: 30+ WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.03.B.1.1
Outcome: SF-O-06 — Fact-checking, lateral reading, identifying bias, and verifying sources.
PYP: Reflection · Critical evaluation of online sources protects truth and integrity.
Learner profile: Reflective
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative:
Teacher override: allow