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Consumer Choices About Natural Resource Use Assessment
Media literacy and critical thinking assessment analyzing messages in a book cover and poster and writing an opinion piece on consumer choices,
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Natural ResourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual
30-60 Minutes
"American Progress" Painting
Students analyze a 19th century painting for messages about progress and about personal interpretation of media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Bald Eagles: Saving Our Symbol" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about bald eagles, DDT and about purpose and funding in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Beaver Trapping" Diagram
Students analyze an 18th century diagram for messages about beaver trapping and about target audience.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Biodiversity and the Future of Life" Book Cover
Students analyze a book cover for messages about biodiversity and about editorial choices for book covers. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Black Death" Insecticide Advertisement
Students analyze images of a 19th century advertisement for messages about chemical insecticide and about techniques to persuade. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Buffalo Bill: Wolf Fighter" Dime Novel
Students analyze an early 20th century magazine cover for messages about human animal relations and about historical context in media message interpretation. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Buffalo Land" Book Illustration
Students analyze a 19th century book illustration for messages about the slaughter of the buffalo and about fact and opinion in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"DDT is Good for Me" Magazine Ad
Students analyze images of a 1940s magazine ad for messages about the suggested benefits of DDT and about target audience in advertising. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"DDT: For Good or Ill?" Editorial Cartoon
Students analyze an editorial cartoon for messages about DDT, viruses and about stereotyping in political cartooning.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Dead in the Water" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about fertilizers and Gulf of Mexico dead zones and about how the mission of media producers impacts the media message. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Dying from Dioxin" Book Cover
Students analyze a book cover for messages about human and environmental impacts of toxic chemicals and about artistic techniques in book cover design.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Ethyl Controls" Magazine Ad
Students analyze images of a 1930s magazine ad for messages about leaded gasoline and about implied values in advertising. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Ethyl War" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about the history of leaded gasoline and about credibility and impact of media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Greenwash" Book Cover
Students analyze a book cover for messages about corporate environmentalism, greenwashing and about designer choices to promote book sales. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Highways of the Forest" Drawing
Students analyze a 19th century drawing for messages about wilderness transportation and about personal interpretation of media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Iceland Resumes Commercial Whaling" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about commercial whaling and about editorial decisions in webpage design. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Indian Treaty of Greenville" Painting
Students analyze an 18th century painting for messages about U.S. occupation of Native American lands and about benefit and harm in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"La Virgenia Pars" Map
Students analyze a 16th century map for messages about perspectives on marine life and about historical context in media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Niagara Waterfall" 1704 Engraving
Students analyze an 18th century engraving for messages about European explorers' first impressions of Niagara Falls and about target audience. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"No Place Like Home" Celebrating Biodiversity Magazine Cover
Students analyze a magazine cover for messages about the balance of nature and about artistic technique in poster design. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Our Filthy Seas" Magazine Cover
Students analyze a magazine cover for messages about ocean pollution and about artistic design choices. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Passenger Pigeon Shoot" Etching
Students analyze a 19th century etching for messages about passenger pigeon hunts and about historical context in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Resource Wars" Global Challenges Book Cover
Students analyze a blog page for messages about peak oil and about sponsorship of media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Roosevelt and Muir" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about the origins of the national park system and about values in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Study Sees Global Collapse of Fish Species" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about commercial fishing and about editorial decisions in webpage design. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Sun Mad Raisins" Poster
Students analyze a poster for messages about pesticides and about artistic techniques to convey fear. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Tarzan" Deforestation Poster
Students analyze a poster for messages about deforestation and about sponsorship of media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"The American People" - Rachel Carson & Ronald Reagan in an Editorial Cartoon
Students analyze an editorial cartoon for messages about Rachel Carson, Ronald Reagan and about historical context in political cartooning.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"The Great Louisiana Toxics March" Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about environmental injustice, toxic waste and purpose in website design.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"The Poisoning of America" Magazine Cover
Students analyze images of a magazine cover for messages about toxic chemical waste and about the ways in which advertisers use fear to sell. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"The Price of Research" - Conflicting Claims on Atrazine
Students analyze two journal covers for messages about research on the environmental impacts of pesticides and about target audience and purpose in media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Toxic Waste and Race at Twenty" Report Cover
Students analyze a report cover for messages about the history of the environmental justice movement and about the personal impacts of social justice movements and media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Tropical Rainforest" Book Cover
Students analyze a book cover for messages about rainforest protection and about credibility in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"When the Rivers Run Dry" Book Cover
Students analyze a book cover for messages about drought and about credibility in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Which Face Will You Wear?" DuPont Ad
Students analyze images of a 1940s magazine ad for messages about chemicals and consumer choices and about implied values in advertising. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
"Wreck of the Whale Ship Essex" Etching
Students analyze a 19th century etching for messages about whaling and about the impact of media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
2016 Media Making the Candidate?
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding articles about the role of the media in creating Donald Trump's candidacy for the impact of media, bias and interpretation.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: 2016 Presidential Campaign & The Trump PresidencyHigh School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
2016 Responding to Climate Change
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding Republican and Democratic Party platforms about climate change for message, structure and differentiating fact form opinion.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: 2016 Presidential Campaign & The Trump PresidencyHigh School
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
A History of Global Warming in Science, Politics, and the Media
Media literacy and critical thinking unit using diverse media imagery to teach about how global warming has been perceived by people in the U.S. and how the media has constructed that public perception.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeHigh School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
A.I. – Pros, Cons, Credibility and Bias
Students analyze short videos for messages about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, the bias and credibility of each source, and our own thinking about the issue.
High School, College
30-60 Minutes
African and Free – Maroon Resistance in the Americas
Students analyze videos produced by and about people of the African diaspora in the Americas for messages about representations of their peoples' freedom, resistance, and ties to Africa.
Middle School, High School, College
30-60 Minutes
Agriculture: Sustainable v. Industrial
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode two web videos for messages about industrial and sustainable agriculture.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Apocalyptic Weather Systems in Movies: Science Fact or Science Fiction
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a brief clip from the feature film, "The Day After Tomorrow" and a science blog post for conflicting perspectives on the potential impacts of extreme weather events related to global climate change.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Artistic Repurposing as Environmental Activism
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a web video and film trailer about the impacts of oceanic plastic pollution for messages about artists actions for environmental awareness.
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
BP Oil and Gulf Fisheries
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about the impact of the BP oli spill on Gulf Coast fisheries by decoding headlines and video clips.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: News Accuracy and CredibilityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and Agriculture
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Ban the Bag or Not? What Else Should We Know?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a Scholastic news article and a page of a website called Bag the Ban for different perspectives on the use of plastic bags and their effects on our environment.
Upper Elementary
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Being Consumers: Four Views
Students analyze a catalog cover, a poster and 2 webpages for messages about consumerism and about visual techniques to attract interest in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Benefits And Costs Of Using Plastic Shopping Bags
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short excerpts from websites about plastic bags for conflicting perspectives on the costs and benefits of plastic shopping bags.
Upper Elementary
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Biofuels
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson comparing varied perspectives about growing corn as a biofuel commodity by decoding three text excerpts and six video clips.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Bioregional Economy
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students will complete and present a multimedia research project on just and sustainable economic development projects in their bioregion.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: FingerlakesHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Black Lives Matter and Climate Change: What's the Connection?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a news article and an opinion piece about the connections between the Black Lives Matter movement and climate change for issues related to social and scientific content and geographical context.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Bottled Water?
This media literacy activity was created to integrate the teaching of English language instruction with media literacy for educators in Panama. In this media literacy activity students watch short video clips with English narration and text to analyze authorship, purpose and target audience and to discuss environmental issues related to bottled water.
Middle School, High School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Boulder Dam Report Cover
Students analyze a report cover for messages about dam construction and about target audience. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Briefing: Project Look Sharp's Decoding Media Constructions and Sustainability
Antonio Lopez, in his coda to Greening Media Education, summarizes the complex set of skills needed “to bring ecologically oriented cultural practice into the realm of media education (which) promotes systems thinking, collaborative learning, critical thinking, lifelong learning and digital media literacy.” This article offers cases studies of two Look Sharp lessons, one for elementary age students and another for upper level high school, each of which was designed with these skills in mind as a way to bring Lopez’s vision into practice in the classroom.
Buffalo Hunt: Slaughtered for the Hide
Students analyze a 19th century magazine cover for messages about buffalo hunting and about point of view in media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Butterflies in the Media
Students analyze a magazine cover, a T-shirt, a book cover, a webpage, a button and a comic for messages about butterflies, endangered species and media forms.
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
15-30 Minutes
COVID-19 & Climate Change: Graphing the Connection
In this media literacy activity students analyze online graphs and text for messages about the connections between the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Carbon Sequestration: Solutions to Climate Change
In this media literacy activity students analyze videos for messages about the effectiveness of different carbon sequestration solutions in reversing the impacts of greenhouse gas releases on climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Carbon Trading: Arguments for and Against
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a webpage from the World Economic Forum and an online comic book for conflicting perspectives on the impacts of carbon trading.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Case Study: From Witness to Action
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to teach about strategies activists have taken to remedy environmental injustice.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Environmental JusticeKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Chevron and Species Protection: Differing Perspectives
Students analyze a magazine advertisement and a mock ad for messages about waterfowl protection, greenwashing and corporate responsibility. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Chukchi Sea Oil Drilling
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to reflect on the pros and cons of Alaskan oil drilling.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Resource DepletionMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Climate Change, Agriculture & Sustainability
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reflecting on the impacts of climate change on agriculture and the role of agricultural practices in contributing to climate change.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Fingerlakes
High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Climate Change, Biodiversity and Magazine Cover Priorities
Students analyze a webpage for messages about climate change, biodiversity and about editorial choices for magazine covers. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Climate Change: Do Corporations Have an Obligation to Share Their Research Findings for the Public Good?
This is a media literacy activity in which students analyze two web video clips for conflicting perspectives on Exxon's research into climate change and its responsibility to release its findings to the public.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Climate Disaster: Young People Act
In this media literacy activity students analyze videos of young climate activists for messages about the forms and effectiveness of climate disaster protest.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Climate: Climate Change & Biodiversity
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode webpages for messages about the impact of climate change on ecosystem biodiversity.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Climate: What Can We Change?
In this media literacy activity students analyze children’s videos for messages about the impacts of climate change and what people can do to help.
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Coal: Benefits and Costs
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a magazine cover and spread for messages about how human use of natural resources for energy affects the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Cochabamba, Water for Sale
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to reflect on the pros and cons of water privatization in Bolivia.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: News Accuracy and CredibilityPlaylist: Global Studies
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Resource Depletion
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
College Level: Hydrofracking, Media and Credibility
Related to kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Fingerlakes
This 9 minute annotated video demonstrates constructivist media decoding using the lesson "Exploring the Impact of Hydrofracking on Aquifers," where college students analyze pro and anti-fracking diagrams.
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Constructivist Media Decoding
Critical Thinking And The News
Assessing Credibility & Bias
Document Selection
Question Design
Social Studies
Science And Environment
College
Community Organizing for Environmental Justice
Students analyze a webpage for messages about community building for social justice and about website design choices. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Merging Social Justice with Environmentalism." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Community Responses to Climate Disaster Recovery
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze an opinion piece and the executive summary of a governmental report for conflicting perspectives on effective climate disaster recovery efforts.
High School, College
Individual, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Comparing Renewables: U.S. vs. Global Energy Use
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode graphs for messages about how the use of renewable energy sources can help to reduce human vulnerability to climate change.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Global StudiesUnit: Energy Sources
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Consumerism & Sustainability
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson asking students to consider their own consumer decisions relating to sustainability through a process of decoding TV commercials and videos about bottled water.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureMiddle School, High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Corporate Greenwashing? Exxon and Greenpeace
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode an ExxonMobil commercial and an environmental advocacy video for conflicting messages about corporate advertising credibility and about human impact on the environment.
Middle School, High School, College
Individual, Pair, Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Under 15 Minutes
Creative Visions of the Future
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing the imagined future of food, water and agriculture as viewed through the creative media of film, song, poetry and science fiction literature.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Damming the Rivers
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on river damming projects and on the use of water as a resource.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Resource DepletionMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Dams and Rivers: To Build Or To Remove?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos to discern messages about the human benefits and environmental impacts of building and removing hydropower dams
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Natural ResourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Dealing with Invasive Species: Different Approaches
Students analyze a webpage and a book cover for messages about invasive species and sponsorship and purpose in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Deciding On Our Food Choices Assessment
Media literacy and critical thinking assessment analyzing messages in posters and writing about food choice messages and persuasion techniques in posters.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Food ChoicesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual
30-60 Minutes
Defining Sustainability
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing textual and diagrammatic definitions of sustainability presented by diverse corporate and civil society sources.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Depleted Uranium
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to reflect on the health and environmental effects of depleted uranium as a weapon in war.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Chemicals in the EnvironmentMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Discourse or Disinformation?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing conflicting presentations of scientific information about global warming in various drafts of government reports, video and opinion articles .
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: News Accuracy and CredibilityPlaylist: Climate Change
Playlist: English Language Arts
High School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Dolphins in the Media
Students analyze a book cover, a magazine cover, a tweet, a poster, a cartoon, a toy and an advertisement for messages about media forms, dolphins and environmental concerns.
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
15-30 Minutes
Drinking Water: Two Points of View
Students analyze a film poster and an advertisement for messages about drinking water, target audience and techniques in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Drought & Farming: Thirsty Crops
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode web pages and graphs for messages about how agricultural demands for irrigation impact freshwater resources during times of drought.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeUnit: Climate Change & Water
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Drought Causes: Climate Change Impacts
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode web pages messages about the relationship between climate change and droughts.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Climate Change & WaterKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
El Nino: Connections to Global Warming
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about patterns of ocean warming during an El Nino year and the subsequent impacts on worldwide weather.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Climate Change & WaterKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Endangered Peoples: Multiple Perspectives
Students analyze a DVD cover, a cartoon and a book cover for messages about people as endangered species and about techniques and interpretations in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Endangered Species Act, Spotted Owls and the Lumber Industry: Dueling Perspectives
Students analyze a magazine cover and a news article for messages about the Endangered Species Act, spotted owls and the lumber industry. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Endangered Species Act: Different Points of View
Students analyze an editorial cartoon, a webpage and a children's book cover for messages about the Endangered Species Act and target audiences. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Environmental Injustice At Work
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short song excerpts to compare musical forms carrying messages about environmental justice in the workplace.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Environmental JusticeKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Environmental Justice – For Whom, How and Why?
In this media literacy activity students analyze videos for messages about impacts and potential remedies for environmental justice.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Ethanol: Pros and Cons
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about the benefits and costs of using corn-based ethanol as an energy source.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Exploring Economic Models for a Healthy Planet and a Just Society
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze three writings about sustainability and economy for conflicting perspectives on possible economic remedies to environmental destruction and economic inequality.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Economics & Social JusticeHigh School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Exploring the Impact of Hydrofracking on Aquifers
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode diagrams for messages about how hydrofracking impacts freshwater resources.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Extreme Weather: Climate Change Connections & Water
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode webpages for messages about the relationship between climate change and extreme weather.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Climate Change & WaterKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Exxon Valdez, Oil and Water
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on the impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Resource DepletionMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Farming, Community, and Sustainability
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing the roles of community, farmers and farm labor in food system sustainability using visual imagery, film and song.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Food Security
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos and text excerpts as a means to understand the conditions required for food security, the causes of food insecurity and potential solutions leading to food security.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Food Waste: What’s the Problem? What’s the Solution?
In this media literacy activity students analyze videos for messages about the problems and potential solutions related to global food waste and climate change.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Frogs and Atrazine
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to consider opposing views on the possible relationship between frog popultion decline and the use of the herbicide atrazine.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Endangered SpeciesMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
GMO Yes or No - Decoding Movie Trailers
Students analyze two short movie trailers for messages about GMOs, to ask and answer questions about sourcing and credibility, and to reflect on their own confirmation biases.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
GMOs: Bias and Credibility in Media Messages
Students analyze three web videos from corporate, academic and activist sources for messages about genetically modified organisms, techniques used to sway the viewer, and questions about credibility and one’s own confirmation biases.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
GMOs: For Whose Benefit and At What Cost?
Students analyze a magazine cover, a book cover and a web page for messages about genetically engineered food and about sponsorship of media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Geoengineering: Can Techno Fixes Save Us From Climate Change?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode two articles about geoengineering for credibility and for conflicting perspectives about its usefulness as a tool to combat climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Giant Redwood Trees of California, 1874 Painting
Students analyze a 19th century painting for messages about California redwood forests and about painters' techniques of representation. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Gladys City Oil Stock Certificate
Students analyze an early 20th century stock certificate for messages about oil, land management and about historical context. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Green Revolution
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson exploring arguments for and against green revolution technology by reading excerpts from four articles about Norman Borlaug, founder of the Green Revolution.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Economics & Social JusticeKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and Agriculture
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Green Transportation: Electric Cars vs. Bicycles
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short excerpts from online articles for messages about the economic and environmental benefits and costs of electric vehicles.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Greta Meets Malala: How Different Media Forms Present the News
In this media literacy activity students analyze media reports on the meeting between Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai. In addition to learning about the two young activists, students reflect on the qualities of different media forms including news and opinion articles, a tweet and posts on Instagram and Facebook.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Guiding Our Food Choices
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson considering how food choices impact personal, social and environmental health by analyzing web pages and diagrams.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Habitat Destruction: The Idea of Progress
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a painting and a Facebook post for messages about the impact of habitat destruction on biodiversity.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Heroes for Animal Protection
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing a book and video about songbird steward Rachel Carson and composing a social message about being an animal steward.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Animals (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Heroes for Plant Protection
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing a book and video about tree steward Wangari Maathai and composing a social message about being a plant steward.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: English Language ArtsUnit: Plants (lower elementary)
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Heroes for Water Protection
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing a book and video about water steward Marion Stoddart and composing a social message about being a water steward.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
High School Science: The Great Global Warming Swindle
An example of leading a class through a constructivist media decoding using a lesson from our kit, Media Constructions of Global Warming. Students analyze a short video clip from the film The Great Global Warming Swindle, compare the information in the clip with a chart, and reflect on issues of credibility and bias in media representations and our own biases when evaluating information.
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Constructivist Media Decoding
Critical Thinking And The News
Assessing Credibility & Bias
Science And Environment
High School
College
History of Chemicals in the Environment
Media literacy and critical thinking unit using diverse media imagery to teach about how chemicals in the environment have been perceived by people in the U.S. and how the media has constructed that public perception. Focus topics include pesticides, fertilizer, gasoline additives and persistent organic pollutants.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Chemicals in the EnvironmentMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
History of Endangered Species
Media literacy and critical thinking unit using diverse media imagery to teach about how endangered species have been perceived by people in the U.S. and how the media has constructed that public perception. Focus topics include indigenous perspectives, whaling, habitat destruction and the Endangered Species Act.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Endangered SpeciesMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
History of Resource Depletion
Media literacy and critical thinking unit using diverse media imagery to teach about how resource depletion has been perceived by people in the U.S. and how the media has constructed that public perception. Focus topics include water, forests, oil and consumption.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Resource DepletionMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
How Do We Decide How Much To Eat And Drink?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing web pages and food diagrams to discern messages about food servings.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Food ChoicesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
How Do We Decide What to Eat and Drink?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing web pages for messages about how food choices impact personal health.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Food ChoicesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
How Do We Identify Good Sustainability Stories? (Upper Elementary)
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos to discern messages about how videos can tell stories to inform and engage the public about sustainability issues and initiatives.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: ProductionKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual, Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
How Much Water Did it Take to Grow That?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing web pages and bar graphs to discern messages about the impact of agriculture on freshwater availability.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Elementary Critical Thinking Skill BuildingUnit: Water (upper elementary)
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Human/Animal Relations
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on messages about human and animal relations.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Endangered SpeciesMiddle School, High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Hunting Gorillas: Contrasting Views
Students analyze a magazine cover and a webpage for messages about bushmeat, gorillas and editorial choices in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Huracán María: El Impacto de la Inmigración Puertorriqueña en Florida
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity for Spanish language classes in which students analyze three short excerpts of online newspaper articles about the economic impacts on Florida resulting from the influx of Puerto Rican climate refugees following Hurricane Maria. The student handouts are in Spanish language only, while the Teacher Guide is provided in both English and Spanish.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Hydrofracking Pros & Cons: Arguing the Case
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about how hydrofracking impacts the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Hydrofracking, Media, and Credibility
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing the credibility of messages about hydrofracking as presented in video clips, diagrams and online searches.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: News Accuracy and CredibilityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Fingerlakes
High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Hydropower Dams: To Build or to Dismantle?
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about claims related to hydropower dam building or removal.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Hydropower: Benefits and Costs
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode webpages for messages about how human use of natural resources for energy affects the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
I Want to Protect These Animals
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing postcards about different classes of animals, reflecting on cyber safety in online research and creating postcards of animals students would like to protect.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Animals (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
I Want to Protect These Plants
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing postcards about plant needs for water, sunlight and pollinators, reflecting on cyber safety in online research and creating postcards of plants students would like to protect.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Plants (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
I Want to Protect This Body of Water
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing postcards about bodies of water, reflecting on cyber safety in online research and creating postcards of water bodies students would like to protect.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Indigenous Representations of Cultural Pride and Resilience
Students analyze videos produced by Native Americans (Inuit, Haudenosaunee, Hopi and Hawaiian) for messages about the contributions and resilience of Indigenous nations and peoples.
Middle School, High School, College
30-60 Minutes
International Climate Agreements: How the Decisions of Government Officials Can Potentially Impact Climate Change
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two op-eds for conflicting perspectives on the impacts of the Trump adminstration's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accords..
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Interrelationships: Human & Buffalo
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about the interdependent relationships between people and buffalo.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Invasive Species: How Do We Stop an Invasion?
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a poster and a webpage for messages about the impact of introducing invasive species into an ecosystem.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Is There a Future in Oil?
This is a media literacy activity in which students analyze two video clips with the following question in mind: Is there a future in oil? One of the videos features a speaker representing the American Petroleum Institute who highlights the economic benefits of increasing oil and gas production while the other video clip features speakers from the Rockefeller Brothers Funds and 350.org who present the economic and environmental reasons to divest from fossil fuels and support renewable energy sources.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Journal of Multicultural Environmental Education
Students analyze a journal cover for messages about coupling education with activism and about the role of small journals in seeding social justice movements. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Merging Social Justice with Environmentalism." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Let Us Tell You About the Animals Where We Live
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing various media documents focused on messages about human impacts on animals and creating a simple video production based on impacts to animals where you live and action ideas to protect them.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Elementary Critical Thinking Skill BuildingUnit: Animals (lower elementary)
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Let Us Tell You About the Bodies of Water Where We Live
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing book covers for messages about water-centered disasters related to oil spills, drought and hurricanes and creating a simple video production based on impacts to your region's water bodies and action ideas to protect them.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Let Us Tell You About the Plants Where We Live
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing book covers focused on different messages about human impacts on plants and creating a simple video production based on impacts to plants and action ideas to protect them.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Plants (lower elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Logging - What About Biodiversity?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos & childrens books to discern messages about the impacts of logging on biodiversity.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: English Language ArtsUnit: Natural Resources
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Making Videos about Sustainability Efforts
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students collaboratively design a short video message about a sustainability effort.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Documenting Sustainability StoriesUnit: Production
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
McCormick Reaper Company, c. 1890 Advertisement
Students analyze a 19th century advertisement for messages about empire and about early advertising design. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Meat or Veggies? The Impact of Diet on Climate
In this media literacy activity students analyze a documentary film and a television news report for messages about how plant-based and meat-based diets impact climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Merging Social Justice with Environmentalism
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using diverse media imagery to teach about the history of the environmental justice movement beginning in the late 20th century.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Environmental JusticeKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Monsanto's Role in Environmental Protection
Students analyze two webpages for messages about Monsanto, corporate responsibility and purpose in media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Mothers of East Los Angeles: Fighting Poisons - From Prisons to Pipelines
Students analyze a poster for messages about the Mothers of East Los Angeles environmental justices movement of the 1980s and about artists' advocacy for social justice. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Merging Social Justice with Environmentalism." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Mr. Rogers: What Do We Do When Our Feelings Are Hurt?
In this media literacy activity students analyze clips from a documentary film and a feature film about Mr. Rogers for messages about storytelling in film and about how to deal with difficult feelings.
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Native American Buffalo Recovery Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about buffalo recovery efforts by Native Americans and about values in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Native American Perspectives on Human/Animal Relation: Nine Mile Canyon & Powhatan's Mantle
Students analyze a petroglyph and a deerskin for messages about Native American perspectives on human/animal relationships and about differences in interpretations of media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Native American Seed Stewardship: 3 Views
Students analyze a painting, a book cover and a web page for messages about Native American stewardship of seeds and about values in media messages.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Native Presence on the Land: Colonial Perspectives
Students analyze a 16th century engraving and a 19th century painting for messages about Native American relationships to the natural world and about artistic choices in narrative painting. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Natural Gas: Water & Climate Impacts
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode an advertisement and a web page for messages about how natural gas extraction impacts fresh water resources.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Climate Change & WaterKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Natural Resources - How Do we Use Them?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing book and magazine covers to discern messages about how the use of natural resources for energy affects the environment.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Natural ResourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual, Pair, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Northern Rockies Gray Wolf
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to reflect on the removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Endangered SpeciesMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Nuclear Reactor Safety
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on nuclear reactor safety in light of the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Chemicals in the EnvironmentMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Nuclear: Benefits and Costs
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode webpages for messages about how human use of natural resources for energy affects the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Oil Palm Plantations: Effects on Tropical Rainforests
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a TV commercial and a documentary film excerpt for messages about the benefits and costs of transforming a tropical rainforest into an oil palm plantation to supply the global market.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Oil Pipelines: Indigenous Water Rights & Safe Energy Transport
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze an article and a web page for conflicting perspectives on the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near Standing Rock native land.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Oil Reserves: Two Perspectives
Students analyze a book cover and a DVD jacket for messages about oil reserves and about credibility in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Oil Spills: What's the Problem?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing newspaper headlines, web pages and videos to discern messages about how oil spills impact human and natural populations.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Natural ResourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual, Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Oil: Benefits and Costs
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a book cover and report cover for messages about how human use of natural resources for energy affects the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Onondaga Lake
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing the stewardship interests for Onondaga Lake as regards economic development, cultural preservation and human and ecosystem health.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: English Language ArtsKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Fingerlakes
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Oren Lyons: Seeing For Seven Generations
Students analyze a webpage for messages about environmental awareness and about target audience in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Organic Foods: Whose Perspective?
Students analyze a magazine cover and a web page for messages about organic foods and green marketing.This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Our Changing Planet: Climate, SEL, and Media Literacy for Our Youngest Students
Students analyze excerpts from a picture book for messages about the impact of climate change and the actions people can take for the planet - while also reflecting on their emotional responses and the intent of the author/illustrator.
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
30-60 Minutes
Overfishing "Still Waters" Webpage
Students analyze a web page for messages about overfishing and about website design choices. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Ozette Rocks Petroglyph
Students analyze a petroglyph for messages about human relationship to the natural world and about authorship and purpose in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Palm Oil: To Buy or Not to Buy?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a commercial, a public service announcement and a short animation for conflicting perspectives on the impact of palm oil production
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Panamanian Fauna: Who’s Telling the Story and Why?
This media literacy activity was created to integrate the teaching of English language instruction with media literacy for educators in Panama. In this media literacy activity students analyze videos about Panama’s native animals for messages about species conservation and the source and purpose of each video.
Middle School, High School
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Passenger Pigeon Memorial Webpage
Students analyze a webpage for messages about the last passenger pigeon and about benefit and harm in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Physics or Fiction - Will Tango and Cash get electrocuted?
After viewing clips from a feature film and web videos, students will identify messages about electrical currents and shock, analyze sources and credibility, and reflect on strategies for finding accurate information.
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Under 15 Minutes
Plan of an American New Cleared Farm, 1791 Engraving
Students analyze an 18th century engraving for messages about clearing wilderness, establishing property boundaries and about target audience. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Pollution: Industrial Restoration or Destruction
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode an advertisement and a webpage for messages about the impact of the impact of industrial pollution on ecosystem relationships.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Poverty: Climate Change & Water Security
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode web pages for messages about the conditions that make people living in poverty extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Economics & Social JusticeUnit: Climate Change & Water
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Protecting Our Water Resources Assessment
Media literacy and critical thinking assessment analyzing messages in videos and writing a report on the protection of water resources.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (upper elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual
30-60 Minutes
Protecting Wolves: Differing Opinions
Students analyze two webpages for messages about wolf protection and about point of view in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Race, Place & Environmental Justice After Hurricane Katrina
Students analyze a book cover for messages about race and the impacts of Hurricane Katrina and about title and imagery in book cover choices. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Merging Social Justice with Environmentalism." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Rachel Carson (Print Documents Lesson)
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to reflect on the media representation of Rachel Carson's legacy.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Chemicals in the EnvironmentMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Rachel Carson (Video Clips Lesson)
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on conflicting views on Rachel Carson's place in history.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Chemicals in the EnvironmentMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Rachel Carson: Who Controls Nature?
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about the impact of DDT on the ecosystem.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Rainforest Biodiversity
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on the impacts to rainforest biodiversity by monoculture plantations.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of the Environment: Endangered SpeciesMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Raptors in the Media
Students analyze a book cover, a magazine cover, a tweet, a poster, a website and a YouTube screen shot for messages about media forms, osprey, eagles and condors and environmental concerns.
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
15-30 Minutes
Recycling: What’s the Problem?
Students analyze a commercial and clips from documentaries for messages about recycling, its attraction to consumers and industry and its limitations.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Reforestation: Carbon Sequestration
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short excerpts from the documentary films "Green Gold" and "The Salt of the Earth" for different representations of reforestation as a means to sequester carbon and restore degraded ecosystems.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Reforestation: Three Perspectives
Students analyze a book cover and two webpages for messages about reforestation and about sponsorship of media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Refrigeration Management: A Global Solution to Reverse Global Warming
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode three videos for the impact of refrigeration gases on climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Removing Plastic from the Ocean: From Trash to Art
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short videos about artistic repurposing of plastic trash for messages about artistic expression of human impacts to the environment.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Elementary Critical Thinking Skill BuildingLower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Renewable Energy Sources - Who's Running the Numbers?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing written text, web pages and bar graphs to discern messages about renewable energy use.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Natural ResourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Rising Sea Refugees
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze short excerpts from two documentary films for different representations on the impacts of rising seas on human populations.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Saving Our Soil: Dirt or Culture?
Students analyze a book cover and a webpage for messages about soil and about values and credibility in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Science or Fiction – Does Carrying an Umbrella in a Thunderstorm Make You More Likely to be Hit by Lightning?
Students analyze a cartoon and a weather channel video for messages about whether carrying an umbrella is potentially hazardous and about credibility in Internet videos.
Upper Elementary
15-30 Minutes
Scientific Consensus: Global Warming Is Real and It's Caused by Us
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two web articles from Skeptical Science and NASA for different approaches to reporting on the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Sea Level Rise: Climate Change Impacts
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about conflicting data on the contribution of polar melting to sea level rise.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeUnit: Climate Change & Water
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Solar: Benefits and Costs
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a webpage and a magazine cover for messages about how human use of natural resources for energy affects the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Species Preservation: Seeking Solutions
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode videos for messages about how people take action to address local and global problems related to the loss of biodiversity.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Standing Rock Dakota Pipeline Controversy
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze an op-ed and a web page for conflicting perspectives on the impacts of the Dakota Access pipeline..
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Starter Kit for Science 6-12
This guide gives users a brief overview of our approach (question-based media decoding) and materials (e.g., lessons) available for free from the Project Look Sharp website for a particular level and subject.
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Constructivist Media Decoding
Media Literacy Lesson Design
Document Selection
Question Design
Science And Environment
Middle School
High School
Student Media Research Project on Sustainability
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students will complete and present a quantitative research project on media representation of sustainability.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: English Language ArtsKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and Agriculture
High School
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Suburbanization: Ordinary Places or Land Investment?
Students analyze 2 webpages for messages about land development and about values in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Sustainability Stories: Identifying Good Stories (Middle School)
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos to discern messages about how videos can tell stories to inform and engage the public about sustainability issues and initiatives.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: English Language ArtsUnit: Documenting Sustainability Stories
Unit: Video Production (Middle School)
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Sustainability Videos: Start to Finish
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students collaboratively design a short video message about a sustainability effort.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Video Production (Middle School)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Sustainability and Media: Introducing Content Analysis
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson introducing the differences between qualitative and quantitative research by decoding messages about sustainability in magazine covers.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Pair, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Sustainable Cultures
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about sustainable agricultural practices among traditional land-based cultures by analyzing web pages and videos.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Sustainable Economics
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing the relationship of economics to the sustainability of food systems by reading the work of authors presented in five periodicals.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and Agriculture
Pair, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Sustainable Food Security Systems
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing models for food security through the lenses of access, culture, employment, environment, health, ownership, scale and worker safety.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Economics & Social JusticeKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Fingerlakes
High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Teaching About Climate Change: Why Does the Source Matter?
This is a media literacy activity in which students analyze two letters for the National Science Teachers Association and the Heartland Institute for conflicting perspectives about how to teach about global climate change.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
The Consequences of Global Warming
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing news articles about the impact of global warming on hurricanes, diseases, agriculture, sea level rise, severe weather, freshwater and biodiversity.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
The End of Suburbia, 2006 Blog Page
Students analyze a blog page for messages about peak oil and about sponsorship of media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
The Precautionary Principle
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing potential costs and consequences of different responses to climate change by comparing brief text selections from four authors.
High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
The Public Trust - Doctrine Government's Role in Protecting Natural Resources for the Future
This is a media literacy activity in which students analyze two video clips for different techniques in portraying messages about young people who are suing the government to demand that it protect future generations from the impacts of global climate change.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
The Stump and Trunk of the Mammoth Tree of Calaveras, 1862 Lithograph Print
Students analyze a 19th century print for messages about harvesting ancient trees and about values in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
The Urgency of Climate Action
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze videos by Desmond Tutu and Al Gore for conflicting perspectives on the urgent need to take action to respond to climate change.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
The Value of Trees
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reflecting on the free market's role in the 19th century lumber harvest by interpreting maps and comparing texts from John Muir and John J Audubon .
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Economics in U.S. History: A Media Literacy KitMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
The Value of Water
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about threats to and protection measures for water supplies and values related to stewardship of water resources explored by decoding book covers and tables of contents.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Threatened Orangutans: Where's the Hope?
Students analyze a report cover and a webpage for messages about threatened orangutans and about purpose in media message design. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Throwaway Culture: To Buy or to Reuse?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode web videos and commercials for messages about buying disposable products vs. reusing and reducing waste.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Elementary Critical Thinking Skill BuildingUpper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Traditional and Industrial Farming
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing examples of corn and dairy farming to understand the diverse philosophies, tools and practices that distinguish traditional and industrial farming.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: FingerlakesHigh School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Transforming Environmentalism: The Origins of Environmental Justice
Students analyze a book cover for messages about the origins of the environmental justice movement and about book cover design choices. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Merging Social Justice with Environmentalism." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Transition to Renewable Energy Now
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short excerpts from a documentary film for the impacts of solar energy technologies on urban China and rural Zambia.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Transitioning to a Sustainable Future
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students will analyze models for sustainability through the lenses of social justice, climate change, fossil fuel depletion and economic systems and thereafter define and articulate their views on transitioning to a sustainable future.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and Agriculture
High School, College
Individual, Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Trophy Hunting: Conservation or Destruction?
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a poster and a webpage for messages about the impact of trophy hunting on animal species.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: BiodiversityKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Trophy Hunting: Different Views
Students analyze a poster and a webpage for messages about trophy hunting and about target audience and techniques in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Endangered Species." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Twister: A Film Decoding Activity
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reflecting on the concept of target audiences, and how messages can be crafted for a specific audience through visuals, language and sound.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
UN Sustainable Development Goals and Graphics
Students analyze icons for messages about graphic design and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Upper Elementary, Middle School
30-60 Minutes
Vaccine Safety - Exploring Our Own Biases
Students analyze two short news videos about the safety and speed of the creation of the mRNA Covid vaccine, about sourcing and credibility of the videos and the scientific information presented in them, and about their own confirmation biases.
High School, College
15-30 Minutes
Valuing Water: Different Perspectives
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a book covers and tables of content for messages about human impacts on freshwater resources.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Climate Change & WaterKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Voices Role-Play
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students will study and communicate in a role play debate the perspective of a sustainability advocate and then articulate their own opinions about the topic.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: English Language ArtsKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and Agriculture
High School
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Volcanoes: Can We Protect Cities from Lava Flows?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a National Public Radio report and a clip from a 1940s era Superman animated cartoon for messages about engineering solutions to protect cities from volcanic lava flows.
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Wa-Ba-Sha Prairie, 1855 Print
Students analyze a 19th century print for messages about prairie lands on the upper Mississippi River and about target audience in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Walden, Power and Markets: Views on Humans and the Natural World
Students analyze title pages from two 19th century books and a webpage for messages about human relationships with the natural world and about individual interpretations of media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Watershed Stakeholders
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson in which students analyze maps, videos and informational text to reflect on stakeholder interests in maintaining watersheds.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: FingerlakesHigh School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Watersheds: Stewardship & Climate Change
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode web pages messages about which strategies might be most useful to deal with climate change impacts on human communities.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Climate Change & WaterKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
What About Bottled Water?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos and TV commercials to discern messages about decisions to purchase or not purchase bottled water.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (upper elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
What Do You Know? Sourcing, Credibility and Bias
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reflecting on sourcing, credibility, accuracy and bias of information presented in the media while introducing students to vocabulary and issues addressed in Media Constructions of Sustainability lessons.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Individual, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
What Is Causing Global Warming?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing conflicting perspectives on the causes for global warming by decoding short excerpts from two films, The Great Global Warming Swindle and An Inconvenient Truth.
High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
What is the Role of the Federal Government in Protecting the Environment?
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze three short news reports for conflicting messages about the appointment of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
What's So Funny about Climate Change? Editorial Cartoon Opinions
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze six editorial cartoons for conflicting perspectives on the direness of the threat of climate change.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeUpper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Where Does My Food Come From?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos to discern messages about the production and transportation of food.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Food ChoicesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Where Does Water Go?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing videos to discern messages about the role of the hydrologic cycle in creating watersheds.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (upper elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Individual, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Where Media Literacy Meets Sustainability Education
Related to kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Fingerlakes
The webinar offers educators and teachers-in-training pedagogical techniques and curriculum materials to support constructivist media decoding to help students engage in critical thinking about the complex environmental, economic and social systems that underly sustainability.
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Constructivist Media Decoding
Assessing Credibility & Bias
Science And Environment
High School
Who Owns the Water?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson exploring how water rights decisions impact communities by decoding excerpts from four films.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Who Stewards Seeds?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson comparing varied perspectives about the best approach to stewarding corn seeds by decoding six video clips.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Food, Water, and AgricultureHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Why Protect Our Water Resources?
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing book and report covers and tables of contents to discern messages about how people impact water supplies and what individuals and communities can do to protect water resources.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Water (upper elementary)Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary
Pair, Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Wind Farm Site Selection: A Community Debates the Issues
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two op-eds for perspectives on siting local wind farms.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Wind: Benefits and Costs
Media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode a book cover and a tweet for messages about how human use of natural resources for energy affects the biosphere.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Unit: Energy SourcesKit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Middle School
Middle School
Individual, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Years of Dust, 1937 Poster
Students analyze a poster for messages about the dust bowl and about artistic design choices. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Resource Depletion." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Young People Taking Action to Protect our Warming Planet
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze four short excerpts from online articles for messages about youth activism for environmental protection and social justice.
This lesson is part of a "kit" or collection of media decoding lessons on a particular topic. You can explore that kit using the link below:
Playlist: Climate ChangeMiddle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Youth, Hip Hop & Climate Change
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short hip hop music video to compare different approaches to encourage youth activism to deal with climate change.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
“Saving the Planet With Pesticides and Plastic” Book Cover
Students analyze images of a book cover for messages about the suggested benefits of pesticides and plastics and about the ways in which publishers determine media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “History of Chemicals in the Environment." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes