Images of Learning: Elementary - Lesson Lesson Plan

Stereotyping
Television

Level: Grades 6 - 8

Author: MediaSmarts

Overview

This lesson helps students become more aware of the stereotypes associated with portrayals of students and teachers on TV. (It is also a good follow-up to the elementary lesson TV Stereotypes.) Images of Learning begins with a class discussion about common television stereotypes that are found in the school-based television shows and films that students enjoy. Students respond to questions about television stereotypes and then write a short opinion piece about whether the teachers and students on TV influence their own attitudes about learning. In groups, students create a series outline for their own school-based television show and perform a scene from an episode.

Outcomes

Students will:

  • recognize that the media construct reality
  • examine how teachers and students are portrayed in school-based television shows
  • understand the conventions and stereotypes that are commonly used in school-based television shows
  • examine their own perceptions of various stereotypes

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

Lesson Kit