Ready-to-teach plans that help every teacher put media literacy into practice, in the content they already teach.
New from the Media Education Lab
Lesson plans for the 21 core instructional practices of media literacy
Ready-to-teach plans that help every teacher put media literacy into practice, in the content they already teach.
- 30–40 minutes
- Grades K–12
- Any subject
Five competency areas
The 21 core instructional practices
Access & Operate
- Accessing Digital Platforms and Apps
- Images and Advertising
- Art, Music, and Cultural Values
- History or Literature Through Film
- AI and Algorithmic Personalization
Analyze & Evaluate
- Guided Viewing / Reading / Listening
- Analyze Media Texts
- How Media Messages Influence
- Stereotypes
- Examine the News
Participate & Collaborate
- Reflect on Your Interpretations
- Create Community Service Messages
- Civic Dialogue
Create
- Create Media
- Research Project
- Digital Production for an Authentic Audience
- Present a Strong Point of View
Reflect & Act Ethically and Responsibly
- Balancing Online and Offline Life
- Social Responsibilities of Communication
- Media Law and Policy
- The Business of Media
Used across ELA, social studies, science, the arts, math, health, and world languages · Each can be taught with or without digital technologies
The first four lesson plans
Download and use the first 4 lessons
#1 · Analyze
Guided Viewing / Reading / Listening
Students name the author, purpose, audience, and point of view of one media artifact.
#2 · Analyze
Analyze Media Texts
Students compare two artifacts on one topic to see how creators made different choices.
#3 · Analyze
How Media Messages Influence
Students link design choices to effects on feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
#4 · Create
Create Media
Students make an original media product for a real purpose and audience.
Every plan includes: why it matters · learning outcomes · tips for choosing a media artifact · a step-by-step classroom process · options by grade band and subject · an exit ticket · a next step
RESEARCH BASE
Hobbs, R. Moen, M., Tang, R. & Steager, P. (2022) Measuring the implementation of media literacy statewide: a validation study. Educational Media International, 59(3), 189-208, DOI: 10.1080/09523987.2022.2136083
Hobbs, R., Moen, M., Tang, R. & Steager, S. (2022): Measuring the implementation of media literacy instructional practices in schools: Community stakeholder perspectives. Learning, Media and Technology, 49(2), 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2022.2151621