What Keywords Should I Use?

The Fishing Game

Objectives - ISTE NETS for Students #3: Research and Information Fluency

"locate information from a variety of sources and media"

• choose words that are specific for retrieving information from a search engine
• avoid one word searches - combine words for more powerful effects
• use no more words than are necessary

Materials

blank index cards with one hole punched in a corner
• stick and string for fishing pole, paper clip for hook
• paper cup with one hole punched near the lip
• assortment of objects as prizes (e.g., different pieces of wrapped candy, stickers)
• slips of paper that say NO MATCH FOUND and other objects that match one word queries
• a screen to place between the fishermen and the fish pond
• this activity requires two leaders, one for each side of the screen

Directions (using 'candy' as an example)

Students fish for candy prizes using keyword cards as bait. Introduce the activity and its connection to searching for information: to get what you want, you have to know what words to use.

Visit the interactive candy page to get ideas about words to use to describe different types of candy. Point to a candy and have children suggest what words describe it (e.g., a specific name, colors, flavors, size, etc.)

Explain that there is a variety of candies in the fish pond today. Each child (or team if you want to compress this activity) will think of one word to put on a card that will catch a prize, in this case, candy. The one who is fishing may attach any number of cards to the hook. The hook is thenlowered over the screen, where the second leader decides if there is candy that matches the bait (query), tugs on the line and sends back information that best matches the request.

If only one word is used, CANDY, be prepared to put a picture of a dog in the cup. After all, CANDY has more than one meaning (it is also be the name of a person, a book and a movie).

If a specific name is used (M&Ms), and that is not one of the prizes, send back a message in the cup: NO MATCH FOUND.

If too many words are used and no prize matches the bait, return a NO MATCH FOUND note.

Allow students to try again, to improve their bait selection.

No query may be repeated (or make sure each prize is different).

Talk about words that were effective (powerful) and those that were not. Explain that this is a lot like searching for information on the Internet. If you use only one word, you might not get what you are looking for. If you use a specific word, it can be very effective if the information is there. Using too many words often produces poor results.

Enjoy the prizes.

Option: Once a child has taken a turn at fishing, let them play the part of the search engine, helping decide if the bait matches any of the prizes.

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© 2011 Information Fluency