Break the Fake Lesson Plan: Verifying information online Lesson Plan

Authenticating Information
Digital Citizenship
Internet & Mobile

Level: Grades 6-9

Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts

Duration: 1 1/2 hours plus time for the evaluation/assessment task

This lesson plan is part of the Break the Fake project. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

media representation

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

Overview

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.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • Learn simple steps for verifying online information
  • Practice verifying online information
  • Understand digital literacy key concepts:
    • Digital media are networked
    • Digital media are shareable and persistent
    • Interactions through digital media can have a real impact
    • Digital media experiences are shaped by the tools we use
  • Create a media text

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit