Teaching Media: Critically Evaluating Media Lesson Plan
Level: Grades 1 to 6
Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts
This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.
Overview
In this lesson, students learn how media influence how we see the world and send intentional and unintentional messages.
Learning Outcomes
Big ideas/key concepts: Students will understand that...
Media are constructions:
- Media are imperfect representations of reality
- Media makers make intentional and unintentional choices when making a media work
- Media have social and political implications:
- Media influence how we see reality, including what we see as being good or bad
Key questions:
- What does media tell us about the real world?
- What does media tell us about things like kindness or friendship?
- How can media works say things that the people who made them didn't mean to say?
- How does what happens to different characters shape our idea of what's good and bad?
- How does what is put in to (or left out of) a media work affect the meaning we take from it?
Frequent student misconceptions: Media are an accurate reflection of reality; all media messages are conscious and intentional
Essential knowledge: Students will know...
Media representation: Media communicate explicit and implicit messages through story, characterization, and framing
Key vocabulary: Media frame
Performance tasks: Students will…
- Consider ways in which media accurately and inaccurately reflect reality
- Analyze implications of media portrayals on our values
- Reflect on how media experiences have shaped their views and values
This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) is available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.