Welcome
Welcome! Today we learn a tiny question with a big power.
The question is, "How do you know?"
Grown-ups, kids, books, and even a screen or an app can tell us things. Some things are true. Some things are just a guess. So how can we tell?
We can check. Checking means finding out for ourselves instead of only believing what we heard.
Let's practice being checkers!
Why We Ask
The Question With Big Power
Imagine a friend says, "It is raining outside!"
You could just believe it. Or you could ask, "How do you know?" and then check by looking out a window.
When you look out the window with your own eyes, now you really know.
Firsthand and Secondhand
Two Ways to Know
There are two ways things get into our heads.
- Firsthand means I saw it myself. You were there. You used your own eyes, ears, hands, nose, or tongue.
- Secondhand means someone told me. You did not see it. A person, a book, or a screen passed it to you.
Both can be useful! But firsthand is the strongest, because you checked it yourself. When something is secondhand, you can still ask, "How do we know?" and check.
Which One Is It?
Your Turn
Here is a story. You pet a puppy at the park. Its fur felt soft.
Guessing and Knowing
Three Different Things
There is a big difference between a guess and really knowing.
- A guess is when you are not sure. "I think there are five cookies left." Maybe! Maybe not.
- Knowing is when you are sure because you checked. "There are five cookies, because I counted them."
- Finding out is what you DO to turn a guess into knowing. You check!
Guessing is not bad. A guess is a great start. But when it matters, you can find out by checking. To count cookies, you look in the jar and count them, one, two, three.
Turn a Guess Into Knowing
Your Turn
Pretend you plant a seed in a cup. A week later you wonder, "Did my plant grow?"
Two People, Two Answers
Who Is Right?
Sometimes two people say different things. Your brother says there are three cookies left. Your sister says there are five.
They cannot both be right! So what do you do? You do not have to just pick a favorite person. You can check for yourself. Go to the jar and count the cookies.
This works for screens too. Sometimes a game, an app, or a screen gives an answer. That is helpful, but it can be wrong or out of date. You can still ask, "How do we know?" and check with your own eyes, a book, or a trusted grown-up.
Checking is your superpower. It works no matter who, or what, gave you the answer.
You Be the Checker
Your Turn
Your brother says there are 3 cookies in the jar. Your sister says there are 5. A screen would not help here, because the cookies are in your own kitchen.