At a Glance:
| Grades: | 6, 7, 8 |
|---|---|
| Subject: | ELA (English Language Arts); Social Studies |
| Topic: | Credibility and Accuracy of Sources |
| Lesson Length: | 45 mins - 1 hour |
Standards / Framework:
What will students learn in this activity?
These days, we are burdened with the task of filtering out this “noise” so that we can get to the heart of matters and not be distracted by loud, preference-driven commentary. Use this lesson to promote critical thinking and introspection among your students.
What should students know before this activity?
This lesson provides a great way to engage students in discussions about current events. Terms to know: credible, discern, bias, verify.
How can teachers introduce this lesson?
- Read and discuss the sample comic.
- Share a recent fake news story and ask students to share their views on why or why not the story should be trusted.
What will students do?
- Have students create a brief comic demonstrating how their own feelings could improperly affect a news story meant to inform.
- Is it difficult or easy to recognize unconscious bias?
- What is the difference between fact and opinion?
- What is the danger of misleading your audience?
How can teachers wrap up the lesson?
- Have students share their comics with the whole class or in small groups.
- Have students explain what they will do the next time they see or hear a news story.
How can teachers differentiate this activity?
- Provide students with a news story.
- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
Related Resources:
- Comic to print or display: Comic.
- Article: How to Spot Fake News (and Teach Kids to be Media-Savvy.)
- Video: How to Spot Fake News.
News Station
