002. fact or opinion : evaluating online sources (ks3)
Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate online sources and distinguish facts from opinions.
Not everything you read on the internet is true! Anyone can publish a website or post a video, which means we have to be careful consumers of information. Today, we are sharpening our critical thinking skills. You will learn how to evaluate online sources, discovering the key differences between a verifiable fact and a personal opinion.
Fact vs. Opinion: The Digital Detective's Toolkit
The Two Types of Statement
Every time you read an article, watch a video, or scroll through social media, you are consuming statements. But not all statements are created equal. To be a smart navigator of the digital world, you need to understand the crucial difference between two types of statement: facts and opinions. Understanding this is the first step to becoming a critical thinker who cannot be easily fooled.
A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true. It is objective, meaning it is not based on feelings or personal beliefs. Facts are based on evidence and data that can be checked and verified by others.
The capital of France is Paris.
Humans need oxygen to breathe.
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
You could travel to Paris, consult an encyclopaedia, or conduct a scientific experiment to prove each of these statements. Their truth does not change no matter who says them.
An opinion, on the other hand, is a statement that expresses a belief, feeling, or judgment. It is subjective, meaning it is based on a person's individual perspective. An opinion cannot be proven true or false, although you can agree or disagree with it. Opinions often contain judgmental or emotive words.
Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.
Breathing exercises are relaxing.
Cold weather is miserable.
These statements depend entirely on personal taste and feelings. Someone else might think Rome is more beautiful, find breathing exercises boring, or love the cold weather.
Why Does It Matter?
Distinguishing between fact and opinion is a superpower online. Many websites are created with a specific motivation. Some exist to inform you by presenting facts, like a museum website or a government science page. Others exist to persuade you to think a certain way or to buy a product. These persuasive sites often mix opinions with facts to make their arguments sound more convincing.
For example, a review for a new video game might state a fact: "The game features over 40 hours of content." It might then follow with an opinion: "This makes it the best value game of the year." The fact is the evidence, but the conclusion is a personal judgement. An analyst's job is to separate the two. By learning to spot the difference, you can make your own informed decisions instead of being easily influenced by others.
Plugged Task: The Source Analyst's Report
A journalist needs to write an article for a school newspaper about the Roman Army. They have found two different websites but are not sure which one is more reliable. They have hired you, a professional Source Analyst, to investigate both sites and write a brief report on their trustworthiness.
The Persona
As The Analyst, your job is to be objective and logical. You must examine the evidence carefully, separate facts from opinions, and make a reasoned judgement based on what you find, not on your personal feelings.
1
Get Organised
Open a new word processing document. At the top, add the title 'Source Analysis Report' along with your name.
2
Gather your evidence
Your journalist has sent you two web links. Your task is to visit both and analyse their content.
Source A: A Children's Encyclopaedia Page
Source B: A Primary School Homework Site
3
Analyse the sources
For each website, you need to identify facts and opinions. Create two subheadings in your report: 'Source A Analysis' and 'Source B Analysis'.
Under each subheading, copy and paste two statements that are clearly facts.
Then, copy and paste two statements that are clearly opinions. If you cannot find any opinions, state that the source appears to be purely factual.
You might need to know the difference between 'objective' and 'subjective' information.
You are a linguist. Explain the difference between 'objective' and 'subjective' language. Limit your response to 75 words. Explain it to a Key Stage 3 student. Use a simple analogy to help. NO intro, NO outro, NO deviation from the topic, NO follow-up questions
4
Evaluate the purpose
Under each analysis, add a final sentence that states the main purpose of the website. Is it trying to inform the reader with facts, or persuade them of a particular viewpoint? To be a good analyst, you should never trust a single source. A key research skill is triangulation.
5
Write your recommendation
At the end of your report, add a final heading: 'Recommendation'. Write a short paragraph for the journalist explaining which source (A or B) you believe is more reliable for their article and justify your choice using the evidence you have collected.
Outcome
You have created a word processed document with a clear title.
You have analysed two websites and correctly identified examples of facts and opinions.
You have evaluated the purpose of each website.
You have written a final recommendation that is justified with evidence.
Unplugged Task: Fact vs. Opinion Infographic
On a blank piece of A4 paper, your task is to design an eye-catching infographic poster for a younger student that explains the difference between a fact and an opinion.
1
Divide your page into two clear sections. Title one 'FACTS' and the other 'OPINIONS'.
2
In the 'FACTS' section, write a simple definition and draw a simple icon or doodle that represents truth and evidence (like a magnifying glass or a book).
3
In the 'OPINIONS' section, write a simple definition and draw an icon that represents feelings or personal thoughts (like a speech bubble or a heart).
4
Add at least two clear examples to each section to make the difference really obvious. Use colour and bold lettering to make your poster engaging and easy to understand from a distance.
Last modified: June 24th, 2026
