English Language Arts 7-9 Overview

Each Atlantic Province follows closely the Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation Framework for English Language Arts. In this Framework, media literacy is integrated throughout the English Language Arts curriculum under the general learning outcomes of Speaking and Listening, Reading and Viewing and Writing and Other Ways of Representing.

The following excerpt from Atlantic Canada English Language Arts Curriculum, Grades 7-9, details how media education has been integrated into the Atlantic curriculum.

For specific, media-related outcomes and supporting resources for individual grade levels, see the left menu. (Note: as many of our lessons can be adapted to suit different grade levels, specific lessons may be listed for more than one grade. Teachers should also note that individual lessons will often satisfy a number of learning outcomes.)

The Role of Media Literacy in the English Language Arts Curriculum: Grades 7-9

Media literacy deals with the culture and lifestyle of students. They enjoy thinking and talking about what is going on in the media. For teachers, it is an opportunity to have students examine how they are influencing and being influenced by popular culture.

Students today get much of their information as fast as possible in as short a form as possible, usually from mass media sources such as magazines, television, and the Internet. It is important that they learn how to analyse and evaluate what they view, just as they do what they read. For teachers, media literacy is an opportunity to examine the reliability, accuracy, and motives of these sources.

Most mass media is produced somewhere else for general consumption. It rarely reflects the culture of smaller groups and issues on a local level. It is necessary for young people to see themselves and hear their own voices in order to validate their culture and place in the world. For teachers, media literacy is an opportunity to encourage students to discover a voice through the production of their own media. Mass media can then become a pathway from the local level and a means of personal influence in the wider world.

How teachers choose to integrate media literacy into the English Language arts program will be determined by what the students are reading and writing. On some occasions students might be involved in comparing (the print version of a story to the film version; ad images to the product being sold), examining (the use of images in music videos and newspapers, sexism in advertising), writing (an article to a magazine, a letter to the editor); producing (a pamphlet on an issue, a radio ad) and/or creating (a video, a school radio show, announcements for the school PA).

Media literacy is a form of critical thinking that is cross-curricular. It is more about good questions than correct answers.

What is the message?
Who is sending the message?
Why is the message being sent?
How is the message being sent?
Who is the intended audience?
Who or what is left out?
Can I respond to this message?
Does my opinion matter?
Do I need this information?

Atlantic Canada English Language Arts Curriculum Grades 7-9

Last updated August 2008.