Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Detective Desk Case Files: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 8
- ForYear 8
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Detective Desk Case Files is a free printable computing worksheet for Year 8 (ages 12 to 13), in Key Stage 3. Children act as detectives. They check each online post for red flags, then stamp a verdict. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play detective. Each case file is an online post. They read it carefully, tick the red flags they spot, and stamp a verdict. The flags to look for are about the source, the date, the web link, the image and emotional pressure. There are numbered questions with space to answer. The sheet asks for reasons, not just a verdict, so children practise explaining why they trust or doubt a post.
How a detective checks a post
Look at the source
Ask who posted it. Is the name or account one you can trust, or could anyone have made it? A real looking name is not proof.
Look at the date
Ask when it was posted. Old posts can be shared again as if they were new, so the timing needs checking.
Look at the link and the image
Read the web link carefully before trusting it. Ask whether the picture really belongs with the words around it.
Notice the pressure
Ask how the post wants you to feel. Posts that push you to panic, rush or share straight away deserve a slower look.
Why check posts like a detective?
Anyone can publish a post online, and a post can look polished whether or not it is true. Year 8 pupils meet news, adverts, messages and videos every day, often from people they do not know. Learning to pause and look for clues is a habit that protects them and helps them judge what they read with care.
A red flag is a warning sign, not proof. One flag means look more closely. Several flags together make a post harder to trust. That is why this sheet asks children to justify a verdict with evidence. A good detective explains which clues led to the decision and says what they would check next.
Did you know?
- Anyone with an account can post online, so a post does not become true just because it looks professional.
- The words shown for a web link can be different from the place the link really goes.
- An old photo can be shared again with a new caption that has nothing to do with the real picture.
- Fake accounts can copy the name and logo of a real person or business.
- Posts that make people feel strong emotions often get shared quickly, which is one reason to stop and think first.
Skills and curriculum link
- Spotting red flags
- Evaluating online sources
- Justifying a verdict
- Careful reading
- Digital literacy
Ideas to help you guide the conversation
- A flag is a clueOne red flag does not prove a post is false. It tells you to look harder. Encourage children to say what they would check next.
- Reasons matterA verdict with a reason is stronger than a verdict alone. Ask for the word "because" every time.
- Slow downPosts are often built to be shared fast. Taking a moment before reacting is a real skill worth practising.
- Trust can changeA source that seems fine can still make a mistake, and a source that seems odd can still be right. Evidence beats a first impression.
Key words
- Red flagA warning sign that a post may not be reliable.
- SourceThe person or group that created or shared the post.
- VerdictYour final decision, backed up by reasons.
- EvidenceClues or facts that support what you think.
- Web linkAn address that takes you to another page when you select it.
- Emotional pressureWords or pictures meant to make you feel worried, excited or rushed so that you act without thinking.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Read each post slowly and talk about each choice.
- Tick the red flags you can find in each post, then stamp a verdict.
- Mark the work using the answers on page 2. Ask, "What made you decide that?" The reasoning matters as much as the verdict.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Cover posts 4 to 6 at first. Ask pupils to find just one flag in each post before looking for more. Point them to one clue type at a time, such as the source, then the date, then the image.
To stretch confident children
Write your own invented post that has exactly two red flags. Swap with a partner and ask them to find both. Then check together: did they find the flags you meant, and can they explain their verdict?
Make it a game
Race a partner. Each of you finds the flags in one post, then you swap sheets and argue your verdicts. Each player must give a reason for every flag. Agree a verdict together before you move on.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child decides a post is false just because it feels odd, without any evidence.
Try thisRemind them a red flag is a clue, not proof. Ask them to name the exact clue and say what they would check next.
Watch forA child stamps a verdict but gives no reason.
Try thisAsk them to finish the sentence, "I think this because..." and point to the part of the post that shows it.
Watch forA child trusts a post because it looks neat and professional.
Try thisExplain that anyone can make a post look polished. Look again at the source, the date, the link and the image.
Talk about it
- Which clue is the easiest to miss when you scroll quickly?
- Have you ever seen a post that made you feel you had to share it at once? What did it say?
- Why might someone want a post to make you feel worried or excited?
- If two flags appear in one post, is that enough to decide? Why or why not?
- What would you check first if a friend sent you a surprising post?
- How would you explain a red flag to a younger child?
Take it off the page
Design a fake post
Draw a made up post on paper for an invented event. Add one clue that gives it away and one that looks convincing. Ask someone to find the giveaway.
Detective badge
Make a paper badge with your own symbol. On the back, write your three favourite questions to ask about any post.
Spot the pressure
Look at adverts in a magazine or on leaflets. Underline words that try to make you hurry or feel worried, and talk about why they were chosen.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first case, then let them lead. Ask them to explain each verdict aloud. If they get stuck, ask them to look at one clue type at a time.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity in computing or PSHE links. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider computing or online safety plan. It pairs well with talking about the news and adverts you see together. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or for revision.
Where this skill fits
Before this sheet, children learn to use technology safely and to ask for help when something online feels wrong. They also learn that not everything they read online is true. This sheet builds on that by giving them specific clues to look for.
After it, pupils can compare several sources on the same topic and decide which is most reliable. At Key Stage 3 this supports the strand on using technology safely, respectfully and responsibly, including recognising inappropriate content and knowing how to report concerns.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Detective Desk Case Files for?
It is written for Year 8 (ages 12 to 13), in Key Stage 3. It also suits nearby year groups, because the main skill is careful reading and giving reasons for a decision.
- What will children practise?
Children practise checking online posts for source, date, web link, image and emotional pressure. They spot red flags, evaluate sources and justify a verdict with reasons, which are key digital literacy skills.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages. Children work alone or in pairs, read each post, tick the red flags and stamp a verdict. Then mark the work using the answers on page 2 and talk about any differences.
- What if it feels too hard?
Cover posts 4 to 6 at first. Ask pupils to find just one flag in each post before looking for more. Then add the other posts and more flags when they feel ready.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision at a later date.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so children think about online posts without using a device. That makes it good for quiet time, rainy days, lessons without computers and school holidays.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or within a wider computing plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.