Media Smarts
How to Analyze the News
Teach kids how to watch television, specifically the news, with this creative idea for learners of all ages from the Media Awareness Network. The elementary school plan focuses on presenting news as a story and uses Jon Scieszka's story...
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News Journalism Across the Media: Introduction
Although students are aware of news as information that influences their perceptions of the world, they are often unaware of the various ways to present that information. Encourage them to investigate, discuss, analyze and make valuable...
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How To Write Good Letter to the Editor
Students discover how to write a letter to the editor that would be good enough to be considered for publication. They include her or his opinion about the story, share a story of a similar experience to the author's or offer advice to...
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Radio News
Part of a larger unit from the Media Awareness Network on media literacy, this particular lesson plan focuses on the medium of news radio. Small groups participate in discussions on their radio listening habits as well as the...
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Diversity/Journalism - Book Making
Third graders explore Canadian culture by creating a book. In this community analysis lesson, 3rd graders identify the First Nations people of Canada and discuss the culture, language and diversity. Students create a book discussing...
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Writing a News Report
Students explore journalism by analyzing current events. In this news report lesson, students identify important questions to ask during an interview and discuss a fictitious news story about a missing teacher. Students read published...
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Conditions of City Life in the Late 19th Century
Students examine tenement life. For this lesson on early urbanization, students research the role of journalism for social change in early American cities. Students write a journal article for themselves that demonstrate an understanding...
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What is a Family?
Students explore how Canadian families have evolved over time. In this census results instructional activity, students examine the factors that contribute to changing family and household structures. Students also create written and...
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Note--Making
Students identify the key facts from a news story. They write their own news story from given facts identified. In addition, they present their notes and stories to the classroom. Also, they classify a variety of news articles in a...
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Editorial Cartoon: Equal Opportunity
students explore how editorial cartoons often use familiar adages or idioms in new ways to make a point about something.
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Play: It's Not Just For Kids
Students realize that play is an important part of life and in the effort to staying healthy. They explore the role of play in society. In addition, they illustrate listening and speaking strategies for different purposes that pertain to...
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Flight Direction
Students are introduced to NASA's Connect Series and Flight Direction programs. They explore the world of aeronautics and their missions. Students receive a front role set to the concepts and skills involved with the various NASA programs.
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Rap as a Modern Poetic Form
Students write and listen to rap songs. They discover how common themes in rap are indicative of the problems, as well as the empowerments, that can be seen in our urban cultures today. They discover how rap is actually an evolution of...
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American Genre Painting in the Nineteenth Century: Teaching Artistic Interpretation as a Tool for Critically Viewing History
Students view a variety of artwork to determine the history and lifestyle of people from New Haven, Connecticut. In groups, they develop their individual hypothesis about why the paintings were created and share them with their group...
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Planetary Landers
Students watch programs from a series titled "Planetary Landers". As a class, they view a poster of various vehicles that have made their way into space. In groups, they brainstorm the characteristics that should be included when...
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Recipes for the Future
Students engage in real time interactions with researchers and are exposed to innovative research. They conduct an experiment designed to investigate the strength and maximum deflection of a composite material with and without the use of...
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Doing More In Less
Students watch segments of a NASA program called "Doing More In Less". In groups, they examine the concept of human exploration and how NASA has contributed to specific research. They are introduced to new vocabulary and answer...
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Bell Live! The Great Lakes: A Superior Adventure
Students participate in a virtual field trip to Lake Superior. In groups, they perform experiments in which test the level of toxins and bacteria in the water. They also watch video segments life in the lake and discuss their observations.
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Looking Upwards: Greenroofing & Rooftop Gardening
Students explore the role of green roofing and rooftop gardening in contemporary architectural design. They then conduct collaborative research to learn about the history, process, science, and environmental impact of green roofing....
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Television News
Different media sources portray news in a variety of ways. In groups of three, learners look at different news sources, bringing in all the findings the next day. Three handouts help scholars compare sources, define specific terms used...