Crabtree Publishing
Why Does Media Literacy Matter?
Criticism of news and entertainment journalism is at an all-time high. Help 21st-century learners develop the media literacy skills they need to become critical consumers with a three-lesson guide the looks at persuasive techniques used...
Facing History and Ourselves
Social Media and Ferguson
How can social media help or hinder civil dialogue? How can information shared on social media be verified? As the investigation of media reports of the events surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown continues, class members read news...
Curated OER
Understanding the Influence of the Media
Critically analyze advertising techniques, such as circular reasoning, bandwagon, testimonial, and repetition, with worksheets that effectively discuss and illustrate how the media aims to influence.
Newseum
Believe It or Not? Time to Talk Back
Young journalists select a news story, editorial, or opinion piece that they disagree with or one that leaves them with questions. They then create their report in response and share it with the class.
Newseum
Bias Through History: Analyzing Historical Sources
Young journalists use the E.S.C.A.P.E. (evidence, source, context, audience, purpose, and execution) strategy to evaluate historical and contemporary examples of bias in the news. The class then uses the provided discussion questions to...
Curated OER
The Power of One: Convergence in Scholastic Media
Pupils explore the different forms of media utilized by journalism including writing, photography, video, sound and the Internet. In this journalism lesson, students compare and contrast the ways in which information is presented between...
Media Education Lab
Defining Propaganda
21st century learners live in a media world. Help them develop the skills they need to be able to analyze the barrage of propaganda they face daily, with a resource that introduces them to the type of persuasive appeals found in news,...
Facing History and Ourselves
How Journalists Minimize Bias
Class members are challenged to write a neutral news story about the events they observe in a short video. After sharing their stories in groups and discussing the different perceptions, the class concludes with a video of journalists...
Social Media Toolbox
Ethical Decision Making
When faced with a dilemma, how do journalists decide how much news to use? Social media scholars explore the philosophies of ethical resolution in the first of a 16-part Social Media Toolbox series. Partnered pupils use a Potter Box to...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Who Drew it Best?
Assess the Cash for Clunkers program with your scholars through 3 political cartoons, which they will analyze to determine who drew it best. Background information helps pupils gain context to assess the cartoons, and 3 talking points...
Curated OER
Water Wars
Students investigate the water wars taking place in East Africa. In this global issues instructional activity, students watch video clips and read selected articles about the water shortages in East Africa. Students estimate their own...
Curated OER
Science: Headline
Students are able to identify questions they need to answer to comprehend a specific news article. They are pushed to question how they know that their drinking water is safe.
Curated OER
Big Branding on Campus: Reading Informational Text
This New York Times "Learning Network" activity poses 11 questions on an article and video about commercial branding and marketing on college campuses. The related article, "On the Market: Thinking Critically About Advertising", is...
Curated OER
The Whole World is Watching: Iran, 2009
Students study the impact of social media. In this Iranian election instructional activity, students examine the outcome of the 2009 election and the public protests that followed it. Students determine how citizen journalism informed...
Curated OER
Objective Versus Subjective
Students examine the difference between subjective and objective statements, newscasts, and media. They discover that subjective is opinion based and objective is fact based.
Curated OER
The Other Drug War
Students develop critical thinking skills as they construct arguments for one of the three debates described in the lesson on "The Other Drug War."
Curated OER
New York City Delights: The Taxi Cab
You set the rate! Step into the shoes of a taxi driver in New York City, and also pretend to be a person who uses taxis to get around town. The class will conduct collaborative research to learn about the history of taxis. Then, they...
Curated OER
Islamic Art
Young scholars examine the various forms of Islamic Art. Using the art, they identify the basic elements and research its history and style of calligraphy. They create a piece of art based on information they collected and demonstrate...
Curated OER
Chairs, Corduroys, Cottages, and Cars: Exploring the Diversity of Design
Students create and present a theme-based exhibition. For this design lesson, students categorize objects to reflect a specific design theme and create their own theme-based collections. Students research a museum collection to discover...
Curated OER
Dwellings Around the Globe
Middle schoolers explore dwellings around the globe and conduct collaborative research on cliff dwellings, igloos, longhouses, and yurts. They then explore how different dwellings reflect environmental and cultural conditions, and they...
Curated OER
Recognizing Types of Propaganda in Advertising
Students recognize the various types of propaganda so that they be better able to recognize propaganda in its various forms.
Curated OER
Inside the Courtroom
Twelfth graders explain the difference between a class action and civil law suit. In groups, they compare and contrast criminal and civil trials and review various cases. They determine the place of law in the American constitutional...
Curated OER
Hybrid Automobiles
Students explain the basic principles of gasoline engines as propulsion for vehicles. They cite reasons why alternatives for gasoline engines are being considered and explain differences between a motor and an engine.
Curated OER
Supply Chain Management
Students identify the steps of production. In this supply chain lesson, students determine how businesses monitor production and trace the supply chain of products they own. Students also discuss ethical issues related to the supply chain.