TeachersFirst Collection: Media Literacy
Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in all its forms, helping us understand who created a message, why, and how it might shape what we think and do. Whether you're an educator, librarian, parent, or lifelong learner, this collection offers tools to help you question sources, analyze messages, and create media responsibly. You'll find podcasts, videos, lesson plans, interactive simulations and games, fact-checking guides, discussion prompts, and classroom activities for a range of ages, subjects, and time commitments.
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CyberKinder Quests - CyberKinder
Grades
3 to 6
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Turn digital citizenship and technology skills into short, game-like challenges with CyberKinder Quests. Children choose interactive adventures led by CyberKinder characters and work...more
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Turn digital citizenship and technology skills into short, game-like challenges with CyberKinder Quests. Children choose interactive adventures led by CyberKinder characters and work through levels and modules covering coding and problem-solving, privacy and online safety, digital citizenship, artificial intelligence, and technology literacy. Current quests include Pixi's Star Chase for block-based coding, Max's Hack Attack for passwords, privacy, scams, and online safety, Luna's Chat Lab for cyberbullying and online communication, Wizzy's Reality Cauldron for evaluating online and AI-generated information, Glitch in the Machine for understanding how internet technology works, and Tube Trouble for safer video-app use. Activities emphasize making choices and practicing skills rather than simply reading information. The free version includes every quest and lesson, but limits play through a daily "spark" allowance.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (358), bullying (56), coding (110), cyberbullying (52), internet safety (117), media literacy (137), problem solving (282)
In the Classroom
Ask students to work individually through Luna's Chat Lab and keep a response journal about how tone, exclusion, insults, threats, and pressure can change an online conversation. Follow with a class discussion about when students should seek help from a trusted adult. Have students explore Glitch in the Machine and then collaboratively construct a physical model showing how a message moves from a device through the internet to a server and its destination. Assign students roles representing different parts of the process and have them demonstrate what happens when one connection fails. CyberKinder. Have students explore Wizzy's Reality Cauldron, then conduct a fact-checking challenge using several teacher-selected online claims. Ask students to record what evidence made each claim trustworthy, questionable, or needing further verification.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Be MediaWise lesson 5: How to determine the credibility of a source on social media - PBS News Hour Classroom
Grades
6 to 12
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PBS features Be MediaWise lesson 5: How to determine the credibility of a source on social media, in which students will learn to assess credibility by finding experts to verify ...more
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PBS features Be MediaWise lesson 5: How to determine the credibility of a source on social media, in which students will learn to assess credibility by finding experts to verify claims. Students will also learn the concept of click restraint. The lesson includes an overview, learning objectives, downloadable instructional materials, key vocabulary, before-, during-, and after-viewing activities, an extension activity, alignments to Common Core, College, Career, and Civic Life (C3), and ISTE Standards, along with additional teaching resources to support classroom implementation. The video for the lesson is on YouTube; therefore, make sure your district does not block YouTube.
tag(s): evaluating sources (58), media literacy (137), social media (64)
In the Classroom
Students can use Mentimeter, reviewed here to share the first word that comes into their mind when they hear social media and reliability. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes while working on the lesson. Students can create an Online Escape Room Template, reviewed here about reliability and social media.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resources for Teaching Students to Fact-Check - TCEA
Grades
4 to 12
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This blog post explains why teaching students to fact-check online content is essential in a world where misinformation, altered images and videos, and misleading news spread quickly....more
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This blog post explains why teaching students to fact-check online content is essential in a world where misinformation, altered images and videos, and misleading news spread quickly. It defines fact-checking as the process of evaluating the credibility, accuracy, and validity of information and sources so students can determine what is true, what is questionable, and which sources can be trusted. The article highlights several educator-friendly tools to support this work, including the Civic Online Reasoning curriculum, resources from the News Literacy Project such as Checkology, PBS's Be MediaWise initiative, and a selection of established fact-checking websites. For teachers, this post provides a practical starting point for helping students build strong critical-thinking and digital-citizenship skills.
tag(s): evaluating sources (58), media literacy (137)
In the Classroom
Show students three short statements (one true, one misleading, one unclear). Students can sort them into categories and explain why they think each belongs where it does. Place simple kid-friendly articles or headlines at different stations. In small groups, have students rotate through stations to check for clues of credibility (author, date, purpose, source type). They should record quick notes on a "credibility checklist." Give students a short paragraph or infographic and have them underline facts vs. opinions. Then they identify the evidence needed to confirm the facts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civics of Technology Curriculum - Civics of Technology
Grades
6 to 12
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Civics of Technology offers a free curriculum that teaches students to think critically about technology and its impact. The curriculum centers on the organization's core mission, using...more
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Civics of Technology offers a free curriculum that teaches students to think critically about technology and its impact. The curriculum centers on the organization's core mission, using a "technoskeptical" approach that encourages thoughtful questioning of technology's effects. Included are interactive activities and in-depth lessons on topics such as media literacy and an examination of household technologies. The lessons include supplemental resources such as videos, Google Slides presentations, and related blog posts. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, you may not be able to view them.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (358), critical thinking (188), inquiry (39), media literacy (137)
In the Classroom
Utilize these free curriculum materials to incorporate media literacy lessons into commonly taught subjects or to develop critical thinking skills. For example, use the "Unfolding a Smartphone" lesson to explore how communication methods developed from the invention of the alphabet to the emergence of smartphones. Use Project Zero Thinking Routines, reviewed here to enhance learning and understanding. Choose from a variety of thinking routines that provide focused activities to guide students in critical thinking and encourage them to consider different viewpoints.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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If You Read It On The Internet, It Must Be True! Media Literacy in the 21st Century - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 12
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Media Literacy is one of the most essential skills for students to learn. This article from TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series, reviewed...more
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Media Literacy is one of the most essential skills for students to learn. This article from TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series, reviewed here, provides background knowledge and ideas to introduce media literacy and share opportunities for students to explore and evaluate websites. Additional ideas include conducting web treasure hunts, utilizing fact-checking resources, and engaging in online games and activities.
tag(s): digital citizenship (112), help article (63), internet safety (117), media literacy (137), news (222)
In the Classroom
Use this article to find resources and books to teach media literacy in your classroom. Encourage students to share examples of disinformation or misinformation throughout the school year using an online whiteboard tool such as IdeaBoardz, reviewed here. Ask students to add links to sites that provide examples of items they find on the internet that aren't completely true, and share tips with their peers on what kind of things to look for to verify the accuracy of information.
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FLUFF Test - Dr. Jennifer Parker
Grades
8 to 12
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The FLUF Test for Artificial Intelligence, developed by Dr. Jennifer Parker, is an educational framework designed to help students critically evaluate AI-generated content. The website...more
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The FLUF Test for Artificial Intelligence, developed by Dr. Jennifer Parker, is an educational framework designed to help students critically evaluate AI-generated content. The website offers a step-by-step guide for identifying content that is Factually correct, Logical, Useful, and Fanfare (FLUF). This resource is particularly valuable for educators aiming to incorporate media literacy and ethical considerations about AI into their classrooms. Using the FLUF test, teachers can equip students with essential critical thinking skills to assess AI-generated outputs, fostering responsible and informed use of technology in academic and real-world contexts. If your district blocks YouTube, you may not be able to view the videos explaining the process.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (358), creating media (19), media literacy (137)
In the Classroom
Provide students with AI-generated essays or summaries on a topic and have them apply the FLUF Test to identify issues in Format, Language, Usability, and Fanfare. Assign a task requiring AI assistance, like generating a story or answering a complex question, and have students refine their initial prompts using the FLUF Test framework to improve AI responses. Students could work in groups to co-author a story with AI tools like ChatGPT, reviewed here, and apply the FLUF Test to polish their AI-generated drafts. Stories can be shared, and peers can evaluate them based on the FLUF rubric.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Big Fib Podcast - Benjamin Strouse, Chris Tarry & David Kreizman
Grades
K to 8
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Help students sharpen their critical-thinking and media-literacy skills with The Big Fib, a fast-paced game show podcast for kids and families. In each episode, a child interviews...more
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Help students sharpen their critical-thinking and media-literacy skills with The Big Fib, a fast-paced game show podcast for kids and families. In each episode, a child interviews two adults about a particular topic--one is a genuine, credentialed expert and the other is a convincing liar. Listeners play along by asking which claims make sense, weighing the evidence, and trying to determine who is telling the truth. Episodes explore a wide variety of kid-friendly topics, including animals, science, sports, food, history, and everyday objects. Recent topics include table tennis, electricity, brains, wolves, baseball, math, and mountains. Teachers can use the podcast to spark discussions about questioning sources, evaluating evidence, identifying misinformation, and distinguishing facts from falsehoods. GZM Shows also provides free educational resources for teachers and additional activities that can extend the podcast into the classroom.
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tag(s): game based learning (323), media literacy (137), podcasts (188)
In the Classroom
Share this podcast as a flipped learning experience or include it as part of a listening center during station rotation activities on evaluating information shared by different sources. Take advantage of free teaching materials such as the Listening Guide to provide students with focus while listening and as a resource for documenting their evaluation process. After listening to and evaluating several episodes of the podcast, encourage students to write and produce a podcast in a similar style. After creating storyboards and writing their script, use a podcast creation tool such as Castbox Creator Studio, reviewed here to record and share your podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Copyright, Creative Commons, and Fair Use in the Classroom - Common Sense and Bronwyn H.
Grades
K to 8
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Use the lesson in this article to help your students learn about and respect the need to understand copyright and fair use. Let's Give Credit, for sixth grade, teaches students ...more
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Use the lesson in this article to help your students learn about and respect the need to understand copyright and fair use. Let's Give Credit, for sixth grade, teaches students why it is essential to give credit and how to give credit the right way through role-playing activities as detectives. A lesson plan for fourth graders guides students through the rights and responsibilities involved with using images. The Four Factors of Fair Use provides middle school students a framework for understanding fair use, copyright, and domain. Create a free account to access the lessons and materials shared. All lessons correlate with national standards, including ISTE, Common Core ELA, and CASEL.
tag(s): copyright (39), digital citizenship (112), STEM (385)
In the Classroom
Include the shared lessons and activities as part of your digital citizenship curriculum. Use the provided handouts to guide students toward extended learning and discussion of proper digital citizenship practices. For example, second-grade students complete a Digital Citizens Report handout, and as an extension, ask students to create a list of credits for some of their commonly used online sites such as PBS Kids Reading Games, reviewed here or Scratch, reviewed here.
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The Achievery - AT&T
Grades
K to 12
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Achievery is a free digital learning platform, developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery, that provides K-12 students with engaging video clips paired with standards-aligned...more
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Achievery is a free digital learning platform, developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery, that provides K-12 students with engaging video clips paired with standards-aligned lesson plans and activities across various subjects, including ELA, SEL, Math, Science, Digital Literacy, Social Studies, Arts, and STEM. To access the content, users must create an account. Teachers and parents can register, and parents have the option to set up sub-accounts for children under 13. Content is searchable and filterable by unit or lesson, grade band, subject, standard, or media type, including an "All Units" section. Most lessons are part of larger learning units but are also fully usable as standalone lessons. Each lesson includes downloadable PDFs, aligned standards (Common Core, CASEL, ISTE, NGSS), vocabulary lists, activity instructions, and linked videos. The platform is available in both English and Spanish. It is an excellent resource for classroom instruction or substitutes, with a sign-in required to access materials.
tag(s): blended learning (30), coding (110), digital citizenship (112), engineering (136), environment (245), equations (128), geometric shapes (150), graphic design (57), internet safety (117), literature (214), map skills (68), measurement (123), media literacy (137), narrative (16), numbers (117), operations (70), order of operations (30), problem solving (282), remote learning (33), Research (92), social and emotional learning (221), spanish (113), STEM (385), substitutes (33), writing (304)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for lessons in many content areas to engage students using popular video clips. Although originally designed for remote learning, all lessons can be easily adapted for in-class instruction. Easily find activities to differentiate instruction for different student ability levels by browsing options below or above the student's current grade level. Many lessons include worksheets in PDF format. Turn these activities into a digital format by taking a screenshot of the document, then save as the background on Google Slides, reviewed here. Add text boxes in the appropriate place on the slide for students to add responses. Use Pear Deck Flashcard Factory, reviewed here, to create flashcards for students to practice the vocabulary highlighted in each lesson.
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RumorGuard - News Literacy Project
Grades
6 to 12
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RumorGuard is a fact-checking website that teaches you how to identify online misinformation based on up to five factors - source, evidence, context, reasoning, and authenticity. The...more
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RumorGuard is a fact-checking website that teaches you how to identify online misinformation based on up to five factors - source, evidence, context, reasoning, and authenticity. The home page shares recent fact checks with a summary of the rumor and includes the number of factors used to determine the authenticity of the information. Click to learn more about the story to view complete details on analyzing the topic. Each topic includes a quick look at the facts and the takeaway for readers. Scroll further on the topic page to view a snapshot of information based on the five factors, techniques used to determine authenticity, and featured fact checks. Some fact-checks include links to lessons on RumorGuard's parent site, Checkology, reviewed here, to support learning about misinformation and evaluating online resources.
tag(s): digital citizenship (112), evaluating sources (58), internet safety (117), journalism (72), media literacy (137), news (222), Online Learning (35), Research (92)
In the Classroom
Share RumorGuard with students during digital citizenship and online safety lessons to help students understand how misinformation is shared and provide them with tools for analyzing online information. Engage students in your lessons using RumorGuard by choosing different topics on this page and news stories, then ask students to determine if the information is real or fake. Extend and enhance learning by asking students to become fact-checkers of any online information using the model found on Rumor Guard. Create a template on Google Slides, reviewed here, or Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, modeling the process used on RumorGuard to determine the authenticity of the information.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Be MediaWise - Lessons to Teach Media Literacy - PBS Learning Media
Grades
3 to 12
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Be MediaWise: Lessons to Teach Media Literacy is a series of media literacy lessons designed to teach students how to fact-check information found online. The collection consists of...more
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Be MediaWise: Lessons to Teach Media Literacy is a series of media literacy lessons designed to teach students how to fact-check information found online. The collection consists of engaging videos featuring teens evaluating various online sources. The short videos offer practical examples of how to evaluate social media posts, spot satire, and identify content that may be created by artificial intelligence. Most of the activities and lessons are for grades 6+. However, two resources are for grades 3-5.
tag(s): critical thinking (188), media literacy (137), social media (64)
In the Classroom
Teach your middle and high school students how to critically evaluate information with each video's downloadable lesson plans, handouts, and slide decks. Lessons include evaluating actual posts on social media, video, and news sites. Create deeper understanding and extend learning by having your students create "social media" posts using tools such as Canva for Education, reviewed here, or Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, then evaluate classmates' work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iThrive Sim: Follow the Facts - ithrive games
Grades
9 to 12
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iThrive Sim: Follow the Facts is a digital role-playing simulation game with situations that help students in high school social studies, history, and humanities classes to strengthen...more
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iThrive Sim: Follow the Facts is a digital role-playing simulation game with situations that help students in high school social studies, history, and humanities classes to strengthen civic and social-emotional learning (SEL). The digital simulations are designed to support student-driven learning, and the student's actions determine the storyline. Students will play as journalists reporting on a breaking story. To get the truth, they need to find credible sources, collaborate with peers, and report the story accurately and without bias. Registration with a school email address is required to play. This game was designed to function within school firewalls. If you have trouble accessing it, please contact your school's IT department. iThrive Sim: Leading Through Crisis scenario is centered around topics that may be sensitive for some students. Consider offering alternatives or providing extra support if needed.
tag(s): bias (35), game based learning (323), journalism (72), media literacy (137), simulations (48), social and emotional learning (221)
In the Classroom
Engage your high school students with iThrive Sim: Follow the Facts. The game-based simulation includes teacher preparation, pre-simulation, and optional post-simulation activities. The entire simulation takes about two thirty-minute sessions total to play. Teachers should plan for the full simulation and activities to take at least five 45-minute class periods. A complete implementation guide is included. Civics topics include effective sourcing of information, SEL skills include understanding bias and collaboration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My Media Choices - Common Sense Education
Grades
3 to 5
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This forty-five-minute lesson plan provides activities to guide fourth-grade students in learning about a "What? When? How Much" framework for use in evaluating media sources. In addition...more
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This forty-five-minute lesson plan provides activities to guide fourth-grade students in learning about a "What? When? How Much" framework for use in evaluating media sources. In addition to the lesson description, resources include a slide presentation, video, student handouts, and take-home resources to share with families. Also available is the correlation to Common Core ELA, CASEL, AASL, and ISTE standards.
tag(s): digital citizenship (112), internet safety (117), media literacy (137)
In the Classroom
Although created for fourth grade, this lesson works well for grades three through five, with possible adaptations for additional grade levels. First, engage students by conducting a poll or survey of the different types of media your students regularly consume. For example, use a simple polling tool such as Kahoot reviewed here, or take a more in-depth survey using Microsoft Forms, reviewed here. Instead of completing worksheets as a paper and pencil activity, convert the worksheets into an interactive document using Google Docs, reviewed here, and assign within Google Classroom. Add questions or comments to the included video using EdPuzzle, reviewed here, to enhance learning. As an extension activity, ask students to share tips for safe media use by creating short videos to share on your class and school's websites. Use Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, to create engaging videos from scratch or by using the templates provided.
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Deceptive Detective - Common Sense
Grades
2 to 12
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Deceptive Detective is a colorful poster available to download as a PDF that provides questions to ask when looking at news sources. Prompts encourage students to consider the source...more
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Deceptive Detective is a colorful poster available to download as a PDF that provides questions to ask when looking at news sources. Prompts encourage students to consider the source of information, its presentation, date of publication, and more. Select the link above the poster to view the file in its entirety. This poster is part of Common Sense's News & Literacy Toolkit, reviewed here.
tag(s): bias (35), computers (102), evaluating sources (58), internet safety (117), journalism (72), media literacy (137), news (222), social media (64), STEM (385)
In the Classroom
Print this poster to display in your classroom or computer lab after discussing the information with your students. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to break down the questions found on the poster and share student findings. For example, begin by evaluating a website together as a class. Create a column on your Padlet for each question, then add students' responses in the appropriate column. As students become proficient at evaluating online resources, ask them to use Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to create infographics sharing the validity of websites and online news resources based upon the questions found on the Deceptive Detective poster. Extend learning by asking students to become the instructor through the use of podcasts. Use Buzzsprout, reviewed here, to create bi-weekly or monthly student-created podcasts sharing tips for evaluating websites, how to recognize fake news sources or suggestions for useful resources for student use.
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Teachers' Guide to Cranky Uncle - John Cook
Grades
6 to 12
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How do you teach students to understand and build resilience against misinformation? Try using this game created by George Mason University scientist John Cook which uses cartoon personifications...more
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How do you teach students to understand and build resilience against misinformation? Try using this game created by George Mason University scientist John Cook which uses cartoon personifications of climate science denials. The game is available to play on any browser or download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play. By teaching how others use fake experts and cherry-picking information to spread disinformation, this game engages players as they employ critical thinking skills to build points and learn how to separate fact from myth. The Teacher's Guide features all you need to know to understand how to set up the game for your class, the basic premise and information found in the game, and classroom activities that accompany the game's features.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (134), digital citizenship (112), evaluating sources (58), game based learning (323), internet safety (117), media literacy (137), social media (64)
In the Classroom
Add this game to your toolkit of lessons and activities when teaching Internet safety and media literacy skills. The Teachers' Guide already includes many ideas on integrating the game into classroom lessons, as well as using technology to enhance and extend learning. Use these ideas as a starting point to build student engagement and help them understand the real-world applications for the information found in the game. For example, use the suggested Padlet, reviewed here, activity to compile quiz questions as suggested in Activity 5. After completing that activity, have students create their own videos, fake social media posts, or news articles that contain misinformation and create quiz questions for their peers to complete. Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, is an excellent tool for students to use when creating websites, flyers, and infographics. As a final project, and to extend learning, have students share what they learned with others by producing podcasts using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, or digital books for younger students using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fake News: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation - Pace University
Grades
4 to 12
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This helpful page provides information to help you understand how to verify news resources for research purposes. This resource guides readers through suggested tips on how to stay...more
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This helpful page provides information to help you understand how to verify news resources for research purposes. This resource guides readers through suggested tips on how to stay alert and recognize fake news. Be sure to look at Real News About Fake News and Other Resources of Interest. Use this resource as a news consumer's handbook that includes ways to identify and recognized fake news stories and resources.
tag(s): digital citizenship (112), internet safety (117), journalism (72), media literacy (137), news (222), Research (92)
In the Classroom
Include this article with your other resources for teaching how to navigate online information. Include this website within a learning management system such as ActivelyLearn, reviewed here, to build a complete learning unit that includes articles, videos, and assessments that fully immerse and engage students in the learning activities. Enhance learning throughout the school year using Padlet, reviewed here, to curate and organize online information. For example, create a Padlet that includes a column for each of the four categories of fake news mentioned on this website, then ask students to share examples found during online use. Extend learning by asking students to become the teacher through presentations on how to recognize and avoid fake news. Provide a variety of options for student presentations including a comic creation tool like ToonyTool, reviewed here, Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, to create simple video explainers, or use Wick Editor, reviewed here, and have students create a game to teach the hazards of disinformation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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News and Media Literacy Resource Center - Common Sense Media
Grades
K to 12
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This collection of vetted resources provides activities and lessons for news and media literacy, current events, and getting engaged. Each collection includes regularly updated resources...more
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This collection of vetted resources provides activities and lessons for news and media literacy, current events, and getting engaged. Each collection includes regularly updated resources specially chosen to reinforce and practice each literacy skill. Pay particular attention to activities with a green heart icon; these are the site's favorite resources. In order to access the lessons, you must create a free account.
tag(s): bias (35), journalism (72), media literacy (137), news (222), social media (64)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to take advantage of the many curated resources for teaching media and news literacy. Use a curation tool like Padlet, reviewed here, to save and share favorite resources found on this site with students. Use the shelf option in Padlet to create columns and organize information by topic, type of content, or for use by different groups of students. Enhance instruction by asking students to become creators of information as they share their learning. Have students use Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to create infographics to demonstrate different forms of media bias or to share facts learned from news articles. Extend learning even further by asking students to create blogs using edublogs, reviewed here, to demonstrate how to write and share the news using credible information and factual resources.
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Comments
This is such a valuable resource and it's so helpful to have one collection that I know has been vetted with accurate, useful information that teachers can use for themselves as well as with their students. I also love the "In the Classroom" section with suggestions for ways to use the information and resources.Peggy, AZ, Grades: 0 - 8
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Advertising All Around Us - MediaSmarts
Grades
5 to 8
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This lesson provided by MediaSmarts for grades 5 and 6 provides instruction in the different techniques employed by advertisers and the impact it has on students' daily lives. Download...more
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This lesson provided by MediaSmarts for grades 5 and 6 provides instruction in the different techniques employed by advertisers and the impact it has on students' daily lives. Download the lesson kit through the link to the PDF document. The activities focus on three concepts - media construct reality, representation, and audience.
tag(s): advertising (24), media literacy (137)
In the Classroom
Take the ideas and activities found in this lesson plan and enhance them with these lesson extensions. During the first activity, the author suggests taking the name of five products and giving a new humorous name. Take that idea further and ask students to design a print ad using Canva, reviewed here, and using the new product name. Ask students to include a slogan for the product along with imagery promoting the virtues of the item. The second lesson activity asks students to create a new ad to replace one that is boring and unimaginative. Ask students to create a video ad using Clipchamp, reviewed here, or another animated video creation tool. As an alternative, have students use Image Annotator, reviewed here, to create annotated images with links to text, videos, and more. As a final project, students create and plan their own ad. Extend learning by asking students to plan and implement a complete ad campaign, including print, video, and online advertising. Before planning their advertisements, ask students to share examples of effective advertising to an online collaboration tool like Padlet, reviewed here. Include links and images of effective advertising along with comments sharing ideas on why and how the ad works. Have students (or student groups) share their ad campaigns using a multimedia presentation tool like Wakelet, reviewed here. Include links to research, student-created projects, and more all within their Wakelet presentation.
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NewsFeed Defenders - FactCheck.org
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Learn how to find and deal with disinformation and misinformation through this news media literacy game. Players find and identify factual portions of a news story along with misinformation....more
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Learn how to find and deal with disinformation and misinformation through this news media literacy game. Players find and identify factual portions of a news story along with misinformation. Begin by choosing a topic of interest to start your mission. Your goal is to build up your integrity as much as possible throughout the game. Login to your free teacher account to access and print lesson plans and the teacher extension pack.
tag(s): evaluating sources (58), journalism (72), media literacy (137), news (222)
In the Classroom
Include the NewsFeed Defenders game and lesson as part of your broader unit of teaching about online safety and media literacy. Engage studets by using Padlet, reviewed here, to share materials. Include links to videos, articles, and other materials for students to access. Ask them to add comments sharing their insights and information learned. Help students identify online disinformation by collaborating with Fiskkit, reviewed here. Change out paper and pen by sharing the URL of an article to discuss within Fiskkit, then have students highlight any area to discuss the information within the article. Enhance learning by encouraging students to teach others about media literacy using an online book tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator can be used for a variety of assignments in any classroom that is integrating technology as an enhancement, modification, or transformation. Have students design and share a book that includes tips for spotting disinformation or bias using specific examples, including text, videos, and images, along with examples of factual, non-biased information.
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Checkology - The News Literacy Project
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Checkology offers interactive lessons to teach students how to evaluate and judge news and news sources. Lessons include real-world examples; many feature journalism experts as the...more
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Checkology offers interactive lessons to teach students how to evaluate and judge news and news sources. Lessons include real-world examples; many feature journalism experts as the digital guide. Participants view videos, take polls, and respond to quizzes within the lessons. The free account includes access to four news literacy lessons along with access to a limited amount of teacher resources.
tag(s): journalism (72), news (222), newspapers (86), social media (64)
In the Classroom
Integrate these free lessons with your other activities when teaching students how to evaluate and judge online information and other news sources. Consider assigning lessons for students to complete on their own, then come together as a class to discuss the content. Add a link to a lesson on a Padlet, reviewed here, and share with students. Ask them to add comments onto the Padlet including links to additional examples of the featured topic. Ask students to compare and contrast information from two sources using a Venn Diagram. Create a Venn Diagram using resources found at Class Tools, reviewed here. Challenge students to become the reporter and enhance their learning by writing their own news article to post as a blog at Edublog, reviewed here. Ask them to include some misinformation within their blog, and then have other class members find and respond to the shared content. Extend learning by having students become the teacher and share their tips and tricks for evaluating news and creating a digital book for other students using Book Creator, reviewed here. Ask them to include videos sharing their tips, written examples of misinformation, and add their Venn diagram to demonstrate different ways facts are used in articles to mislead readers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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