Reality Check: Getting the Goods on Science and Health Lesson Plan

Authenticating Information
Digital Citizenship
Digital Health
Internet & Mobile

Level: Grades 9 to 12
About the Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts
Duration: 1 to 1 ½ hours, plus time for the assessment/evaluation activity

Digital Literacy Framework iconDigital Literacy Framework icon

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

Overview

In this lesson, students start by considering the wide range of science and health information they are likely to encounter in news or through social media. They read an article on a scientific topic to help them understand the particular challenges of verifying science and health information and then use an educational computer game to practice skills in critically reading health and science stories. Finally, students compile a list of reliable sources they can turn to for verifying health and science stories.

This lesson is part of the Reality Check lesson series.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • Understand the particular challenges of verifying health and science topics
  • Reflect on how health and science information may be misrepresented in news or online sources
  • Practice critical reading of health and science news
  • Evaluate verification resources on health and science topics
  • Contribute to a shared resource on verifying health and science topics

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

Lesson Kit