News & Media Literacy

What should you do if you see something strange on the internet? This video could initiate the discussion about when to get help from an adult you trust if something unexpected happens online.

How do we find a happy balance between our online and offline activities?

Students consider the feelings of themselves and others when making decisions about when, where, and how much to use technology.

Lesson Slides Student Handout

How can you give credit for other people's work?

With so much information at our fingertips, students learn what it means to "give credit" when using content they find online. Taking on the role of a detective, students learn why it's important to give credit and the right ways to do it when they use words, images, or ideas that belong to others.

Student Handout

Why do people alter digital photos and videos?

It's often hard to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake. Help your students ask critical questions about why someone might alter a photo or video in the first place.

Student Handout

Break the Fake: See if you can tell which of these animal images are real, and which are fake!

What rights and responsibilities do you have as a creator?

It's common for kids to use images they find online, for school projects or just for fun. But kids don't often understand which images are OK to use and which ones aren't. Help your students learn about the rights and responsibilities they have when it comes to the images they create and use.

Student Handout

What are the important parts of an online news article?

Kids find and read news in lots of different ways. But studies show they're not very good at interpreting what they see. How can we help them get better? Teaching your students about the structure of online news articles is an important place to start.

Student Handout 1 Student Handout 2

Ignition: Digital Wellness and Safety is a digital literacy curriculum designed to provide students with the information they need to safely and confidently navigate the digital world. Lessons include Community, Safety and Privacy, Screen Time, Digital Data, Digital Responsibility and Rights, and Evaluating Online Content

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*Review Responsible Use Agreement with all students.

In the game A Day in the Life of the Jos, students help the brother and sister team Jo and Josie with situations they encounter online as they go about a typical day in their lives. Topics include: defusing drama (cyberbullying), data privacy, privacy and reputation, privacy ethics, authenticating online information.

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*Review Responsible Use Agreement with all students.

How should we react to breaking news?

With mobile phone alerts, social media updates, and 24/7 news cycles, it's hard to escape the daily flood of breaking news. Help students analyze breaking news with a critical eye for false or incomplete information, and discuss the downsides of our "always-on" news media culture.

Student Handout