ACT Awareness and Critical Thinking Activities for Teaching about Misinformation in Grades K-5
WELCOME to ACT, a flexible set of interconnected K-5 lessons and activities that help students learn how to detect, avoid, and resist online misinformation.
With special attention to building the foundational skills and knowledge that enable more sophisticated analysis in the upper grades, ACT focuses on seven overlapping areas:
1. Habits of Inquiry
2. Words (& Feelings) to Watch Out For
3. Facts and Frames
4. Search and Choose
5. Fake versus Fantasy
6. What is News?
7. Share, Challenge, Report, or Skip?
For each of these areas there are routines – suggestions for slight shifts in existing practice that allow you to integrate and reinforce basic information literacy concepts and skills.
There are also recommended activities for students at different developmental stages, skill, and grade levels. With a few clearly designated exceptions, activities can be done in any order and across the school year.
Save time by taking a look at this summary of activity design, pedagogical approach, and tips for implementation. A quick read will help you use the activities effectively and avoid potential pitfalls.
© Awareness & Critical Thinking (ACT) Program, Texas Woman’s University, 2024 was developed by Dr. Faith Rogow, InsightersEducation.com as part of the ACT Program led by Dr. Tara Zimmerman, Texas Woman’s University. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, IMLS grant #2023-057. Educational use is encouraged. All media examples are either public domain or protected by fair use. Requests to re-publish, duplicate, or distribute any ACT document outside of educational settings or for profit should be directed to Dr. Zimmerman.