In this lesson, students participate in a workshop that teaches them four quick, easy steps to verify online information. After practicing these four steps they create a public service announcement aimed at teaching one of these steps and spreading the message that it is necessary for everyone to fact-check information we see online every time we are going to share it or act on it.
People who share false or misleading information sometimes use the language of critical thinking and media literacy, telling followers to “do your research” and “think critically” in one breath and then to “trust the plan” in the next. So how can we tell if we’re really thinking critically?
Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts
Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2
Lesson Length: 20-30 minutes, plus time for optional assessment/evaluation and extension activities
Subject Area: English Language Arts, Visual Arts, Ethics and Religious Culture
Lesson Link: https://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/break-fake-what’s-frame
Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts
Level: Grades 3-5
Lesson Length: 45 minutes, plus time for the assessment/evaluation task
Subject Area: English Language Arts, Visual Arts,
Lesson Link: https://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/break-fake-what’s-real-online
The Workshop facilitator guide has been developed to support facilitators who are presenting the Break the Fake, and includes background information about the workshop, advice on preparing and presenting the workshop, a supporting script, Frequently Asked Questions and handouts for participants.
To make a custom search engine you will need to be logged in to a Google account. (If you don’t already have one, go to accounts.google.com to sign up.) You don’t have to be logged in to Google to use it. As well, anyone can use a custom search engine once it’s been created, so a whole class can use search engines made with a single account.
Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts
Level: Grades 6-9
Lesson Length: 1.5 hours, plus time for the evaluation/assessment task
Subject Area: English language Arts, Visual Arts, Ethics and Religious Culture
Lesson Link: https://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/break-fake-lesson-plan-verifying-information-online
