National Constitution Center
The Development and Application of the First Amendment
What are the limits on freedom of speech? While a cherished right in the Constitution, it is not unbridled. Budding historians consider what checks should exist on this liberty using news stories, court cases, and College Board prompts.
Curated OER
An Introduction to Law
With so many different types of law, it can be difficult for learners to discern which is which! Use a newspaper to give tangible examples of various types of law, including criminal, civil, consumer, family, local, state, federal and...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “Making History” by Marilyn Nelson
What makes an event newsworthy, worth a reference in a news magazine or textbook? Who decides? These are questions Marilyn Nelson asks readers of her poem "Making History" to consider. To begin, class members list details they notice in...
Scholastic
Dear Miss Breed
This compelling plan based on the letters in the book Dear Miss Breed engages readers in learning what it was like for Japanese Americans following the attacks at Pearl Harbor. After reading the letters, young scholars will partake in...
Teaching Tolerance
Digital Tools as a Mechanism for Active Citizenship
How is technology a useful tool for active citizenship? Pupils assume the role of technology consultants reviewing citizenship projects. Small groups collaborate to make recommendations about how to incorporate technology to improve...
Curated OER
Evaluating Information Sources Worksheet
Your class is getting ready for its first big research project. While they know how to use the Internet, do they know how to find academic information? Do they know how to find credible sources? Give them this packet and bring them to...
Curated OER
Your Digital Footprint: Leaving a Mark
A digital footprint is the trail of personal information that comes from purchasing online, tagging friends in photos, blogging, and using social media. Kids discuss what information can be tracked, privacy, and what your digital...
Freeology
MyPage
Engage students in sharing about themselves with this social-media-inspired student interest survey. Using the format of a Facebook page, the worksheet asks kids to fill in information about their interests, family, friends, summer...
Radford University
How Do Facebook Likes Accrue Likes?
Finally, a project pupils will instantly like! Young mathematicians collect data on the number of likes they receive for a social media post over time. During the first part of the project, they determine a curve of best fit and...
Nemours KidsHealth
Asthma: Grades 9-12
Two activities encourage high schoolers to learn about asthma. In the first lesson, learners watch two videos that feature individuals talking about how they manage their condition. Groups then craft videos about how pupils can support...
Curated OER
The Whole World is Watching: Iran, 2009
Students study the impact of social media. In this Iranian election lesson plan, students examine the outcome of the 2009 election and the public protests that followed it. Students determine how citizen journalism informed people around...
Media Education Lab
Propaganda in Context
"Board Game Helps Fight Real World Ebola," a video produced by Voice of America, provides the text for a guided instructional activity that asks viewers to analyze the propaganda techniques used in the video. Groups then select a example...
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...
PBS
Baseball: The Tenth Inning - Bases Divided
Baseball is a relatively high-interest topic through which social studies classes can explore racial prejudice in the US. Video clips provide much of the background information that groups record on their handout and then share with the...
Curated OER
The Media and Social Justice in the United States
Middle schoolers investigate why the hip hop is sometimes called the CNN of black youth. They explore the political themes in American hip hop. Students examine the connection between art, media and social justice in hip hop.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: The Black Press
Students examine the history of the black press. In this media awareness lesson, students watch videos and conduct research regarding the history of the black press in America. Students explore media careers as they read provided...
Curated OER
You Are There: Television News Reports on Apartheid
Students, in groups, research apartheid and its effects on South Africa. They present their information to the class.
Curated OER
Stop the Bus: Confronting Our Assumptions About Muslims in America
Students explore Virginia Interfaith Center's A More Perfect Union "Misunderstanding" Ad Campaign, view two episodes of PBS America at a Crossroads series, examine historical context of colonialism and geo-political tensions in Middle...
Curated OER
Sweet-Talkers
Learners investigate what is being sold to them. In this media awareness lesson plan, students visit selected websites to take a closer look at advertising marketed at them. Learners discuss the implications of marketing geared toward...
Curated OER
The Role of Television in Social Justice
Students will read and evaluate another student's culminating project rough draft. Students will make written comments on the evaluation sheet provided by the teacher with regard to relevance to topic of Media and Social Justice,...
Curated OER
The Role of the Media
Students analyze the role of media in the Gulf War after watching a video series. They participate in a small group simulating a specific group from the film. They discuss issues with their group and then participate in a whole class...
Curated OER
Beneath the News: Who's Doing What to Whom, and Who Cares?
Students investigate the differences between various forms of media (print, radio, TV, Internet). They determine the target audience for each and compare exposure around the world. They write a short story and share it with the class.
Curated OER
Racial Stereotypes in the Media
Students examine how stereotypes function in the media. They discuss the role and nature of stereotypes, watch a clip from the movie, 'Bend It Like Beckham,' and write a response paper about cultural representations in the movie.
Curated OER
Media and the Weather
Students research an historical weather disaster and create a group media presentation emphasizing the importance of weather around the world and on the sea. Presentation is in the format of a T.V. news story, a radio news story, or a...