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Track Sources and Evidence

Short summary: When information comes from somewhere, tracking the source helps you check it, credit it, and find it again.

Big idea​

A source is where information came from. Evidence is information that supports a claim. Claims, sources, and evidence should stay connected — if you lose the source, it is much harder to check anything later.

Why it matters​

Source tracking helps with media, civic, legal, health, environmental, and school research. Not every source is equally useful for every question — and knowing where a fact came from is what lets you decide how much to trust it. Private or personal information needs extra care.

Kid-friendly explanation​

A source tracker leaves breadcrumbs back to where information came from. Without the breadcrumbs, you may remember the fact but never find the path again — and then you cannot check it, share it, or defend it.

Tool: Claim / Source / Evidence / Question​

  • Claim: ___
  • Source: ___
  • Evidence: ___
  • What this source helps answer: ___
  • Question I still have: ___
  • Can I find it again? ___

Activity: Keep the Claim Connected​

Give kids fictional claims and sources. Have them match each claim with its source, evidence, and an open question. Then show one claim that lost its source — discuss why that matters and what future-you can no longer do with it.

Discussion questions​

  • Why does source tracking matter?
  • What happens when a claim gets separated from its source?
  • How can a source help one question but not another?
  • What information should stay private?

Try it this week​

When you write down one fact, also write where it came from.

Adult note​

Source tracking is not just citation compliance — it protects thinking. Keep privacy and age-appropriate source choices in mind.