Media Smarts
Facing TV Violence: Consequences and Media Violence
Make your class aware of the difference between media violence and real violence. Using prior knowledge, a video clip, and a worksheet, class members explore and discuss the unrealistic portrayal of violence in the media. Learners...
Curated OER
Media/Book Review
Students act as media critics to analyze the portrayal of the elderly in media. In this ethics lesson, students use the Internet to research ageism. They decide if various media depict elderly characters positively or negatively.
Curated OER
Is the media aiding Global Peace when reporting on religion?
Students play 'telephone' to simulate communication difficulties. In this media analysis instructional activity, students read and analyze newspaper articles related to religious tensions between the Pope and Muslims. Students evaluate...
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Lesson: Looking Closer: The Artwork of Wangechi Mutu
Social issues of gender and media stereotypes, begins with a multi-sensory experience. Learners view the painting Backlash Blues and make critical comments based on what they see. They then read the Langston Hughes poem and listen to the...
Curated OER
Vanishing Verbs
Students analyze recent media trends, and develop critical thinking skills by summarizing main ideas, extracting details, formulating opinions, drawing inferences, and comparing and contrasting attitudes. They also practice paraphrasing...
iCivics
NewsFeed Defenders
How can people learn to spot viral deception? Players do just that with the NewsFeed Defenders media literacy game. Scholars choose avatars and the focus of their news feeds: student life, health and wellness, or sports and...
Media Smarts
First Person
High schoolers explore the relationship between video games and actual population. Example: A 2005 study showed Latino youth play at higher rates than other groups, but there are no Latino playable characters. They watch a brief video...
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Ad Awareness from Admongo.gov
Students explore mass media by completing worksheets in class. For this consumerism lesson, students discuss the meaning behind advertisements and how they are used in television, the Internet and print. Students analyze a group of ads...
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Ad Creation from Admongo.gov
Young scholars explore consumerism by completing a worksheet. In this advertisement lesson, students discuss the relationship between the media and consumerism while analyzing advertisements from the Internet, magazines and T.V. Young...
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The Influence of Media on Decision Making: Exploring Ideas of Bias in Media with a Committee of the Legislative Assembly
Eleventh graders participate in a role play about the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. They write an essay evaluating the influence (if any) the media has on decision-making.
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Sports Personalities in Advertising
During a series of four activities, class members examine and deconstruct advertising that features famous athletes. They determine target audiences, analyze ads, explore "emotional climate," and role play a meeting between a sports...
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KORN-TV Newsroom
Role-play to learn. Writers pretend to be a team of news writers. They research information about genetically engineered corn and the impact of biotech food products. Then create a video, Powerpoint, or oral presentation to present their...
Physics Classroom
Total Internal Reflection
Scholars work through three different activities applying their knowledge of total internal reflection (TIR). First, they simply identify which diagrams create TIR and which don't. Next, they match different types of boundary behaviors...
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The Media and Parliamentarians / Lessons 1 : The Medias and Parliamentarians
Eleventh graders recognize the paradox which exists in the views of Parliamentarians: the perception that the media misrepresents in its reporting of Parliamentary business the view of Parliamentarians.
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Clear and Present Danger
Students assume identities of lawmakers, judges, writers, and protestors during times in American history when freedoms of speech and press were limited because country was on the brink of war or fighting one. Students use primary source...
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Critic's Choice
Students read two opposing types literature. In groups, they role play the role of a critic to show they comprehend the material. They are introduced to new vocabulary and practice speaking the words in the foreign language.
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Lesson Ten: Your World Without Oil
Students participate in the World Without Oil game as they examine the effects of a prolonged oil shortage. In this oil shortage lesson, students play the online game, World Without Oil, before making an audio clip based on the...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Teaching the 9/11 Anniversary
Here is a lesson on terrorism and 9/11. While outdated, it could be easily revised for today's teens. It includes targeted vocabulary, a background information activity, critical thinking questions, and step-by-step procedures for...
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Divorce And Stepfamilies: Breaking Apart, Coming Together
Pupils view a PBS "In the Mix" video about the challenges teens face when their parents divorce and/or remarry. They participate in a class discussion about the video, role-play related situations and explore media depictions of...
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Whose History Is It Anyway? Patterns in History
Read and examine primary source material in order to analyze, synthesize, and debate information about the Great Depression. Critical analysts research various source materials related to the Great Depression. They work in teams to...
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Environmental Justice in Chester, PA
Over several days, learners communicate and defend an argument regarding environmental justice issues in Chester, PA. After discussing the issue and viewing a video about the location of several toxic waste facilities in Chester, they...
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Egyptian Expedition
Students identify and analyze ancient Egypt and interpret how to develop bibliographical references. They research topics using multiple resources and various forms of media of media. Finally, students practice and deliver an oral...
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Alexander the Great
Middle schoolers examine the accomplishments of Alexander the Great. In this ancient civilizations instructional activity, students research the life and leadership of Alexander the Great. Middle schoolers then script and perform modern...
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Building Strength Through Knowledge
Students identify and confront fear in a positive manner. They critically analyze media information and build skills to enhance resiliency.