Media Literacy

This has been a hot topic for several years- how do we help our students read and think crucially with an ever-increasing amount of media.  PBS shares some lessons/resources to help you get started.  While many lessons are geared to the 6-12 classrooms, there are also a few suggestions for younger grades.  Could you spot a deep fake
?

Where do we get our news?

 

Here’s a mini-lesson (geared for grades 6-12) from Facing History and Ourselves. You will find lesson plans and materials to help your students improve their media literacy. While this is part of their election package, I think it would work anytime.

Evaluating Media

TeachersFirst shared this review (geared to grades 4-5) to help students evaluate media.  Here is their review and here is the link to the Common Sense lessons (My Media Choices).

Growing Media Literacy

In this article from Middle Web, the authors (McCusker, Irvan, and Driscoll) share six techniques to help students develop media literacy.  From lateral reading, and understanding bias, to understanding the power of images, they outline practical steps to help our students. 

Media LIteracy

What does it take to be media literate?  Today our students are bombarded by a variety of media resources- how can we help them to evaluate media and be responsible media creators?  TeachersFirst has curated selected sites to help you get started,

Media Literacy for All

In his blog post, Frank Banker (writing on the Middle Web site) clearly outlines 7 steps to help your students become more media savvy.  From who paid for the message to what is omitted- he clearly demonstrates how you can improve your students’ critical thinking.

News Media Across the Content Areas

 

In this collection from PBS, the goal is to assist students (from grades 6-12)  to read critically and investigate the information they obtain from news and online line sources.  As PBS says:

 Media literacy is an essential skill for all students across a range of subjects, from Science to Social Studies to English Language Arts. The collection is also useful for a behind-the-scenes look at journalism and how information is researched, shaped, and reported. Check out the resources in the collection topics. This collection, which includes videos, blog articles, student handouts, lesson plans, and tip sheets for families

Click here to access this collection.

Teaching Media Literacy

This article from  Julia Boudreau provided some straightforward suggestions to help students unbundle and evaluate media in all forms.

But I saw it on the internet!!!

Media Literacy is a major topic- and something our students need.  Just because you read it online- it doesn’t mean it is true!  In this content collection from TeachersFirst, you will find a wide variety of resources (and it includes one of my personal favorites- All About Explorers!).  Their reviews include grade level as well as an overview of the site.

Media Literacy for ALL!

This week in TeachersFirst, they focus on Media Literacy with a wide collection of resources. From lesson plans (to lesson plans with fake websites- All About Explorers is included!)- there is something for every grade level and interest.  For the complete review, please click here.

Looking for Literacy Ideas?

Discovery Education recently shared a broad list of literacy activities.  You will find a variety of content and grade levels.  Please click here to view.

Fake News (can your students tell the difference?)

Fake news seems to be all the rage recently.  Here’s a well-written article from School Library Journal packed with strategies and resources to help you improve media literacy with your students.