Day 2 News Literacy lessons

Prepared by: Jami Williams, Mexico High School, Mexico, Missouri

TARGET
Students will understand advertorials and sponsored content in relation to fact, opinion and assertion.

EDUCATION METHODS

1. Student evaluation of prepared material
2. Brief PowerPoint presentation
3. Scavenger Hunt Bingo

OBJECTIVES

1. Level 1 (Basic) understanding of the difference between fact and opinion in reporting

MATERIALS NEEDED

1. Teacher will need to acquire copies of “advertorials” to hand out to students. A simple Google search will provide plenty OR sponsored content on places like Buzzfeed or a similar site.
2. Brief PowerPoint News Literacy PowerPoint Day 2

VERIFICATION
Steps to check for student understanding

1. Teacher will do frequent comprehension checks in the form of Classroom Assessment Techniques (thumbs up, thumbs down; exit slip in the form of post-it note summary)
2. Scavenger hunt will culminate in a presentation by each student group at the end of the hour that can be used as a formative evaluation.

FLOW OF LESSON

1. Suggested bell ringer: Pick a topic. Write a fact about that topic. Write an opinion about that topic.
2. Teacher will present PowerPoint presentation on advertorials and recognizing sponsored and paid content as well as assertions and opinions vs. facts.
3. Teacher will allow students to chose work partners or assign partners and begin the scavenger hunt.
4. The last quarter of class should be dedicated to students presenting what they found in the form of a brief presentation (slideshow, Prezi, etc.

WRAPPING IT UP

1. Exit slip: Do you think that it is ethical for websites and publications to allow advertorial or paid content that looks like news? Why or why not?