Use citations and credit sources including AI

When you write a report, an essay, or even a short paragraph that uses facts from somewhere else, you must tell the reader WHERE those facts came from. That is what a citation does. A citation is a little label at the end of a borrowed idea, fact, or quote that names the author, the title, the year, and the source. In Grade 5, citations protect you from plagiarism, build trust with your reader, and make your writing look more grown-up. They also handle a brand-new kind of source: AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. If you used an AI to help you, you cite it just like a book.

What a Citation Does

• A citation tells the reader exactly WHERE you got an idea, a fact, or a quote.
• You cite to AVOID plagiarism — using someone else’s words or ideas as if they were yours is stealing, even if it was an accident.
• You cite to BUILD TRUST — readers can see your facts came from real, named sources, not made-up ones.
• You cite to HELP READERS — your reader can look up the source themselves to read more.
• A missing citation is one of the fastest ways to lose marks on a Grade 5 report.

The Four Parts of a Kid-Friendly Citation

1. AUTHOR — the person who wrote it. Last name first: Smith, Jane.
2. TITLE — the name of the book, article, or page: The History of Bees.
3. YEAR — the year it was published: 2021.
4. SOURCE — where it came from: Penguin Books, weatherkid.org, ScienceDaily.
5. Order in most kid-friendly styles: Author. Title. Year. Source.

Citation Templates by Source Type

• BOOK: Author. Title. Year. Publisher. Example: Smith, Jane. The History of Bees. 2021. Penguin Books.
• WEBSITE: Author or site. Title. Year. URL. Example: WeatherKid Site. Why Storms Spin. 2024. weatherkid.org.
• ARTICLE: Author. Article title. Magazine or paper. Year. Example: Lopez, Maria. The Quiet Forest. ScienceDaily. 2023.
• INTERVIEW: Person. Personal interview. Date. Example: Mr. Patel. Personal interview. May 12, 2025.
• AI TOOL: Tool name. Response to: prompt. Date. Example: ChatGPT. Response to: explain photosynthesis for a Grade 5 learner. October 5, 2025.

Citing AI Tools — A New Rule

• AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini are real sources. If you used one, you must cite it.
• Three things go in every AI citation: the TOOL NAME, the exact PROMPT you typed, and the DATE you used it.
• Example: ChatGPT. Response to: list five facts about ancient Egypt. October 5, 2025.
• NEVER copy what an AI gave you and turn it in as your own writing — that is still plagiarism.
• AI is a starting point. Read what it says, check the facts in another source, then write the answer in YOUR words.

Quick Routine for Citing a Source

1. Identify the SOURCE TYPE: book, website, article, interview, or AI tool.
2. Pick up the matching template from your reference card.
3. Fill in the slots in order: Author. Title. Year. Source.
4. For AI: write the tool, the prompt, and the date — never less.
5. Re-read your citation. Could a stranger find this source from your label? If yes, you are done.