Images of Learning: Secondary - Lesson Lesson Plan

Level: Grades 9 - 12

Overview

This lesson helps students become more aware of the stereotypes associated with portrayals of students and teachers on television and on film. On Day One, students discuss the reasons why television producers and writers use stereotypes to represent various groups of people - and the advantages and disadvantages of doing this. Using a worksheet, they compile a list of common television stereotypes from the school-based television shows they enjoy and create a list of humorous clichés about TV students and teachers. On Day Two, students look at representation of students and teachers in movies and compare their findings to the stereotypes found on television. On Day Three, students assume the role of television producers and create a series outline for a school-based television show and perform a scene from an episode.

Outcomes

Students will:

• recognise that the media construct reality
• examine how teachers and students are portrayed in school-based television shows and explain the biases and beliefs revealed in the messages that are conveyed
• understand the conventions and stereotypes that are commonly used in school-based television shows
• analyse representations of social, political and cultural issues 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.