Media Literacy & Information Literacy

21st Century Information Fluency Project Portal
News, information, tools, and standards-aligned instructional strategies for information literacy/fluency in K-16.

Advertising Techniques
Lesson plans and activities related to advertising.

Alliance for a Media Literate America
Although this organization focuses on the USA, many of the resources and links found under "Media Literacy" are applicable anywhere.

A Catalog of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss
Little known fact: Theodore Geisel also produced more than 400 editorial and War Bond cartoons during WWII. Some of them are reproduced on this site.

Cause Célèbre: Using Celebrities in Media Campaigns Targeting Teens
"In this lesson, students create public service advertisements featuring celebrities to address common concerns among teenagers in their communities. Students then conduct market research to consider the effectiveness of their advertisements."

Comparing News Sources: Where Would You Turn?
Students explore and critique a variety of news sources.

Cruise the News
Students increase their awareness of the resources a newspaper offers.

Cyberspace at Discovery
Vocabulary, comprehension questions, activities, links.

Deconstructing Media Messages
Students in grades 3-5 describe the different people involved in creating a media message.

Difference Between Local and National News
Students compare and contrast newspapers for the same day from different parts of the United States. Designed for grades 4 - 7.

The Director in the Classroom
This page contains links to sites with information about filmmaking, including desktop video.

Film Study
Links to ideas for teaching film as a genre and for working with specific films in the classroom.

Greatest Films
Interpretive, descriptive review commentary and historical background for hundreds of classic Hollywood and other American films in the last century, a wealth of film reference material of all kinds, a famous film quotations quiz, a complete Academy Awards (Oscars) History and detailed Film History - by decade, and hundreds of colorful, vintage film poster reproductions.

How Media Shapes Perception
In this standards-based unit high school students explore media bias, emotional impact of the news, and the influence of the media on children.

Jurassic Park: an Information Literacy WebQuest
Students evaluate the quality of Web sites. Familiarity with Jurassic Park is not essential.

Lesson Plan Unit: The Influence of the Mass Media
Lessons using online resources from the New York Times.

Lesson Plan Unit: The Internet as a Medium
Lessons using online resources from the New York Times.

Media & Lit: Increasing Media Literacy and Cultural Diversity
Syllabus, resources, reading list, and semester project (including rubric) for a one-semester 11th grade media literacy class.

Media Awareness Network
An outstanding resource from Canada, available in both English and French. Don't miss the "Teachable Moments" and "Teaching Media" links on the "For Educators" page.

Media Literacy Clearinghouse
An extensive collection of links to articles, background and lesson plans designed to help teachers integrate media literacy into classroom instruction.

Media Literacy Research Project
Students learn about types of questions and the research process. They research and present information on gender in advertising, race in advertising, or violence in the media.

Media Messages Webquest
Students explore media messages, then develop a public service announcment encouraging teens to view media critically.

The Merchants of Cool
"A report on the creators and marketers of popular culture for teenagers." It is possible to watch this report online. Follow the link to find the Teacher's Guide.

News on the Web
This interactive article examines the history and technology of modern news reporting. From Socialstudies.com.

Newseum
The "News Museum" Web site. Excellent reference and teaching tool.

PBS TeacherSource for Media Literacy
PBS sites and programs related to Media Literacy. Information is tied to PBS programming.

The Persuaders
"In The Persuaders Frontline explores how the cultures of marketing and advertising have come to influence not only what Americans buy, but also how they view themselves and the world around them." It is possible to view this documentary online. Scroll to the bottom for a teacher's guide with discussion questions and a handout.

Photography
A variety of sites about photography.

Picking Up the Pieces and Putting them Back Together: Writing Breaking News
Students examine how a breaking news story is constructed, first by predicting what facts and details must appear in what order, and then by assembling the story from cut-up pieces. They then practice writing their own 'breaking news' lead paragraphs.

Powers of Persuasion, Poster Art from WW II
This online exhibit features 33 posters and 1 sound file from a more extensive exhibit that was presented in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, from May 1994 to February 1995.

Protecting Our Space: Developing Public Service Announcements to Offer Information about Online Safety Concerns for Teens
"Students share opinions and information about safety issues and concerns on social networking Web sites. They then develop public service announcements designed to inform their peers and guardians."

Radio Days
In this WebQuest, students research the "Golden Age of Radio" and create their own radio drama.

Swift Response: Debating the Rights of the Press in Reporting on Matters Affecting National Security
In this lesson from the New York Times, students consider "how matters of national security affect the press' ability to practice free speech."

Teen Scene: Examining the Relationship between the Media and Teen Culture
Students "investigate and analyze a number of teen-focused television shows, movies, magazines, advertisements, and Web sites to explore the relationship between the media and teen culture."

Team up for Sports Marketing!
Students create a marketing campaign for a sports team. They create press releases, business cards, and ads or commercials, all using advertising techniques they have studied.

Understanding the Hype: Media Literacy
An Education World e-Interview With Catherine Gourley, including five "principles of knowledge" related to media literacy.

Wartime Posters Activity
Students investigate the impact of posters during WWII. Activities and focus questions at the site, video available. The lesson requires Internet access.

Who Said That?
"Students complete a tutorial on Web literacy and use what they learn to evaluate a Web site." This lesson is designed for grades 6-8.

Words/Music/Images: Interpretation and Meaning from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Click on Lesson 12. "Students will explore the ways in which words, music and visual images interact to create meaning." Music and video not available onsite.