Facing TV Violence: Consequences and Media Violence Lesson Plan

Television
Violence

Level: Grades 1 to 4

Author: MediaSmarts 

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

Overview

In this lesson, students explore the absence, or unrealistic portrayal, of consequences to violence in the media. The class begins with a "what would happen if?" discussion of consequences to violent acts that might occur in real life. Students then complete work sheets where they compare TV depictions of violent acts to what would actually happen in real life. Students also begin to question depicted consequences of media violence based on feelings, responsibilities, injuries and results of actions.

Learning Outcomes

Students demonstrate:

  • an awareness of the different types of violence that appear in children's television programs
  • an understanding of the unrealistic portrayal of consequences to violent acts in the media
  • an understanding of their own reactions to various types of violence

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) is available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit