WHAT IS IT: 3 Lessons on media literacy with The Achievery
FOR STUDENTS: Adaptable for all ages
WHAT YOU LEARN: Media Literacy

Have you ever fallen for fake news on the internet?

I fully believed Wyoming was not a real place, that it was illegal to have the interior light on while driving, that you could catch Mew in Pokémon Red and Blue, and cracking my knuckles would cause arthritis—all until I was an adult.

Media literacy is a crucial skill that helps students navigate online resources and discern fact from fiction. And students can learn to critically evaluate media content with three Achievery lessons from Media Smarts and ISTE that equip students with tools to become media trained, safe, and literate digital citizens.  

The Achievery is a free online learning platform created by AT&T. It includes lessons and videos from Urban Arts, Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network, Scratch, and more, and you can discover over 700 video lessons and worksheets aligned to nationally-recognized academic standards. All lessons are reviewed by curriculum experts to be age-appropriate for K-12 students, and there are lessons in ELA, Coding, Digital Arts, Technology, Math & Science.

These lessons can be used at home or in the classroom, and while they have suggested age ranges, they can be adapted for all ages. The suggested series of lessons below take students from building their skills in media literacy and verifying information to putting their skills into practice by becoming broadcasters.

Media Literacy by Media Smarts

Here’s a fun way to kick off this lesson: To begin and to keep the conversation relatable, ask your students if there are popular places they enjoy eating. Have they ever noticed the food sometimes looks different in restaurant ads? In this lesson students learn to verify the authenticity of information they encounter online. They analyze images to see if they’re real, and learn to trace origins through reverse image searches and source verification techniques. 

Break the Fake by Media Smarts

This lesson has messages for all ages. Like the lesson above, students explore the tricks used by media professionals to make products appear more appealing. This lesson not only sharpens students’ analytical skills but also helps build an understanding of how digital media can shape perceptions.

We Are All Broadcasters by ISTE

In this final lesson, students learn about their role as both consumers and creators of media. While the lesson plan is geared to high school students, the message is important for all students and can be differentiated for younger age groups, including elementary school, by choosing issues, search terms, and games relevant to your students.

In We Are All Broadcasters students explore the responsibilities that come with sharing information online and the impact their posts can have. Using case studies of false information on the internet, students develop a deeper appreciation for responsible social posts and the importance of accuracy in their own communications.

Make sure to: Sign Up For The Achievery Here!
—Matthew Taylor, Professional Learning Specialist, Urban Arts