MEDIA LITERACY
Fact, Opinion, or Misrepresentation?
GRADE
5-6
Teacher Guidelines
Instructional Pages
Activity Page
Practice Page
Homework Page
Answer Key
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pages 1 – 2
pages 3 – 6
pages 7
page 8
page 9
pages 10 – 12
Classroom Procedure:
1. Display the following question: What is media?
2. Allow for response and discussion. Ask the students:
Can you trust everything you read online? Headlines
are titles of articles. Pick the headline that is one to a
real story: 1) A Ghost Is Caught Stealing Bagels From A
Local Bakery 2) 101 - Year - Old Man Finishes Marathon
3) Werewolf Buys $500 Glasses So He Can See The
Moon
3. Allow for response and discussion. Introduce the Media
Literacy content page to the class.
4. Distribute the Media Literacy: Fact, Opinion, or
Misrepresentation? Content page. Read and review the
information with the students. Save the final questions
for the lesson closing. Use the Additional Resources to
enhance understanding in and out of the classroom.
5. Distribute the Activity page. Read and review the
instructions. Allow time for completion.
6. Once completed, have students share their answers
with the class.
7. Distribute the Practice page. Check and review the
students’ responses.
8. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and
review the students’
responses.
9. In closing, ask the students: Why is it important to
understand the media and what you read online? Why
should you be careful when you post on social media?
10. Allow for response and discussion.
Lesson Title: Media Literacy: Fact, Opinion,
or Misrepresentation?
Subject: Language Arts
Approximate Grade Level: 5th and 6th
Objectives: Students will learn about the
different media outlets that touch their lives
daily. Students will learn that they cannot trust
everything they see or read online. Students
will learn how to distinguish facts from fiction
and how to use media positively. Students will
be able to explain how the media helps them
understand a specific topic.
State Educational Standards*
LB.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.2,
LB.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.3, &
LB.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.8
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
2 class sessions
Teaching Materials / Worksheets: Media
Literacy Content page (3), Activity page (2),
Practice page (2), and the Homework page
(3).
Student Supplies: Pencils, pens, paper,
access to the internet, computer devices
such as a tablet, laptop, desktop, or phone
Prepare Ahead of Time: Copy handouts.
Options for Lesson: Students love playing
interactive games on the internet! One favorite
is Jeopardy. Go to Factile at https://www.
playfactile.com/factandopinion17 or Room
Recess at https://www.roomrecess.com/mobile/
FactAndOpinion/play.html and enjoy these easy
to play classroom games. Jeopardy Labs at
https://jeopardylabs.com/play/fact-and-opinion4
has several interactive games as well.
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.
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Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces students to the importance of media literacy. Students will learn how to determine
if the information is credible. If the sources of the story are reliable, they can be trusted. As part of the
learning activities, students will begin to learn how online posts can be misinterpreted and potentially
damage a person’s character and integrity.
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Media Literacy: Fact, Opinion, or Misrepresentation?
What is Media?
Media is a communication term that describes different outlets that reach large audiences. Many
individuals think that the media just consists of television and the radio; however, many media forms reach
different audiences. This also includes print media like books and articles, and the Internet and social
media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Tik Tock.
Many people, not just people your age, are
impressionable when it comes to viewing media.
People tend to believe what they read and hear.
They think the gossip they listen to their friends
talking about at lunch, read on Twitter and see on
the evening news is probably accurate, believable,
and credible. After all, no one would put something
on social media or other media that has not
been vetted and is inaccurate. This becomes an
issue because what you see and read may, unfortunately, not be the absolute truth. The result is by not
checking the accuracy is a person will spread a wrong message to friends and others on social media.
You may have the best intentions and not mean to post unproven material online, but that does not excuse
you from the consequence of something you post. It is up to you to know what the truth is. This can be
difficult, but it is your responsibility to publish accurate information online if you use social media.
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What is Fake News? How do I know if something is not real?
No doubt you have heard of the term fake news? You may not be completely clear on what it is. Fake
news includes media with untruthful stories to advertise a product, describe something inaccurately, or
a ‘made up’ story designed to confuse or hurt someone. It also includes viral pranks and hacks used to
spread lies. This term has been used to describe media that is not one hundred percent accurate in truth.
That is why it is important not to believe everything you see and hear first glance or first read. Equally
important is that you do not share information that is questionable or may not be factual. By sharing less
than accurate information, you are participating in fake news.
Many media consumers cannot
tell when media is fake or real
because they assume that it has
been checked for validity or truth
on a news organization or on
social media. That is not always
the case. Social media’s accuracy
has become problematic because
anyone can post something on
media, whether it’s truthful or not. It
is up to each user to check out the
information we read.
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Media Literacy: Fact, Opinion, or Misrepresentation?
How to Distinguish Fact from Fiction
Spotting inaccuracy in media can sometimes
be challenging and takes work. To do this,
you need to think critically about the media’s
messages and do some research to see if
the source of information is credible. Credible
means that the source of information is well
known has experts providing the information,
and has a reputation for reporting accuracy.
Here are some simple steps:
1.
Critical Thinking and Critical
Reading - You will need to
become a precise reader, and
at times, you may even have to
re-read something.
2.
Ask Questions - When reading
or viewing media, you need to
ask yourself the question “What
does the author of the source
want me to do or how do they
want me to think or feel?”
3.
Spot Bias - Look for any
bias, which means prejudice
that favors one particular side
over the other. See if you can
spot any wrong information or
information that is stereotyped
based on one specific group of
people.
Completing these steps may be time-consuming at first, but this will help you sift through the negatives
and find the truth in what you are reading and viewing. This will also help you find credible information
when working on an essay or project in the classroom.
We are all Digital Citizens
What does it mean to be a good digital citizen? Being a good digital citizen entails doing the right thing,
following rules, and treating others with respect. You are used to this, as teachers and parents hold you up
to this standard. You are a good citizen in the real world, but are you a good citizen online? With media,
especially the Internet, all around us, it is hard to find a balance between the real and online world.
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Who are you online? Are you the same respectable person
you portray yourself to be in real life? Or do you pretend to
be someone else? Do you always try to only share accurate
information? Or, do you spread inaccurate information like
rumors or unverified statements? Do you post items on your
accounts that you are confident are not embarrassing to
yourself, family, or friends? Or, do you post online things that
may make someone look bad and embarrass them?
One way to think of this is before your post anything online, ask yourself this question. If someone was
posting this comment about my family or me, would I find it embarrassing or hurtful? Another question
you want to ask before sharing or publishing information is if this piece of information was sent to me by
someone, would I use it or act on it without first checking it out?
Understand every time you post, you leave a digital footprint!
The term digital footprint explains a map or a trail that follows what you
do online. What you did two years ago and posted on Facebook will still be
there even though you hit the delete button. This includes posted inappropriate
messages and pictures, as well as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs
online. Posting gossip, rumors, or hurtful language online is a form of cyberbullying and,
in some states, illegal. Cyberbullying is as harmful as other forms of bullying. If this happens
to you or you see it happen, it needs to be reported right away.
Key Ideas
About
Media
and
Media
Literacy
Don’t believe everything you read or hear! Check to make sure
the source of information is credible. Do some research to find
out if what you are reading or posting is accurate or correct.
Never post anything online that might embarrass you or another
person. Every time you go online, you leave a digital footprint.
Online posts don’t disappear or go away when you press the
delete key. They can be traced back to the original source
by their digital identities. Be a good digital citizen by being
respectful of others.
Treat others online like you want to be treated!
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Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
Instructions: In groups, read each headline. Choose the headlines that are not accurate and
explain why. Provide evidence (cite the source) of where you found the information proving or
disproving the headline.
Which one is the real story?
-
“Einstein said, “Don’t Believe Everything You See On TV!”
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“Teenager Live On Mars”
-
“Boy Rescued After Tongue Gets Stuck To A Frozen Pole”
Which one is the real story?
-
“500-Year-Old Cell Phone Was Found In The Ancient Pyramids.”
-
“Mom Calls Police Because Her Son Was Playing Video Games Too Much”
-
“The President Of Canada Visits China”
Which one is the real story?
-
“Woman Calls Police Because She Heard Intruders - Turns Out To Be Squirrels”
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“Researches Say Candy Is The Healthiest Snack”
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“Tap Dancing Snake Won A Gold Medal In The Pet Olympics”
Which one is the real story?
-
“Cat Learns To Whistle And Is Now Heard In Taylor Swift Songs”
-
“Calgary, Canada’s Capital, Has The Highest Number Of Puppy Adoptions”
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“Bear Was Lured Out Of The House By A Mother’s Song”
Which one is the real story?
-
“The State Of Canada Bans Straws And Balloons”
-
“Niagara Falls Is Running Out Of Water And Will Be Dry Next Year”
-
“A Man Was Bitten By A Snake, Racoon, and Shark In His Lifetime”
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Practice
Name __________________________ Date _________
Instructions: Find a news article on the Internet about something that interests you. After reading
the article, fill out the questions below to determine the validity of the source.
Title of the Article - ____________________________________________________________________
What was the news story about? - ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Who wrote this article? Who are they? What are their qualifications? (You may need to look up this
information.) _________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
How was this article made? Does it use evidence? Interviews? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Why was this article written? Is it important? Why or why not? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
When was this article written? Is it current? _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
What is this article missing? _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Is this article credible? Explain why it is or is not in detail. ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Homework
Name __________________________ Date _________
Instructions: Read each scenario. Choose three. Thinking about your digital footprint and digital
citizenship, write a paragraph explaining why these posts may be inappropriate.
Scenario # 1 - At the basketball game, you and a teammate had a disagreement. The coach saw what
happened and decided to bench the other person. After the game, your teammate sent you irate text
messages. You try to text back, defusing the situation, but it doesn’t help. The text messages continue,
and they get worse with curse words and threats. What do you do?
Scenario # 2 - You get Snapchats from someone you do not know. They say they go to your school and
they seem to know a lot about what you like and what you do after school. The person seems to know
some of your teachers. They ask you for some pictures and more information about you. What do you do?
Scenario # 3 - One of your friends tags you in a picture, but you don’t feel comfortable with the posted
photo. It makes you feel strange, and it doesn’t reflect who you are as a person. You notice that there are
many comments on the picture, and several people are making fun of you. What do you do?
Scenario # 4 - A lot of your peers make a fake profile about one of your classmates. It contains some
horrible pictures of them that were taken without their permission. On the site, there are also made up
stories about them as well. People ask you to share this site with them. What do you do?
Scenario # 5 - When doing some research, you click on a link, and it takes you to a wildly inappropriate
website. You try to go back, but it won’t let you, and the screen appears to be frozen. What do you do?
Scenario # 6 - One of your friends comes to you and shows you instant messages that are threatening
and inappropriate from other classmates. Your friend is very upset and wants your advice. What do you
do?
Scenario # 7 - You wrote an inappropriate post about your teacher because you were very mad at her.
You deleted it two hours later, knowing it was wrong; however, many people took pictures of it and sent it
to the principal. What do you do?
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Practice
Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Instructions: Find a news article on the Internet about something that interests you. After reading
the article, fill out the questions below to determine the validity of the source.
Answers will vary. Discuss with the class.
Title of the Article - ____________________________________________________________________
What was the news story about? - ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Who wrote this article? Who are they? What are their qualifications? (You may need to look up this
information.) _________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
How was this article made? Does it use evidence? Interviews? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Why was this article written? Is it important? Why or why not? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
When was this article written? Is it current? _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
What is this article missing? _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Is this article credible? Explain why it is or is not in detail. ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Homework
Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Instructions: Read each scenario. Choose three. Thinking about your digital footprint and digital
citizenship, write a paragraph explaining why these posts may be inappropriate. Answers will vary.
Scenario # 1 - At the basketball game, you and a teammate had a disagreement. The coach saw what
happened and decided to bench the other person. After the game, your teammate sent you irate text
messages. You try to text back, defusing the situation, but it doesn’t help. The text messages continue,
and they get worse with curse words and threats. What do you do? Example Response: What the
teammate is sharing is inappropriate. You should immediately show your parents the text messages the
roommate is sending. The teammate was bullying her peer, and this is inappropriate.
Scenario # 2 - You get Snapchats from someone you do not know. They say they go to your school and
they seem to know a lot about what you like and what you do after school. The person seems to know
some of your teachers. They ask you for some pictures and more information about you. What do you
do? Example Response: You may have friends with people online that you don’t necessarily know well
offline or possibly at all (for example, you may follow a musician). Just because the person knows about
the school doesn’t mean that they know you. Anyone can Google simple information, be tagged into, or
look at publicly posted social media pages. A person can view posts about you that your friends have
made. Unless you know the person in real life, you should delete other people you do not know. This could
become dangerous, and the person that is pretending to be your friend could want to harm you.
Scenario # 3 - One of your friends tags you in a picture, but you don’t feel comfortable with the posted
photo. It makes you feel strange, and it doesn’t reflect who you are as a person. You notice that there are
many comments on the picture, and several people are making fun of you. What do you do? Example
Response: It is inappropriate for someone to tag you without your permission. You should contact the
friend right away and ask them to please get rid of the picture and explain how it made you feel.
Scenario # 4 - A lot of your peers make a fake profile about one of your classmates. It contains some
horrible pictures of them that were taken without their permission. On the site, there are also made up
stories about them as well. People ask you to share this site with them. What do you do? Example
Response: It is inappropriate to create a fake profile (in some states, against the law) about someone. It
is not right to read it as well because this is a form of cyberbullying. You should not share the website with
anyone. The person should go tell an adult to let them know that this is happening.
Scenario # 5 - When doing some research, you click on a link, and it takes you to a wildly inappropriate
website. You try to go back, but it won’t let you, and the screen appears to be frozen. What do you do?
Example Response: Sometimes, when doing research, websites that we think are appropriate are not.
That is not your fault. First, turn off the computer monitor or block the screen so others can not view the
inappropriate material. Then, immediately report this to an adult or teacher. They will probably have to shut
down and restart the computer or have a person in technology come to resolve the problem.
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Homework
Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Scenario # 6 - One of your friends comes to you and shows you instant messages that are threatening
and inappropriate from other classmates. Your friend is very upset and wants your advice. What do you
do? Example Response: The friend is being bullied online. It was great that your friend came to you with
this information. Tell the friend to tell their parents and the school, make sure they do this. Again, in many
states cyberbullying is a serious offense and possibly a crime.
Scenario # 7 - You wrote an inappropriate post about your teacher because you were very mad at her.
You deleted it two hours later, knowing it was wrong; however, many people took pictures of it and sent it
to the principal. What do you do? Example Response: It is never right to post negative comments about
a person. Just because the message is deleted doesn’t make it right. Remember, every time you post
something online, you leave a traceable digital footprint. Deleting doesn’t mean the post is completely
erased. More than likely, as soon as you posted or hit the send button, several people you shared with will
have already seen the post. Notify your parents immediately and apologize directly to my teacher.
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