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Your Search Results (972)
2016 Balancing Facebook Viewpoints
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding Blue Feed/Red Feed posts about the outcome of the 2016 election for sources, bias and interpretation.
High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
2016 Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding videos about the candidacies of Shirley Chisholm and Hillary Clinton for message, historical context, target audience and technique.
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 Campaigning Leading to Fear
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding website images and text from articles about the suggestion that Donald Trump's candidacy causes fear among students for message, sourcing, credibility and bias.
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
2016 Constructing Candidate Biography
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton film biographies for messages, point of view and target audience.
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
2016 Ensuring Voting Rights
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding news videos about voting rights for message, point of view, credibility and bias.
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
2016 Explaining the Result
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding TV news clips explaining the outcome of the 2016 election for point of view, credibility and interpretation.
High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
2016 Meaning in Memes
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding memes about the 2016 election for the impact of social media forms and interpretation.
High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 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
2016 Satirizing Women Candidates
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding political cartoons about the Hillary Clinton and Victoria Woodhull campaigns for message, historical context and purpose.
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
15-30 Minutes
2016 Targeting Messages on Immigration
Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding two Donald Trump speeches on immigration for message, target audience and rhetorical technique.
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 PresidencyPlaylist: Global Studies
High School
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
6 Key Concepts in Media Analysis
Key concepts to be aware of to practice critical thinking when evaluating media messages.
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Constructivist Media Decoding
A Deeper Sense of Literacy
Related to kit: Media Constructions of War: A Critical Reading of History
Basic principles and best practices for using a curriculum-driven approach are described, with specific examples from social studies, English/Language arts, math, science, health, and art, along with methods of assessment used to address effectiveness in the classroom. By Cyndy Scheibe, American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 48 No. 1, September 2004.
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Critical Thinking And The News
Assessing Credibility & Bias
Question Design
Lesson Conception
Social Studies
English Language Arts
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 Media Chronology
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about Dr. King's public accomplishments and their representation in the media.
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 Martin Luther King, Jr.Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
A Native American Views Immigrants Editorial Cartoon
Students analyze an editorial cartoon for messages about who is an immigrant and about the use of irony in editorial cartoons. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “The Law of Immigration." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
A Pair of Portraits
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson comparing portraits of George Washington and King George.
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 BuildingKit: Causes of the American Revolution
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
A Revolution in Iran
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reviewing the history of U.S./Iranian relations by analyzing Time 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:
Playlist: Global StudiesUnit: Militant Muslims and the U.S.
Kit: Media Constructions of the Middle East
High School, College
Pair, 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
Abolitionist Tactics for Freedom
Students analyze a poster warning of slave catchers and a lithograph print of Henry "Box" Brown who successfully escaped from enslavement for messages about abolitionist organizing tactics and about target audience for abolitionist media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Arguing For Freedom”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Abolitionist Trading Cards
Students analyze abolitionist trading cards for messages about the nature of identity and family under enslavement and about the creation of creative media forms to oppose slavery. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Arguing For Freedom”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Abortion Rights: What does the Button Say?
Students analyze six buttons for messages about pro-choice and pro-life arguments and about buttons as a media form designed to persuade. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Claiming Feminist Identities." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Activity Name 1
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode (name the media document type) for messages about (name the core content information or literacy skills).
College
Group - Small (3-5 Members)
30-60 Minutes
Additional Practice Videos for First Grade
A set of 10 video advertisements for children's toys and breakfast cereals with decoding prompts for messages about target audience, advertising tricks and disclaimers.
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: First Grade LessonsKit: Critical Thinking & Health: Nutrition and TV Commercials
Lower Elementary
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Additional Practice Videos for Kindergarten
A set of 11 video advertisements for children's toys and breakfast cereals with decoding prompts for messages about target audience, advertising tricks and disclaimers.
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: Kindergarten LessonsKit: Critical Thinking & Health: Nutrition and TV Commercials
Lower Elementary
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Advertiser's Power of Persuasion - Animals
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing print advertisements and public service messages about dogs and endangered species. Writing scripts for ads or public service announcements promoting actions to protect animals.
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
Advertiser's Power of Persuasion - Fruits & Vegetables
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing print advertisements and public service messages about carrot-related food products and writing scripts for ads or public service announcements promoting healthy eating habits.
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
Advertiser's Power of Persuasion - Water
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing print advertisements and public service messages about bottled water and vitamin water and writing scripts for ads or public service announcements promoting their water consumption design for a healthy body, budget and earth.
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 (lower elementary)
Kit: Media Constructions of Sustainability: Lower Elementary
Lower Elementary
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
Over 60 Minutes
Advertising Targeting LGBTQ Consumers
Students analyze an advertisement for messages about LGBTQ consumers as a target group for advertisers and about LGBTQ affirmative symbols. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Out and Affirmed." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
African Money
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing messages about African countries by examining images in currency.
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 BuildingKit: Introducing Africa: Critical Thinking and Media Literacy
Upper Elementary
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 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
After War Begins
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to reflect on choices for peacemaking during the Iraq War, especially among those serving in the military.
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: Iraq WarKit: Media Constructions of Peace
Middle School, High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
After the War: Civil Rights
Students analyze two posters from the mid-1940s for messages about the origins of the civil rights/Black freedom movement and about historical context. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Challenging White Supremacy." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Ageism in Advertising: Promoting or Countering Stereotypes?
Students analyze television commercials for messages about stereotypes and counter-stereotypes of elders.
Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 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
Alchemist or Chemist? Two Painters' Views
Students analyze images of paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries for messages about early chemists and about why someone might pay to commission paintings. 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
All You Need is Love: The Beatles in Music and Film
Students analyze excerpts from a documentary, an animated film and a video of a music performance, all centering on the song “All You Need Is Love,” for messages about artistic expression, historical context and interpretation.
Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College
30-60 Minutes
Am I Not a Man and a Brother?
Students analyze an anti-slavery graphic image from 1850 and a 2009 Google image search return for "Abolition of Slavery" for messages about the nature of enslaved Africans and about the resonance of iconic abolitionist imagery. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Arguing For Freedom”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
America: Through Music Videos
Students analyze excerpts from music videos about America for messages about identity, media forms and historical and cultural context.
Middle School, High School, College
30-60 Minutes
American Rifleman: Message Shifting Over Time
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze covers from American Rifleman magazine from the 1970s, 1990s and 2010s for messages about changing target audience.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
An Assessment of Student Critical Thinking Skills
This describes a high school level assessment of media literacy and metacognitive skills in which students examine a YouTube video, excerpts from an opinion article, and a webpage screenshot about GMOs and answer questions about media messages, authorship, purpose, bias, credibility and how the students’ own biases impact their analysis.
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Media Literacy And Critical Thinking Integration
Constructivist Media Decoding
Media Literacy Lesson Design
Youth Culture And New Technologies
Critical Thinking And The News
Assessing Credibility & Bias
Document Selection
Question Design
Lesson Elements
Lesson Conception
Analyzing the Roots of Terrorism
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson exploring possible reasons for militant Muslim attacks on the west by analyzing and comparing four editorial writings, a speech by President George W Bush and an interview with Osama bin Laden.
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: The U.S. at War and Peace: American Revolution to the War in IraqUnit: Militant Muslims and the U.S.
Kit: Media Constructions of the Middle East
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Ancient Chemists - Anasazi Basketmaker & Mimbres Potter
Students analyze images of an Anasazi woven basket and a Mimbres ceramic bowl for messages about chemistry in ancient media forms. 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
Ancient Egypt - Ancient Media?
In this media literacy activity students analyze images of things found in ancient Egypt to determine which might be considered media and to explore how the cultural characteristics of places change over time.
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Ancient Nubia & Ancient Egypt: What’s the Story?
In this media literacy activity students analyze two film clips for messages about the ancient Egyptians and Kushites, the role of racism in archaeology and storytelling choices in documentary film.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Animals and Images: What do you See?
Students analyze different types of images for messages about image forms and about reptiles, amphibians and dinosaurs.
Lower Elementary
Under 15 Minutes
Anti-Chinese Labor Party Poster
Students analyze an 1879 anti-Chinese labor party poster for messages about Chinese immigrant workers and about racism in the early labor movement. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Which Side Are You On?” To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Anti-Semitism: Then and Now
This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze a poster, a tweet and an editorial cartoon for messages about anti-Semitism.
High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Anti-Suffrage Editorial Cartoon
Students analyze an anti-suffrage cartoon for messages about point of view and pro-suffrage tactics. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Hear Our Voices”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Anti-Suffrage Media Forms and Arguments
Students analyze a poster, an editorial card and a stereo card for messages about media forms used to further anti-suffrage arguments. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Hear Our Voices”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 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
Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace
Students analyze excerpts from a documentary and a TV mini-series about Aretha Franklin singing “Amazing Grace” for messages about artistic expression and the impact on individuals and society.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Arguing For Freedom
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using diverse media imagery to teach about the history of the movement to abolish slavery in the United States in the early and mid-19th 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: Abolition of SlaveryKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Arguing For Freedom
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using diverse media imagery to teach about the history of the movement to abolish slavery in the United States in the early and mid-19th century.
Middle School, High School, College
30-60 Minutes, Over 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
Asian American and Pacific Islander History and Culture: Representation and Authorship
Students analyze short videos for messages about Asian American and Pacific Islander histories and cultures and their representation.
Middle School, High School, College
30-60 Minutes
Assessing Carbon Footprints
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing the carbon footprint implications for various products using short readings and "green" advertisements culminating in student reflection on personal consumer choice as it relates to 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: Climate ChangeHigh School, College
Whole Class
Over 60 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
Baby Shark: Introducing Analysis Skills
Students analyze the viral video “Baby Shark” to practice observation, link evidence to a document, assess what is true and not about sharks, and reflect on the credibility of media messages.
Lower Elementary
15-30 Minutes
Background History: Conflicting Timelines
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson exploring bias in the representation of late 20th century Iraqi history in historical timelines created by the US State Department and People Judge Bush.
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: War in Iraq: Whose Voice, Whose Story?Kit: Media Constructions of the Middle East
High School, College
Pair, Group - Small (3-5 Members), 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
Beautiful Women: Body Image Affirmation
Students analyze a poster for messages about body image and identities and about purpose and sponsorship of media creation. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Claiming Feminist Identities." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 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
Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl
Students analyze a 19th century magazine cover for messages about labor conditions for women working in sweathops and about editorial techniques to reach an audience. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Which Side Are You On?” To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Betty Friedan & "The Feminine Mystique"
Students analyze book covers for messages about feminist analysis of gender norms and about how historical context influences editorial decisions. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Claiming Feminist Identities." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Beyond Vietnam: Dr. King Opposes the War
Students analyze a webpage for messages about Dr. Martin Luther King's opposition to the Vietnam War and about historical context and producer intent in media messages .This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Peace is the Way”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
Middle School, High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Bhopal, Disaster and Corporate Responsibility
Students analyze a magazine cover, a poster and an advertisement for messages about corporate responsibility, toxic leaks 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
Bias in School Curriculum: News Report or Analysis?
Students analyze a news report and news analysis about bias in school curriculum and about how their own biases influence their interpretations and responses.
High School, College
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
Birmingham: Foot Soldiers and Police Dogs
Students analyze an iconic photo and a sculpture for messages about police attacks on demonstrators and about media document purpose. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Challenging White Supremacy." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Birth of the USSR
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using posters to teach about the origins of the Soviet Union.
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: The Birth of the USSRKit: Soviet History Through Posters: A Visual Literacy Kit
High School, College
Whole Class
Bisexual Resource Center Webpage
Students analyze a web page for messages about bisexuality and about the use of visual symbols to convey identity. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Out and Affirmed." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Black Identity
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using excerpts from four songs to reflect on the meaning of black identity in the black freedom/civil rights movement.
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: Black Freedom/Civil RightsKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
30-60 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
Black Panther Party For Self Defense
Students analyze newspaper images for messages about the Black Panthers and about the independent Black press. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Challenging White Supremacy." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
High School, College
Under 15 Minutes
Blowing the Whistle On Big Tobacco Propaganda
In this media literacy activity students analyze a cigarette ad, an excerpt from an investigative documentary, a clip from a TV news program and a clip from a dramatic feature film for messages about the tobacco industry’s efforts to mislead the public about the health consequences of smoking.
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Bob Dylan: Storytelling for Social Justice
In this media literacy activity students analyze video clips from feature film and documentary film for messages about songwriting and social protest.
High School, College
Whole Class
15-30 Minutes
Boston Tea Party
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about primary and secondary source representations of the Boston Tea Party.
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: The U.S. at War and Peace: American Revolution to the War in IraqKit: Causes of the American Revolution
Upper Elementary, Middle School
Whole Class
15-30 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
Breaking Silence About the AIDS Crisis
Students analyze a poster for messages about breaking the silence about the AIDS crisis and about art in social justice movements. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Out and Affirmed." To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.
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
COVID-19 and the Economy: Conflicting Priorities
In this media literacy activity students analyze two opinion pieces for messages about how to manage the economy during a global health crisis.
High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Can You Judge A Book by its Cover?
Students analyze pairs of different covers for the same children’s book for messages about techniques, purpose and target audience.
Upper Elementary
15-30 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
Carry Me to Freedom
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short song excerpts to compare musical forms carrying abolitionist messages.
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: Abolition of SlaveryKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), 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
Censoring Seuss: Cancel Culture or Cultural Respect?
Students evaluate pages from Dr. Seuss books that were removed by the family for perpetuating stereotypes and then analyze a tweet and replies that includes support and criticism for censoring those images - discussing both the issues and the civility of the comments.
High School, College
30-60 Minutes
Cereal Commercials
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson introducing the concept of a "complete breakfast," identifying packaging clues about sugar in cereal and recognizing tricks in the construction of breakfast cereal commercials.
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: Kindergarten LessonsKit: Critical Thinking & Health: Nutrition and TV Commercials
Lower Elementary
Pair, Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
15-30 Minutes, 30-60 Minutes
Challenging Homophobia
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short song excerpts to reflect on messages about gay liberation and resistance to homophobia.
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: Gay LiberationKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Pair, Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Challenging White Supremacy
Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using diverse media imagery to teach about the history of the black freedom/civil rights movement in the United States.
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: Black Freedom/Civil RightsKit: Media Constructions of Social Justice
Middle School, High School, College
Whole Class
30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes
Changing Our Media Habits: The Impact of the Pandemic
In this media literacy activity students analyze charts, graphs and illustrations for messages about media consumption changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Middle School, High School, College
Group - Small (3-5 Members), Whole Class
30-60 Minutes
Charting Media Coverage of War: Israel/Palestine
Students analyze charts with text excerpts from articles for messages about bias in media coverage of the Israel Hamas war, to analyze the bias in the construction of the charts, and to reflect on their own interpretations.
High School, College
30-60 Minutes
Checking the Facts: Media Literacy and Democracy
By integrating the process of critical questioning of media messages into the everyday classroom curriculum, we can help produce a citizenry with the skills needed to negotiate future threats to truth.