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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Stereotypes in The Diary of Anne Frank
Before reading Anne Frank's diary, discuss stereotypes with your class. This guide is a great prereading activity; pupils complete a list of incomplete sentences in order to showcase common stereotypes. Then, they complete the seven...
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Interpreting Perspective
Work on characterization with a narrative writing lesson, in which middle schoolers interpret a character's perspective. They discuss family traditions and examine how culture can influence a character's perspective. Next, they read...
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Unplanned Pregnancy: Parenting
High schoolers consider and discuss characteristics of an ideal parent. In small groups, they work together to examine the stereotypical roles of the father and the mother. The issues dealt with in this resource are thought-provoking and...
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Introducing Jane Eyre: An Unlikely Victorian Heroine
Students investigate the expectations and limitations placed on Victorian women and evaluate Charlotte Bronte's position and desire for literary achievement in using the male pseudonym, Currer Bell.
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Nontraditional Job Opportunities
As your learners prepare to enter the workforce, address some common stereotypes that may be limiting their professional goals. The class brainstorms gender-stereotyped careers, exploring where those ideas originate. They complete a job...
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Biases, Assumptions, and Stereotypes
Students examine stereotypes and how to identify their own assumptions. In this bias and assumption lesson students read a story and complete a worksheet.
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Self Portrait Jars: Labeling Ourselves
Seventh graders create an alternative self-portrait. For this art lesson students study the artwork of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. Students use her work as inspiration for a self-portrait in a jar form.
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In 'Other words' Writing Gently Humorous Essays About Stereotypes
Define and understand what stereotypes are by reading an article with stereotyping in it. Students will locate how it shows stereotyping and answer questions about the stereotypes. Finally, they will write their own pieces of original work.
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Media Literacy Final Project
Students meet as a class to discuss a variety of media literacy topics before breaking into groups to conduct research on one aspect of the topic. In order to gather information, they watch episodes of the Simpson's television show and...
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Propaganda/Stereotypes Used in the Media
Learners write a character sketch on a television character who they feel is a stereotype. In this propaganda/stereotype lesson, students discuss the definition of the terms and ways that the media uses both. Learners relate...
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Stereotype & Bias
Students examine the way that the media perpetrates stereotypes. In this stereotyping lesson students complete several activities on stereotyping.
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Oral Scripting on Aging
Learners examine how to broaden the point of view of students when thinking about older people and their abilities. In this aging instructional activity learners complete several activities.
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Defining Respect
Students examine what respect is and isn't. In this character education lesson, students create a t-chart of what respect looks like and doesn't look like. The teacher adds the words bias, prejudice, stereotype and racism to the chart....
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Everything You Know Is Wrong 1: Us and Them
Young scholars explore rational, irrational, analytical and non-analytical methods of reasoning. They participate in numerous exercises and hands-on activities to understand assumptions and how most people think. Students establish the...
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Quality of Information: Point of View and Bias
Fifth graders identify stereotypes of Indian people based on perceived characteristics. They discuss the misconceptions. Students define quality of information and give an example from the story "Seaman's Journal: On The Trail With Lewis...
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Interpreting The Artist's Voice
Students view topical photographs to explore the concept of voice. They examine a series of photographs containing incomplete images. They draw conclusions about the images based on only the information provided. After viewing the...
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Stereotypes: More Than Meets the Eye
Students explore the concept of stereotyping. They observe images and media that portray the Middle East and its inhabitants. Students make determinations about the impact of the images on their perceptions. They consider ways to...
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Who Wears a Veil?
Students define and give examples of visual stereotypes. They research how common misconceptions foster visual stereotypes about Muslim women. Students identify famous women and the significance of the veil in different cultures.
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Literature: Porgy and Bess
Young scholars examine the various portrayals of African-Americans in literature, focusing on the opera, Porgy and Bess. They conduct Internet research on African-American culture between the two World Wars. Students write fictional or...
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Mr. Lincoln's Way
Students read the book, Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco, They discuss racism and discrimination. They draw a bird and write a paragraph discussing what makes their bird special and unique.
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Refugees' Experiences in Countries of Asylum: "What's in a name"?
Ninth graders examine the term stereotype. In this Current Events instructional activity, 9th graders analyze posters on racism. Students watch news reports on racism and stereotyping.
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Everything You Know Is Wrong 1: Us and Them
Young scholars examine assumptions that can lead to errors of reasoning. They explore techniques for recognizing and resisting these assumptions. Students examine their own prejudices and prejudices that others might have about them.
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The Skinny on Sororities
Students explore the boundary between membership exclusivity and illegal discrimination in private organizations by examining a recent case of alleged discrimination in a college.