English Language Arts
The Nova Scotia English language arts curriculum includes expectations that incorporate media education themes. The curriculum document Foundation for the Atlantic Canada English Language Arts Curriculum: English Language Arts (2012) includes a section that demonstrates the complementary relationship between media literacy and English language arts:
The use of technology, media and other visual texts as pathways to learning is encouraged. This allows students to develop information literacy – more specifically, accessing, interpreting, evaluating, organizing, selecting, creating and communicating information in and through a variety of technologies and contexts. It provides opportunities for practicing information literacy skills and critical thinking skills.
On the sidebar you will find outcome charts containing media-related learning expectations from the English language arts curriculum, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site. As many of our lessons can be adapted to suit different grade levels and abilities, specific lessons may be listed for more than one grade. Teachers should also note that individual lessons often satisfy a number of expectations.