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Lesson: Thinking About Media

In this lesson, children learn how media techniques influence how we think and feel about things..

Grade range: 1-3

Teacher Material: https://textbook.mediasmarts.ca/blocks-teachertext/chapter/exploring-media-techniques/

Student Material: https://textbook.mediasmarts.ca/buildingblocks/chapter/likeable-and-unlikeable-characters-film-techniques/

Time Frame

One class period (45-60 minutes) Two to three class periods (90-120 minutes)
 
Activities  

Exploring Media Techniques

Character on Camera

 

 

 

Exploring Media Techniques

Character on Camera

Building Character

 

 

 

Preparation:

 

Learning Outcomes

Big ideas/key concepts: Students will understand that…

 

  • Media are constructions:
    • Media works were made many people who made choices that affect the final work
  • Each medium has a unique aesthetic form:
    • Different media communicate in different ways
  • Media have social and political implications:
    • Media influence how we see people and groups

Key questions:

  • How do media techniques influence how we see things and people?
  • How can media makers “stack the deck” to make us side with or against certain characters?

Essential knowledge: Students will know…

  • Reading media: How elements such as camera shots are chosen for specific effects
  • Making and remixing: How film-makers and other media creators use camera angle, distance, composition and colour to communicate character
  • Media representation: The ways that how we feel about characters represented in media is influenced by the techniques that are used to portray them

Performance tasks: Students will be able to…

  • Use: Make aa media work that makes audiences more sympathetic towards one character
  • Understand: Analyze how media makers’ choices influence how we experience a work
  • Engage: Identify how our feelings about characters may be influenced by media techqniues

Curriculum  Connections

Strand A: Literacy Connections and Applications

A2. Digital Media Literacy

A2.4 Forms, Conventions and Techniques

demonstrate an understanding of the forms, conventions, and techniques of digital and media texts, and apply this understanding when analyzing texts

A2.5 Media, Audience, and Production

demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationships between the form, message, and context of a text, the audience, and the creator

A3. Applications, Connections and Contributions

A3.2 Identity and Community

demonstrate an understanding of the contributions, lived experiences, and perspectives of a diversity of individuals and communities, including those in Canada, by exploring the concepts of identity, self, and sense of belonging in culturally responsive and relevant texts

Strand C: Composition (Understanding and Responding to Texts)

C1 Knowledge About Texts

C1.1 Using Foundational Knowledge and Skills to Comprehend Texts

Grade 1: read and comprehend short, simple texts, using knowledge of words, grammar, cohesive ties, sentence structures, and background knowledge

Grade 2: read and comprehend short texts, using knowledge of words, grammar, cohesive ties, sentence structures, and background knowledge

Grade 3: read and comprehend various texts, using knowledge of words, grammar, cohesive ties, sentence structures, and background

C1.2 Text Forms and Genres

Grade 1: identify simple literary and informational text forms and their associated genres

Grade 2: identify and describe some characteristics of literary and informational text forms and their associated genres

Grade 3: identify and describe some characteristics of literary and informational text forms and their associated genres

C1.4 Visual Elements of Texts

Grade 1: demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between simple illustrations, images, and graphics and the text

Grade 2: identify ways in which images, graphics, and visual design create, communicate, and contribute to meaning in a variety of texts

Grade 3: describe ways in which images, graphics, and visual design are used in a given text, and demonstrate an understanding of their purpose and connection to the content of the text

C2 Comprehension Strategies

C3 Critical Thinking in Literacy

C3.2 Making Inferences

Grade 1:  make simple inferences, using stated and implied information and ideas, to understand simple texts

Grade 2: make simple inferences using stated and implied information and ideas to understand simple texts

Grade 3: make inferences using stated and implied information and ideas to understand texts

C3.3 Analyzing Texts

Grade 1: analyze simple texts, including literary and informational texts, by identifying and sequencing important information and events

Grade 2: analyze simple texts, including literary and informational texts, by identifying and sequencing important information, and comparing and contrasting simple elements

Grade 3: analyze various texts, including literary and informational texts, by identifying main and supporting ideas, sequencing information, and comparing and contrasting elements

C3.5 Perspectives within Texts

Grade 1:  identify explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in a text, and describe how these perspectives could influence an audience

Grade 2:  identify explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in a text, providing evidence, and describe how these perspectives could influence an audience

Grade 3:  identify explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in texts, providing evidence, and explain how these perspectives could influence an audience

C3.6 Analysis and Response

Grades 1-2:  express personal thoughts and feelings about ideas presented in texts, such as ideas about diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

Grade 3: describe personal thoughts and feelings about ideas presented in texts, such as ideas about diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

C3.8 Reflecting on Learning

Grade 1:  identify thinking skills that helped them understand simple texts

Grade 2: identify thinking skills that have helped them analyze and better understand simple texts

Grade 3: identify thinking skills that have helped them analyze and better understand various texts

Strand D: Composition (Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts)

D1.1 Purpose and Audience

Grade 1: identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various simple texts they plan to create

Grade 2:  identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various texts they plan to create

Grade 3: identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various texts they plan to create, and describe how the chosen text form and genre will help communicate their intended meaning

D1.2 Developing Ideas

Grade 1: generate ideas about given and chosen topics, using simple strategies and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences, and learning from other subject areas

Grade 2: generate and develop ideas about given and chosen topics, using simple strategies, and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences, and learning from other subject areas

Grade 3: generate and develop ideas about given and chosen topics, using various strategies, and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences, and learning from other subject areas

D1.4 Organizing Content

Grades 1-2: sort and sequence ideas and information, taking into account the text form and genre to be used

Grade 3: sort and sequence ideas and information, using appropriate strategies and tools, taking into account the text form and genre

D2 Creating Texts

D2.1 Producing Drafts

Grade 1: draft short, simple texts of various forms and genres, including personal narratives, persuasive texts, and procedural texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies

Grade 2: draft short texts of various forms and genres, including personal narratives, persuasive texts, and procedural texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies

Grade 3: draft short texts of various forms and genres, including narrative, persuasive, and informational texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies

D2.4 Point of View and Perspective

Grades 1-2: identify the point of view, including first person, used in their texts

Grade 3:  identify the point of view, including first person or third person, used in their texts

D3 Publishing, Presenting and Reflecting

D3.1 Producing Final Texts

produce final texts, using simple techniques, to achieve the intended effect

D3.2 Publishing and Presenting Texts

present the texts they have created using appropriate strategies, including by reading aloud with expression

D3.3 Reflecting on Learning

Grade 1: identify a strategy they found helpful when presenting texts

Grade 2: identify a few strategies they found helpful when presenting texts

Grade 3: identify the strategies that helped them present and communicate their message, and explain how they helped them improve as a text creator

 

 

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Building Blocks of Digital Media Literacy: Teacher Textbook Copyright © by MediaSmarts. All Rights Reserved.

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