This is a sample unit plan on teaching students about critical media literacy. It specifically focuses on how students can analyze and investigate the ways in which stereotypes, social groups, and social values are portrayed in the media; how television shows influence our personal and societal values. This unit plan is an excellent resource for teachers looking to teach students about the effects of media on our personal lives, and how to critically evaluate television shows and other popular media. Throughout 4 lessons, students are able to come up with critical guiding questions, use these questions to critically analyze television shows, collaboratively work with peers and discuss their findings, and reflect on their learning.
The unit plan also includes a “Media Observation Sheet”, which is an excellent handout to use with students in the grade 4+ age. It allows students to think about the values and messages depicted in the media through observation, and then think about how these may influence them in their personal lives.
ReadThinkWrite. (2007). Classroom Resources, Critical Media Literacy: TV Programs. Retrieved from http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/critical-media-literacy-programs-96.html?tab=4#tabs