Understanding Bias

As young consumers of media, it is important for high schoolers to explore concepts of bias and prejudice, and how they may be present in media. After discussing ideological messages that media can contain, individuals complete a warm-up...

Students develop their geography skills as they analyze map projections. In this ethnocentrism lesson plan, students participate in a classroom activity that requires them to draw maps and then analyze the projections they created for...

Class members are challenged to write a neutral news story about the events they observe in a short video. After sharing their stories in groups and discussing the different perceptions, the class concludes with a video of journalists...

Students compare and contrast writings about pre-American Revolution events. In this political agenda lesson, students conduct research to determine how bias and perspective have made their way into historical documents. Students examine...

As the investigation into the reporting of the events in Ferguson, Missouri, continues, class members consider how bias influences perception, how the tendency is to collect evidence that supports preconceived notions. The big idea...

Discuss controversial issues with your charges. More importantly, discuss how you have to research both sides of a controversy before taking a stance. In groups, middle schoolers research the controversial issue of dog sled racing. They...

How accurately do public opinion polls reflect the views of their participants? We often take for granted the results of such polls, but this resource will encourage your class to look at results with greater discretion. Instruction...

Middle and high schoolers examine the uses of propaganda during the Nazi era. Using examples of propaganda used by Hitler, they discuss how it changed the thinking and ideas of people exposed to it. In groups, they identify how and why...

Exploring bias and stereotypes, students dress up as members of "outgroups" (groups of people who are often judged). Though the lesson specifies that it should be "respectful and not mock the outgroup in any way," this activity would be...

Bias and prejudice are everywhere in the world today. Help your learners become critical readers, writers, and members of society with this lesson, which takes them through the different perspectives of prejudice and biased writing....