K-12 US · 9–12
Evaluating Websites for Grades 9–12
This guide helps US high school classrooms teach evaluating websites with clear objectives and classroom-ready activities. Teach domain literacy, author credentials, and redesign flags that signal untrustworthy sites. Expect primary-source comparison, policy context, and rhetorical analysis. Connect skills to college, career, and civic participation. Use it to plan a single lesson or a short unit arc in 9–12 — then explore how Split a Cookie (SaC) modules reduce prep time for teachers and substitutes.
Last reviewed 2026-07-05
Learning objectives
- In Grades 9–12, students inspect about pages and contact information — aligned with evaluating websites instruction in high school classrooms.
- In Grades 9–12, students compare .edu, .gov, and commercial domains — aligned with evaluating websites instruction in high school classrooms.
- In Grades 9–12, students spot typosquatting and impersonation sites — aligned with evaluating websites instruction in high school classrooms.
Classroom activities
- Assign a one-period Socratic seminar on evaluating websites using three sources with competing frames — require citations.
- Students maintain a running verification log for one week and present the most instructive correction they found.
- Connect to civics or ELA: draft a short policy memo recommending school-wide media habits with sourced evidence.
SaC curriculum fit
The Editor's Desk exercises in SaC handouts walk students through structured website evaluation.
Standards alignment note
Districts across the United States align Grades 9–12 media literacy instruction to state ELA, social studies, and library standards. SaC resources support local adoption — they do not replace state-specific scope and sequence requirements. Review your state framework when mapping 9–12 outcomes.
Related resources
Other grade bands — Evaluating Websites