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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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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Children's Literature and African American Culture
Third graders examine various stories and poems and identify characteristics that make each individual unique. After analyzing the readings, they create their own personality poems to accompany self-portrait drawings. The poems and...
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Cultural Representation in "Spellbound" Part 1
Pupils watch the film "Spellbound". They analyze concepts of how the media represents race. They discuss how the movie depicts race after the film.
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First Nations in the Media
Students analyze the portrayal of Aboriginal people in the media. In this stereotype identification lesson, students investigate the ways the media represents Aboriginal culture. Students use the Internet to research, and...
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Tintin and I: Primary and Secondary Sources
Mickey Mouse, Elmo, and Tintin? Belgian cartoonist Georges (Herge) Remi’s famous comic character launches a study of primary and secondary source material and the impact these sources have on storytelling. Class members also examine the...
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Generalizations: How Accurate Are They?
High schoolers recognize and modify generalizations. They challenge generalizations made about people, insist on knowing the evidence that supports these, and be willing to modify their own generalizations when confronted by evidence...
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New Movements For Social Justice: The Latino Struggle for Equal Rights
Young scholars examine myths and stereotypes about Hispanic immigrant groups. They appreciate and share the strengths of their diversity and view films that challenge ideas about education and cultural values. They explore the Latino...
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Understanding Stereotypes
Students examine the role of stereotypes in their lives. They discuss how making unfair judgments about people affects one's view of the world. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.
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Ideal Weight, Cultural Stereotypes, and Eating Disorders
Students explore the societal stigma that accompanies people who are overweight. In addition, students research current medical thinking on "ideal weight" and identify how the perception of body image can lead to eating disorders.
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Countering Homophobia: Feelings, Tolerance, Sexuality, Stereotypes
Students explore and discuss name-calling, feelings and myths relating to homosexuality through labeling feelings and participating in a game.
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Confronting the -Isms
Students keep "Mindwatch" diaries to chart their own prejudices and stereotypes. In this social justice lesson plan, students monitor their own reactions to people who are different from themselves. Students identify and discuss patterns...
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The Awareness of Stereotyping
Young scholars in ESL classes participate in role-playing activities to develop their awareness of stereotyping and understanding other cultures.
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Lesson 9- Billy Wilder: Film Noir Inventor and Genius
Pupils study what influenced and inspired Billy Wilder while determining the plot, characters, and historical context of the film Double Indemnity. They investigate the stereotypes of Film Noir and how it shows the media messages of the...
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Generalizations: How Accurate Are They?
Students examine how generalizations can be hurtful and unfair. They devise ways to qualify statements so they avoid stereotyping other people and recognize and modify generalizations. They think about generalizations and stereotypes...
Teaching Tolerance
The Power of Words: Ethnic Stereotypes
Pupils study stereotypes that are associated with different ethniciites or regional groups. They examine how occupations can be hypothetically related to ethnic sounding names.
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We and Thee
Students examine class structure. In this diversity education lesson, students discuss stereotypes within their school as an introduction to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. After students have read the play and discussed social class...
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Behind the Scenes -- Closing the Curtain on Stereotypes
Middle schoolers examine stereotypes in their community. They discuss the implications of having stereotypes and being prejudice against a group of people. They use a five step process in which to create another outcome to an experience...
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Anti-Arab Stereotypes, Discrimination and Hate Crimes
High schoolers discuss the stereotypes they have heard mentioned against the Arab community. Using examples, they identify the uses of discrimination, hate crimes or stereotyping these individuals. As a class, they discuss ways to...
Teaching Tolerance
Talking About Race and Racism
Set the stage for discussion in a thought-provoking instructional activity on racism. An informative resource prepares scholars to discuss the history of race and racism with a quiz, vocabulary, and guidelines. Academics discuss topics...
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Chinese Inventions
Students identify inventions as coming from China. In this Chinese inventions lesson, students are given a list of common items such as cast iron, a wheelbarrow, and the decimal system, then conduct research to identify where they were...
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Multicultural Issues and the Law: Gender and Race Based Schooling
Students examine the problems associated with gender based and race based education. In groups, they research the history of education and the laws that have changed education and impacted lives. They brainstorm a list of the positives...
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Extracting Meaning From What We See
Students recognize that all cultures have the same needs that they try to satisfy in ways that their predecessors found effective in their particular environments. Students discover how and why cultures change their customs.
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Global Citizenship: Our Links Around the World
Students study the world's cultures and learn about various country's values and beliefs. In this cultures instructional activity, students use the worksheet and work in pairs to discuss each culture question. Students then discuss the...