Google Search Lesson


 

How can I search on Google and find what I want?[1]

 

Want to search in a way that finds the topics you really want?

 

Here are some tips to help you.


 

Google Search Tips

Use double quotations (“ “)

use to look for words in exactly the order in which you enter them

 

Try minus sign (‐)

use to exclude a word from your results

 

Add a site request

site:edu

site:org

site:gov

use to limit your search to pages published by certain groups


 

Examples

 

depression (mental disorder)

 

Search Terms # of results

depression 169,000,000

depression –great 108,000,000

depression –great seasonal 3,020,000

depression –great seasonal FAQ 1,100,000

depression –great seasonal FAQ site:gov 15,700

Depression –great seasonal FAQ site:gov symptoms 502

 

 

the Great Depression (historical event)

Search Terms # of results

the great depression 66,500,000

“the great depression” 13,200,000

“the great depression” site:edu 545,000

“the great depression” site:edu “black blizzards” 47

“the great depression” site:gov 98,000

“the great depression” site:gov “black blizzards” 9

 

polar bear

Search Terms                                                                   # of results

polar bear                                                                           7,400,000

"polar bear"                                                                         8,790,000

"polar bear" -grizzly                                                            5,890,000

"polar bear" -grizzly site:org                                                  513,000

"polar bear" -grizzly site:edu                                                  109,000

"polar bear" -grizzly site:gov                                                    15,700

"polar bear" -grizzly site:gov "global warming"                          2,830

"polar bear" -grizzly site:gov "global warming" "Beaufort Sea"      178

 



Playing the Google Game

 

Directions

 

Form your teams.  Create a new page called "W8 Codename Google" using the template "Google Game"

 

 

With a partner, use the searching techniques you have learned to answer the following questions.

 

Record the search terms you use and the number of results for each search. Find the answer. Write the answer.

 

The team with the fewest number of results wins!

 



Questions

 

 

1.  Write one topic you want to research for our project:  ____________________________ .

Use the search techniques and see how you can narrow your search for the exact information you want.

 

Search Terms

Number of Items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Did you find the answer you wanted?  Summarize your answer. How does this answer help you with our project?

 

B.  Is the answer from a reliable source?  (Use the "About" on your searched page) How do you know?

 

B. Did the information under "Google Ads" help?  Explain.

 

 

 


 

2.  Write one topic you want to research for our project:  ____________________________ .

Use the search techniques and see how you can narrow your search for the exact information you want.

 

 

Search Terms

Number of Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

A. Did you find the answer you wanted?  Summarize your answer. How does this answer help you with our project?

 

B.  Is the answer from a reliable source?  (Use the "About" on your searched page) How do you know?

 

B. Did the information under "Google Ads" help?  Explain.

 



Connected Pages:    Google Search Lesson     Google Game

Footnotes

  1. Polar Bear info added to the work of: Success in Teaching Teens to Search the Internet: Playing a New Google Game; Tips on improving Internet search skills centered around a Google search activity. Katrine Watkins, Librarian; http://www.google.com/educators/6_12.html