All resources in Media Literacy & Digital Citizenship

Analyzing The Roots & Effects of New Imperialism Though Historical Documents of Different Perspectives

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Description: The attached unit has incorporated Media Literacy for Social Studies by scaffolding a variety of primary source document activities of varying perspectives on New Imperialism (1850-1914) which allow the studnt to identify possible bias or misinformation. The guided questions which accompany the primary sources ask the student to explain differing responses and to think critically about why those responses may be different depending on the context. 

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Emily Wilson

Let's Get Social: Analyzing Social Media Platforms

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This unit engages students in a variety of activities that analyze and reflect on the role of social media in our everyday lives. This includes options for collaborative group work, reading nonfiction articles, a design challenge and presentations to communicate ideas. The unit also includes a formal writing assessment option that aligns with the Common Core State Writing Standards. Activities can be adapted or combined in a variety of ways to support student reflection and analysis. These lessons were piloted in 9th grade English classes but are suitable or a range of secondary students. 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Lesson, Unit of Study

Author: Shana Ferguson

Identifying Media Bias in News Sources for Middle School

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Every media source has a story to tell--a driving purpose. The media that people consume largely shapes their world views. The US public is becoming more divided partially due to the consumption of increasingly biased news. As a critical consumer of media, It is important to be able to separate fact from opinion. In this unit, adapted from the high school version, students will become critical consumers of news, by identifying media bias in order to become better informed citizens.  NOTE: This unit has been adapted for use at the middle school level from the resource Identifying Media Bias in News Sources by Sandra Stroup, Sally Drendel, Greg Saum, and Heidi Morris.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Game, Homework/Assignment, Lesson Plan, Reading, Student Guide, Unit of Study

Authors: Amanda Schneider, Megan Shinn, Heidi Morris, Sally Drendel, Sandra Stroup

Identifying Media Bias in News Sources

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Identifying Media Bias in News Sources through activites using relevant news sources to answer the following essential question:Why is this important and relevant today?Students are engaging with a growing number of news sources and must develop skills to interpret what they see and hear.Media tells stories with viewpoints and biases that shape our worldviews.Students must become critical consumers of media which is essential for being an informed citizen.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Lesson Plan, Reading, Student Guide, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Sandra Stroup, Heidi Morris, Greg Saum, Sally Drendel

Our On-line Identities

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This lesson invites students to use multiple forms of media, including their own Instagram accounts, to explore their on-line identities.  The lesson culminates in a personal, visual essay.  In the essay, students will use their own images as evidence. Then, students will reason about that evidence to compare what they see on their Instagram posts to their “real world” self. Using information from resources explored in class, students will include a discussion of “authenticity” and properly weave in quotes from those resources.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: Lauren McClanahan

Remix

Info-luencer: Media Literacy and Civics

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This resource includes multiple lesson plans developed by Washington State teacher John Zingale and can be taught as part of in-person, hybrid, or remote instructional settings. The core content areas include social studies, civics, and media literacy and are designed for use with students in grades 6-12. Additional integrations include ELA, world languages, mathematics, physical education and science. These lessons integrate both state and national civics instruction using project-based and collaborative learning strategies. Features of these lessons include:student researchcollaborative learningdigital learning strategieslateral readingdesign and creation of infographicsTo support these lessons, additional resources are provided to help educators and families with understanding and teaching information and media literacy to young people. Resources include:introductions to media literacyeducator guidesparent guidesstudent learning standards

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment

Author: Mark Ray

SW Washington Media Literacy Project

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The SW Washington Media Literacy Project is a Washington State OSPI-funded grant to prototype the use of media literacy facilitators and Communities of Practice to promote media literacy instruction in K12 schools. This site documents the work and process of the project and includes resources and guidance to allow other schools or districts to replicate this model of professional learning and support.

Material Type: Case Study, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Mark Ray

Year-Long Cohort Professional Development Plan: Integrating Media Literacy Education Across a District

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This document aims to provide support and guidance in developing and implementing a district-wide year-long professional development cohort to support media literacy education integration. This plan includes advice for developing objectives and outcomes for the project, implementing appropriate professional development to support teams in their work, and providing reflection opportunities at the end of the year. The ultimate goal is to encorage and support integration of media literacy concepts in all buildings and classrooms.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Jamie Sproul, Sharyn Merrigan

Media Literacy and SEL through K-5 Book Boxes

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A team of teachers at Centennial Elementary School in Olympia, WA, developed book boxes to share across the school each month centered on identifying feelings and developing empathy for others. Each month one or two picture book titles are paired with a Word of the Month. The media literacy teacher team developed materials, including a presentation slideshow, a video read-aloud, and discussion questions. The principal and teachers share the books with students, facilitating discussions for students to identify their own feelings and develop a toolbox for regulating emotions. Students use a Likert scale, developed by Jennifer LaGarde and Darren Hudgins, to identify emotional responses and develop vocabulary to describe and deal with their feelings. Titles and SEL connections are shared with families through the school newsletter.Centennial Media Literacy Teacher Team:Heather Slater, teacher-librarianJennifer KnightLuci StaffordAdam PearceShannon Ritter, principal

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Unit of Study

Authors: Sharyn Merrigan, Jamie Sproul

Media Literacy Symposium

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Staff at Avanti HS in Olympia, WA, organized and full-day media literacy symposium for their students. They invited community members to present on various aspects of media and communications. Students signed up for 45-minute sessions throughout the day. At the end of the day, students gathered in their advisory classes to debrief and share highlights.The project was part of the Digital Immersion Initiative 2.0 in the Olympia School District and funded in part by a Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.The materials provided here were posted with the permission of the AHS staff members who created them.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Sharyn Merrigan, Jamie Sproul

Responding to Media Triggers

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In this 5th grade library lesson, students examine three images about year-round school and identify their initial emotional responses using a Likert scale, developed by Jennifer LaGarde and Darren Hudgins. They are then given the opportunity to read more about each image and discuss how that changes their response. In part 3, they write a paragraph about how the addition of information changes their emotional responses and whether or not they would share the image and why.Shared by the LPBrown Elementary Media Literacy Teacher Team:Brandi Appelgate, teacher-librarianCarolyn Balderston, instructional coachErin Bernier, 1st grade teacher Nina Woodhouse, 2nd grade teacherTony Perez, 5th grade teacherSean Shaughnessy, principal

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Sharyn Merrigan, Jamie Sproul

Getting Started with Digital Agency

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As we move forward in an age of generative Artificial Intelligence, it's more important than ever to ensure students develop positive habits that keep them informed, safe, and responsible when interacting with technology. Beginning with Washington State education standards, our Digital Literacy team curated learning materials for teachers K-12 to integrate into their curriculum. The linked resource provides classroom teachers with standards-aligned resources for teaching digital agency by grade level. Linked resources are a specially curated list of free lessons available to anyone. We have also suggested a content area connection for each lesson to foster integration across the content areas rather than a stand-alone focus on digital agency.   

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Natalie Boyle, Angela May, Donna Squires, Stacey Martin

Media and Literacy Curriculum by Grade

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Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship Curriculum by Grade. Curriculum created for grade level and content area teachers that have limited knowledge in these topics. Lessons are for one hour or less and include small blocks of material. Topics include Cyberbullying, Media Literacy, Digital Footprint, Privacy, and Media Balance.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Brian Saul

Analyzing Historical Documents over Time: Fishing Rights 1854-Present

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This inquiry provides students the opportunity to analyze the attitudes and beliefs of different time periods using Treaties made between the Territory of Washington and Native American tribes. Students will investigate the intentions behind the treaties of 1854-1855 to determine if the ideals were met or not.  Then they will look into how Native Americans used the treaties in 1960-70’s to establish themselves as different from Washington State citizens and as a way to remain “Indian.”  This inquiry is meant to challenge students to analyze the intentions of documents and to predict how they could be seen or used in the future. Students will need to have a solid background on native American cultures and traditions as well as an understanding of manifest destiny to accurately comprehend the results of the treaties recommendations are written below on how this might be done and focusses. The unit will come to a close when students write an argumentative essay using evidence and counterargument to address how documents can be used differently throughout time. 

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Elizabeth Allen