Lessons·life-skills·kids · intermediate
Is That Really True?
Learn to ask good questions, tell the difference between facts and opinions, and figure out if something you read online is true.
About 20 minutes
Your friend tells you that eating carrots lets you see in the dark. Is it true? How could you find out?
Before you start
Watch Can You Believe Everything You See Online? by BBC Teach (4 min) — What surprised you? Have you ever believed something online that turned out to be wrong?
- Can you think of something you believed that turned out not to be true?
- How do you decide if something you read online is true?
- What's the difference between a fact and an opinion?
The Carrot Myth
During World War II, the British government said their pilots could see enemy planes in the dark because they ate lots of carrots. Posters everywhere said 'Carrots help you see in the blackout!'
But it wasn't true. The REAL reason the pilots could spot enemy planes was a secret new invention: radar. The carrot story was made up to keep radar secret from the enemy!
Here's the thing: carrots DO have vitamin A, which is good for your eyes. But they don't give you night vision. The story was a MIX of truth and lies — which is exactly what makes fake information so tricky to spot.
The Three-Question Check
Before you believe something, ask THREE questions:
**1. WHO said it?**
Is it a scientist, a teacher, a news website — or just someone on TikTok? Some sources are more reliable than others.
**2. HOW do they know?**
Did they see it happen? Did they do an experiment? Or are they just guessing? Look for evidence.
**3. Can I check it somewhere else?**
If something is true, more than one source will say so. If only one website says 'chocolate cures colds,' it's probably not true!
**Remember:** Facts can be proven. Opinions are what someone thinks or feels.
- Fact: 'London is the capital of England.' (You can check this.)
- Opinion: 'London is the best city in the world.' (Someone else might disagree.)
What You Now Know
- Fact vs Opinion
- A fact can be proven true or false. An opinion is what someone believes or feels.Fact: 'Water boils at 100°C.' Opinion: 'Water tastes better than juice.'
- Source
- Where information comes from — a book, website, person, or video.A science textbook is a more reliable source than a random social media post.
- Evidence
- Proof that something is true — like an experiment, a photograph, or data.Scientists tested whether carrots improve night vision — the evidence showed they don't.
- Checking Facts
- Looking at more than one source to see if a claim is true.If you read something surprising online, search for it on a trusted website like the BBC.
Let's Talk About It
- Can you think of something that SOUNDS true but isn't? (Like 'we only use 10% of our brain.')
- Someone at school says 'I saw it on YouTube so it must be true.' What would you say?
- Is it always wrong to believe something without checking? When is it OK?
- Why do you think fake stories spread so fast online?
Critical Thinking Vocabulary
| English | Türkçe |
|---|---|
| actuallyActually, that's not quite right — let me explain. | aslındaAslında bu pek doğru değil — dur sana açıklayayım. |
| nonsenseThe idea that goldfish have a 3-second memory is complete nonsense. | saçmalıkJapon balıklarının 3 saniyelik hafızası olduğu fikri tamamen saçmalık. |
| rubbishThat story about aliens landing in London is total rubbish. | saçma / çöpUzaylıların London'a indiğiyle ilgili o hikaye tamamen uydurma. |
| proveCan you prove that carrots give you night vision? No? Then it might not be true. | kanıtlamakHavuçların gece görüşü verdiğini kanıtlayabilir misin? Hayır mı? O zaman doğru olmayabilir. |
| evidenceScientists need evidence before they can say something is a fact. | kanıt / delilBilim insanlarının bir şeyin gerçek olduğunu söyleyebilmesi için kanıta ihtiyacı vardır. |
Writing task
Write about 80 words on this and have it marked, with corrections. Free account needed.
Discuss this in English
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