In this three-day unit, students assess media coverage of natural disasters and their aftermath. Students explore how sensationalism plays a role in determining what is newsworthy, and how that can distort our perception of issues in developing nations.
In this lesson students discuss their online experiences and learn how to minimize the potential risks that may be associated with them.
This lesson familiarizes children with how and why “junk food” is advertised to kids. The lesson starts with an introduction to advertising and a discussion of the gimmicks involved in food advertising to kids. Students discuss the various foods they see advertised in their daily lives versus the ones they don’t see, drawing important points from this data. With this information in mind, students complete an advertising log and also choose an advertisement and analyzing its subject matter in relation to what they have just learned.
Initiating
6-0-1a Formulate specific questions that lead to investigations. Include: rephrase questions to a testable form; focus research questions. GLO: A1, C2 (ELA Grade 6, 3.1.2; Math: SP-I.1.6)
6-0-1b Identify various methods for finding the answer to a specific question and select one to implement. Examples: generating experimental data; accessing information from a variety of sources… GLO: C2 (ELA Grade 6, 3.2.2; Math: SP-I.2.6, SP-II.1.6)
MediaSmarts Resources
Overall Expectations: Unit A: Interactions and Ecosystems
Students are introduced to the idea of “privilege” in relation to diversity and how it applies to media. They then look at a checklist of media related privileges to help them understand the concept.
In the 2022 Elementary Physical Education and Wellness curriculum, digital media literacy is represented in several categories of knowledge, skills and procedures and understandings. Students learn about growth and development, safety, nutrition, mental health, healthy relationships and financial literacy.
In the Saskatchewan elementary English Language Arts curriculum, media-related objectives are provided under foundational outcomes of Comprehend and Respond, Compose and Create, and Assess and Reflect.
This outcome chart contains media-related learning outcomes from the Prince Edward Island Grade 6 Health Education with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.