A Scavenger Hunt: "Surfing" the Net

Purpose: To give students experience searching the Internet

Materials

• computer with internet access
• Scavenger Hunt Sheet

Procedure

1. Tell students that they are going to be searching the Internet for web sites to obtain information on various topics.
2. Depending on your students' knowledge of the Internet and computers, explain details, as appropriate, about what the Internet is and does and how a search engine works.
3. Have students access the search engine of your choice.
4. Type the word "sonar" into the search window.
5. How many "matches" were found?
6. What is the name of the web site for the first match?
7. Click on the link for that web site.
8. Summarize what the web site is about.
9. Use your "back" button to return to the search page.
10. Enter the word "echolocation" in the search window to initiate a new search.
11. How many matches were found?
12. What is the name of the web site for the third match?
13. Click on the link and summarize the web site.
14. Click back button to return to search site.
15. Type in a topic of your choice.
16. How many matches did you find?
17. Continue to search the Net as appropriate.

Conclusion

1. Explain how a search engine works.
2. Why are there so many matches for each search?
3. How could you improve your search?

Student Search Sheet

1. Access the search engine.

   Type the word "sonar" into the search window.

   How many "matches" were found? _______________________________

   What is the name of the web site for the first match?

   Click on the link for that web site.

   Summarize what the web site contains. ___________________________

   __________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________

2. Use your "back" button to return to the search page.

   Enter the word "echolocation" in the search window to initiate a new search.

   How many matches were found? _______________________________

   What is the name of the web site for the third match?

   Click on the link and summarize the web site. _______________________

   __________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________

3. Click back button to return to search site.

   Type in a topic of your choice. __________________________________

   How many matches did you find? ________________________________

4. Continue to search the Net as appropriate.