2008 Economy Ads

Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding Obama and McCain television advertisements on the economy for message and technique.

Abolitionists on Film

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short film excerpts to teach about arguments for the abolition of slavery and the tactics used by abolitionists.

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,

High School Social Studies: Soviet History-Posters

Related to kit: Soviet History Through Posters: A Visual Literacy Kit

An example of leading a class through a constructivist media decoding using a lesson from our kit, Soviet History Through Posters. Students are led through a decoding of five Soviet government posters from 1918 to 1988, where they apply historical knowledge while practicing media literacy skills.

Selection of Media Documents

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Online Guide consists of a series of pull-down menus and embedded links to specific examples from existing Project Look Sharp curriculum kits and lessons, particularly those designed for community groups and broad audiences, such as the sustainability curriculum kits. These suggestions on the topic of Selection of Media Documents include sections on: selecting media formats, searching for media documents, addressing copyright issues, seeking diverse representations, tracing media sources, teaching rigorous independent and reflective thought, and do no harm.

The First Women's Rights Convention

Students analyze a National Parks Service webpage on the first women's rights convention for messages about the interconnections between 19th century social justice campaigns and about authorship and purpose. 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.

"A Long Time Ago & Today" Comic Book Panel

Students analyze a comic book panel for messages about conquistadors, Ronald Reagan's support for the El Salvadoran military and about target audience in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Friend or Foe?”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Boycott Leader Gives Human Relations Talks" Front Page

Students analyze a newspaper front page for messages about Martin Luther King, boycotts and about target audience for media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Working For Peace Working for Justice”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

"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.

"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.

"But Some of Us Are Brave" Black Women's Studies

Students analyze a book cover for messages about African American women's history and about the independent women's press. 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.

"Celebration" or "Protest"?

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson contrasting TV news representations of an incident at a mosque early in the war.

"Chemical Cuisine" Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about chemical additives in food and about target audience 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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Drum Beat for Mother Earth" Video Jacket

Students analyze a video cover for messages about persistent organic pollutants and indigenous people and about actions in response to 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.

"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.

"EPA Overturns Pesticide Ban" Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about the EPA reversing a pesticide ban and about target audience. 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.

"Essential" American Chemistry Council Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about the benefits of chemicals and about values implicit 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.

"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.

"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.

"Exposed and Ignored": Farmworkers and Pesticides

Students analyze a report cover for messages about farmworkers and pesticide exposure and about technique in cover design. 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.

"Fighting the Cancer Alley Myth", Louisiana Chemical Association Webpage

Students analyze a webpage by the Louisiana Chemical Association for messages about industry efforts to change public perceptions about cancer alley, Louisiana and about purpose in media messages. 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.

"From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act" & "Investigate Everything" Book Covers

Students analyze 2 book covers for messages about civilian dissent and government repression during wartime and about editorial design choices in 21st century book covers. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Peace or Liberty?”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

"Great Sea Victory For America" or "Awful Slaughter": Dueling Front Pages

Students analyze 2 editorial cartoons for messages about a U.S. naval assault in the the Philippine American War and about point of view in media messages. This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “Questioning Manifest Destiny”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Indigenous Rising: Stop the Pipeline" Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about Indigenous peoples' efforts to stop fossil fuel pipelines and about editorial decisions in webpage design. 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.

"It Takes Roots to Weather the Storm", Climate Justice Poster

Students analyze a poster for messages about climate justice activism and about implicit values in media messages. 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.

"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.

"Lead Paint Danger" Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about the dangers of lead paint in toys and about how media producers work to elicit emotional responses. 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.

"Louisiana Cancer Alley Residents Sue" Blog Post

Students analyze a blog post for messages about lawsuit brought be residents of cancer alley, Louisiana and about advocacy tactics used by producers of media messages. 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.

"Meet The New Americans" Webpage

Students analyze a 2010 webpage for messages about why people emigrate to the U.S. and about the purpose and funding of websites. 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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Puerto Rico Devastated From Hurricane Maria" Webpage

Students analyze a webpage for messages about the impacts of hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and about image choices for audience impact. 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.

"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.

"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.

"Science Helps Build a New India," Union Carbide Ad

Students analyze images of a 1960s magazine ad for messages about the suggested benefits of chemical fertilizers and about the impact of western science on Indian farmers. 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.

"Science in the Kitchen" Book Cover

Students analyze images of a 19th century book cover for messages about chemicals in food preparation and about target audience. 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.