Think before you click!
Social media platforms make it all too easy for users to ‘Like,’ ‘Share,’ ‘Tweet,’ or otherwise pass along misinformation or disinformation without intentionally becoming part of the counterknowledge problem. Anyone who has one or more social media accounts needs to take the time to verify that articles, memes, photographs, and anything else they pass along to their friends are based in fact. Studies say that students are actually better at identifying incorrect information than adults are, but they still do make mistakes.
In this activity, students are introduced to tips for verifying items that appear in social media feeds and other media to ensure they are not passing along misinformation/disinformation.
The Assessing Words Instructional Activities are continually reviewed. If you use this activity, please complete a Feedback Form afterward.
Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7-6.9, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1-6.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.8-7.9, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1-7.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.7-8.9, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.1-8.4,CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.7
Objective: Students work in teams to apply tips they learn during the activity to verify online items which may, or may not, be true prior to sharing them with anyone else.
Teacher Resources
Activity materials may be accessed in any order by clicking on the appropriate link. You may find it useful to start with the Activities Directions link to get a sense of the activity itself before looking at other sections.
Student Resources
This site is meant to be used by teachers. Student Resources are provided, but please do not direct students here. Copy and paste the link to the handout and whichever of the Online Resources you want students to use on your classroom webpage, in your classroom area of the school’s Learning Management System, or wherever you distribute digital materials to students.
Susan Brooks-Young: sjbrooksyoung@gmail.com