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.

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.

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.

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.

2016 Ensuring Voting Rights

Media literacy and critical thinking activity decoding news videos about voting rights for message, point of view, credibility and bias.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

6 Key Concepts in Media Analysis

Key concepts to be aware of to practice critical thinking when evaluating media messages.

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.

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.

A Media Chronology

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about Dr. King's public accomplishments and their representation in the media.

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.

A Pair of Portraits

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson comparing portraits of George Washington and King George.

A Revolution in Iran

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reviewing the history of U.S./Iranian relations by analyzing Time magazine covers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

African Money

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing messages about African countries by examining images in currency.

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.

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.

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.

Ageism in Advertising: Promoting or Countering Stereotypes?

Students analyze television commercials for messages about stereotypes and counter-stereotypes of elders.

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.

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.

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.

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.

America: Through Music Videos

Students analyze excerpts from music videos about America for messages about identity, media forms and historical and cultural context.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Animals and Images: What do you See?

Students analyze different types of images for messages about image forms and about reptiles, amphibians and dinosaurs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Birth of the USSR

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using posters to teach about the origins of the Soviet Union.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Boston Tea Party

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson about primary and secondary source representations of the Boston Tea Party.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carry Me to Freedom

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short song excerpts to compare musical forms carrying abolitionist messages.

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.

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.

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.

Challenging Homophobia

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short song excerpts to reflect on messages about gay liberation and resistance to homophobia.

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.

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.

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.

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.