Back to catalog
BeginnerGrades 6–10Source Verification

Every claim has an origin. Find it.

Follow the Source

Most people share information without ever asking where it came from. This course teaches the art of source verification — tracing any claim back to its origin using lateral reading, SIFT, and professional fact-checking techniques used by journalists every day.

5 lessons40 minGrades 6–10
Free

No account required to start

Start this questAssign to class
Completion certificate included
Standards-aligned curriculum
Educator dashboard available

What you'll learn

Apply the SIFT method: Stop, Investigate, Find better coverage, Trace claims
Use lateral reading to verify sources without leaving the page
Identify primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
Evaluate website credibility using domain analysis
Fact-check a viral claim from start to finish

Standards alignment

This course is aligned to the following academic standards.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.8 — Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims
ISTE Student Standard 3 — Knowledge Constructor
CASEL SEL Competency — Critical Thinking

Ready for another quest?

Explore the full catalog and keep building your media literacy skills.

Catalyst Quest

Equipping the next generation with the critical thinking skills to navigate a complex media landscape. Every student is a hero. Every lesson is a mission.

© 2026 Catalyst Quest. All rights reserved.

Think critically. Question everything. Be the catalyst.