TV Stereotypes - Lesson Lesson Plan

Stereotyping
Television

Level: Grades 2 to 6

Author: MediaSmarts

Adapted with permission from TVONTARIO, Let's Play TV: Teacher's Guide, © 1995

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

Overview

This lesson familiarises students with stereotypes and helps them understand the role that stereotypes play in television's portrayal of life. The lesson begins with a discussion about the types of stereotypes that are common on television, why stereotypes are used on TV, and the possible negative influences of stereotyping. To further increase their awareness of television stereotypes, students will participate in a number of writing, drawing and viewing activities that include deconstructing segments from television programs, drawing stereotypical and non-stereotypical figures, and writing a poem about stereotypes.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • recognize that the media construct reality
  • understand that the representations made by the media are not always realistic
  • understand the various types of stereotypes that exist in the media
  • identify their own perceptions of various stereotypes

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

Lesson Kit