New
New
Year 5

Searching the web

I can identify how to use a search engine effectively.

New
New
Year 5

Searching the web

I can identify how to use a search engine effectively.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Specific information can be found using a web search.
  2. Search terms can be refined to narrow down the information found from a search.
  3. Different search engines can produce different results.

Keywords

  • Search term - the words typed into a search engine to find information

  • Refine - to make something clearer or more accurate

  • Algorithm - a precise set of ordered steps, which can be followed by a human or a computer to do a task

Common misconception

Search terms don't have to be specific as computers are so advanced now they can guess what you want from whatever you enter in a search.

The more specific the search term, the more relevant the search results. A search engine might find results with additional keywords but this does mean the results could be broad.


To help you plan your year 5 computing lesson on: Searching the web, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It is important to check the search terms used in the school network to ensure they are accessible. Check the examples used before the lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a system?
a single machine
a random collection of items
Correct answer: a group of parts working together
a task completed by humans
Q2.
What does automation mean?
a human-controlled process
Correct answer: a task completed without human help
a manual task
a broken system
Q3.
How do computer systems benefit society?
by being expensive
by causing problems
Correct answer: by making tasks easier
by requiring constant human input
Q4.
What is required from humans to start a computer system?
Correct Answer: input
Q5.
What is the result produced by a computer system after processing input?
Correct Answer: output
Q6.
What is the best way to find accurate information on the internet?
click on the first link you see
open random websites
ask a friend for help
Correct answer: use keywords in a search engine

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a search term?
Correct answer: a single word or phrase used in a search engine
a full sentence
a random collection of words
a question asked to a friend
Q2.
How can you refine a search?
add unrelated words
use only one word
avoid using keywords
Correct answer: use more specific terms
Q3.
Why might different search engines produce different results?
Correct answer: they use different algorithms
they all show the same results
they copy each other
they don’t use algorithms
Q4.
Arrange the process of using a search engine:
1 - type a search term
2 - review the results
3 - refine the search if needed
4 - click on a reliable result
Q5.
Match the keywords to their definitions:
Correct Answer:search term,words typed into a search engine

words typed into a search engine

Correct Answer:refine,make something clearer or more accurate

make something clearer or more accurate

Correct Answer:algorithm,a set of ordered steps for completing a task

a set of ordered steps for completing a task

Correct Answer:reliable,something you can trust

something you can trust

Q6.
Why is it important to use specific search terms?
to confuse the search engine
to make the search slower
Correct answer: to get more relevant results
to avoid finding any results