Facing Media Violence: Counting & Discussing Violence on the Screen Lesson Plan

Television
Violence

Level: Grades 1 to 4

Author: Adapted by MediaSmarts, with permission from Gloria De Gaetano Screen Smarts: A Family Guide To Media Literacy

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

Overview

This lesson helps children become aware of the types of violence that appear in the media, the frequency with which these acts occur, and how they respond to these acts. It begins with a guided discussion about the different types of violence and then, how violence is portrayed in the media. Using worksheets, students then survey the shows they enjoy for acts of violence and then, as a class, compile and discuss their findings.

Learning Outcomes

Students demonstrate:

  • an awareness of the different types of violence in children's television programs.
  • an awareness of the frequency of violent acts in children's television programs.
  • an understanding of their own reactions to various types of violence.

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

Lesson Kit