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  • Lessons (33)
  • Professional Development (0)

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

Students analyze Paul Revere’s account of his midnight ride, Longfellow’s poem and a YouTube video to consider context and sourcing in recounting an historic event.

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Upper Elementary, Middle School

30-60 Minutes

Informational Text, Literature, Web Video
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Film/Video Arts, Music, US History, Sociology, Library/Information Literacy, ELA/English Language Arts

The Boston Massacre: A Bloody Slaughter or Self Defense?

Students analyze Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre, a newspaper account by the imprisoned British commander, a sworn deposition by an eyewitness, and the court testimony of another eyewitness to learn about sourcing, bias, and credibility in historical sources.

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Middle School, High School

30-60 Minutes

Illustration, Informational Text, Literature, News - Print
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, US History And Government, US History, Sociology, Library/Information Literacy

Picturing the Underground Railroad: Historical Context Through Book Covers

Students analyze three book covers to understand historical context, to reflect on how identity impacts interpretation, and to discuss the role of media makers in crafting historical representations.

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Middle School, High School, College

15-30 Minutes

Illustration, Literature, Photograph
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, US History, Civics And Government, Sociology, Library/Information Literacy, ELA/English Language Arts

Claiming Feminist Identities

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using diverse media imagery to teach about the history of the late 20th century women's liberation movement in the U.S.

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Middle School, High School, College

30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes

Editorial Cartoon, Illustration, Informational Text, Literature, Photograph, Poster
Subject Areas
Health, Psychology, Visual Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, Journalism, US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, Sociology

Exploring Genres Through Book Covers - Upper Elementary

Students analyze book covers for messages about literary genres and compare texts in different genres in terms of their approach to similar topics.

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Upper Elementary, Middle School

15-30 Minutes

Illustration, Literature
Subject Areas
Commercial Arts/Advertising, Consumer Education, General Media Literacy, Library/Information Literacy, ELA/English Language Arts

The Murders of Osage Indians: Media Forms, Qualities, and Credibility

Students will explore how different media forms represent the history of the Osage murders, the credibility of sources, and their own preferences.

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Middle School, High School, College

30-60 Minutes

Feature Film, Illustration, Informational Text, Literature, Magazine, News - Print, Photograph, Social Media, Television Program, Webpage, Web Video
Subject Areas
Film/Video Arts, Journalism, Civics And Government, Sociology, General Media Literacy, Library/Information Literacy, ELA/English Language Arts

Origins of Hip Hop: Considering "The Message"

Students analyze song lyrics, a music video and an excerpt from a documentary for messages about the origins of hip hop as reflected in the song, “The Message.”

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Middle School, High School, College

15-30 Minutes

Documentary Film, Television Program, Music/song, Web Video, Literature, Music/song
Subject Areas
Film/Video Arts, Music, US History, Sociology, ELA/English Language Arts

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.

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Middle School, High School, College

30-60 Minutes, Over 60 Minutes

Illustration, Informational Text, Literature, News - Print, Poster
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, Journalism, US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, Economics, Sociology

A Media Chronology

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

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Middle School, High School, College

Over 60 Minutes

Illustration, Informational Text, Literature, Music/song, News - Print, Photograph, Poster, Speech, Web Video
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Film/Video Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, Music, Journalism, US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, Sociology, General Media Literacy, Library/Information Literacy

Columbus “Discovers” America: What’s The Story?

Students analyze three illustrations for messages about Columbus and the Tainos, and reflect on changing perspectives on history.

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Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College

15-30 Minutes

Illustration, Literature, Poster
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, US History And Government, Civics And Government, Global Studies, Sociology, General Media Literacy, Library/Information Literacy, ELA/English Language Arts

Declaration of Independence

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing rights and grievances in the Declaration of Independence.

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Upper Elementary, Middle School

15-30 Minutes

Informational Text, Literature
Subject Areas
US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, ELA/English Language Arts

Incan Religion – What Sources Should I Use?

In this media literacy activity students analyze excerpts from different media documents – a young adult fiction book, a Wikipedia article, a Twinkl education page, a magazine article, a tourism webpage, a documentary film and an animated children’s film – to assess the credibility and usefulness of each source for research on Incan religion.

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Upper Elementary, Middle School

30-60 Minutes

Animated Film, Blog Post, Documentary Film, Informational Text, Literature, Magazine
Subject Areas
Global Studies, General Media Literacy, Library/Information Literacy, ELA/English Language Arts

Phillis Wheatley's Poem

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing a poem about freedom and slavery during the American Revolution.

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Upper Elementary, Middle School

30-60 Minutes

Literature
Subject Areas
US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, ELA/English Language Arts

Rachel Carson (Print Documents Lesson)

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson using four short informational writing excerpts to reflect on the media representation of Rachel Carson's legacy.

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Middle School, High School, College

30-60 Minutes

Editorial Opinion, News - Print
Subject Areas
Health, Psychology, Journalism, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Environmental Studies, Sociology, ELA/English Language Arts

The Value of Trees

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson reflecting on the free market's role in the 19th century lumber harvest by interpreting maps and comparing texts from John Muir and John J Audubon .

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Middle School, High School, College

30-60 Minutes

Informational Text, Literature, Map
Subject Areas
Life Sciences, Environmental Studies, US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, Economics, Sociology, ELA/English Language Arts

Three Speeches

Media literacy and critical thinking lesson analyzing three of Dr. King's speeches for content, literary devices and presentation form.

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Middle School, High School, College

Over 60 Minutes

Speech, Web Video
Subject Areas
Film/Video Arts, US History And Government, US History, Civics And Government, Sociology, ELA/English Language Arts

U.S. History Textbooks Messages About Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Students analyze excerpts from two U.S, history textbooks for messages about President Truman's decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan and about author's point of view in media messages . This simple decoding activity has been taken from a larger lesson with many slides titled “For Peace or Against Oppression?”. To access this lesson, type the title with quotes into the PLS keyword search bar.

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Middle School, High School, College

Under 15 Minutes

Informational Text, Literature
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, Journalism, US History, Civics And Government, Sociology

"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.

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Middle School, High School, College

Under 15 Minutes

Illustration, Literature
Subject Areas
Visual Arts, Commercial Arts/Advertising, Journalism, US History, Civics And Government, Sociology

Dealing with Invasive Species: Different Approaches

Students analyze a webpage and a book cover for messages about invasive species and sponsorship and purpose 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.

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Middle School, High School, College

Under 15 Minutes

Illustration, Literature, Webpage
Subject Areas
Environmental Studies, General Media Literacy

"Tropical Rainforest" Book Cover

Students analyze a book cover for messages about rainforest protection and about credibility 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.

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Middle School, High School, College

Under 15 Minutes

Literature
Subject Areas
Environmental Studies, General Media Literacy