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Lesson: Information Sorting

In this lesson,tudents are introduced to the idea of using information sorting to determine whether sources are worth their attention and then to do critical close readings of those that are. After learning and identifying the differences and similarities between the two steps, they learn the characteristics of a reliable source and make a list of companion texts that can be used to determine if a source has those characteristics. After practicing that process, they learn some examples of critical close reading skills and do a close reading of an rticle. Finally they plan, carry out, and reflect on an information sorting process to make sure they are getting a full and accurate picture of the news story’s topic.

Grade range: 4-6

Teacher Material: https://textbook.mediasmarts.ca/discoveringstudent/chapter/information-journeys/

Student Material: https://textbook.mediasmarts.ca/discovering/chapter/information-sorting/

Time Frame

Two or three class periods (90-120 minutes) Extended Unit
 
Activities  

Information Journeys

Information Sorting

Companion Reading

Titanic Truths

Close Reading

Reflection

 

 

Information Journeys

Information Sorting

Companion Reading

Titanic Truths

Close Reading

Asking Questions

Reflection

If you are delivering the shorter version, use the Observation Checklist to assess student learning.

If you are delivering the longer version, use the Assessment Rubric.

Preparation:

Make sure that you are able to show the videos and that students are able to access the interactive activities.

A printable version of this lesson is available at https://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/information-sorting.

If you would like to have students complete the Companion Reading versus Close Reading activity on paper, download and photocopy the handout.

Learning Outcomes

Big ideas/key concepts: Students will understand that…

Digital media are networked

  • Because it is easy to make and share content online, we need to determine whether sources are reliable before we read them closely

Key questions:

  • How can we tell if something is worth our attention? How can we engage critically with things that are worth our attention?

Frequent student misconceptions: The best way to tell if something is reliable is to read it carefully

Essential knowledge: Students will know…

  • Finding and verifying: Methods for identifying reliable sources and reading them critically
  • Reading media: Methods for close reading print texts

 

Performance tasks: Students will be able to…

  • Access: Identify when information sorting is and is not needed; identify examples of companion texts
  • Use: Use companrion texts to determine a source’s reliability
  • Understand: Use close reading techniques to read a text critically
  • Engage: Consider the roles of companion reading and close reading in navigating the networked information ecosystem

 

Curriculum Connections

 

Strand A: Literacy Connections and Applications

A1 Transferable Skills

A1.1 Receptive and Expressive Communication

explain how transferable skills can be used to support communication in various cultural, social, linguistic, and domain-specific contexts, and apply them when reading, listening to, viewing, and creating texts of various forms

A1.2 Student Agency and Engagement

evaluate and explain how transferable skills help them express their voice, be engaged in their learning, and plan the next steps to develop their capabilities and potential

A2 Digital Media Literacy

A2.3 Research and Information Literacy

gather, evaluate, and use information, considering validity, credibility, accuracy, and perspectives, to construct knowledge, create texts, and demonstrate learning

A2.4 Forms, Conventions, and Techniques

demonstrate an understanding of the forms, conventions, and techniques of digital and media texts, consider the impact on the audience, and apply this understanding when analyzing and creating texts

 

A3 Applications, Connections, and Contributions

A3.1 Cross-Curricular and Integrated Learning

explain how the knowledge and skills developed in this grade support learning in various subject areas and in everyday life, and describe how they enhance understanding and communication

 

Strand C: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts

C1 Knowledge About Texts

C1.1 Using Foundational Knowledge and Skills to Comprehend Texts

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

C1.2 Text Forms and Genres

Grades 4-5: describe some characteristics of various text forms and genres, including cultural text forms, and explain how they help communicate meaning

Grade 6: analyze a variety of text forms and genres, including cultural text forms, and explain how their characteristics help communicate meaning

C1.3 Text Patterns and Features

Grade 4: identify text patterns, such as spatial order in a graphic text, and text features, such as type styles and hyperlinks, associated with various text forms, including cultural texts, and explain how they help readers, listeners, and viewers understand the meaning

Grade 5: identify text patterns, such as cause and effect in a persuasive text, and text features, such as a preface and glossary, associated with various text forms, including cultural texts, and explain how they help readers, listeners, and viewers understand the meaning

Grade 6: analyze text patterns, such as problem-solution in a report, and text features, such as subheadings and pull-down menus, associated with various text forms, including cultural texts, and explain how they help readers, listeners, and viewers understand the meaning

C1.5 Elements of Style

Grade 4: identify various elements of style in texts, including voice, word choice, word patterns, and sentence structure, and analyze how each element helps create meaning and is appropriate for the text form and genre

Grade 5: describe various elements of style in texts, including voice, word choice, word patterns, and sentence structure, and analyze how each element helps create meaning and is appropriate for the text form and genre

Grade 6: identify various elements of style in texts, including voice, word choice, word patterns, and sentence structure, and analyze how each element helps create meaning and is appropriate for the text form and genre

C1.6 Point of View

Grades 4-5: identify the narrator’s point of view, including first, second, or third person, in a variety of texts, and describe the advantages and disadvantages of the approach used in each story

Grade 6: identify the narrator’s point of view, including first, second, or third person, in a variety of texts, providing evidence, and explain how using an alternative point of view would change each story

C2. Comprehension Strategies

C2.6 Summarizing: Identifying Relevant information and Drawing Conclusions

Grade 4: summarize the main idea of a text and the supporting details in sequence, and draw a simple conclusion

Grade 5: summarize the main idea of a text and the supporting details in sequence, and draw a well-supported conclusion

Grade 6: summarize and record the main idea and supporting details in various texts, and draw well-supported

C2.7 Reflecting on Learning

Grades 4-5: explain how strategies, such as visualizing, making predictions, summarizing, and connecting to their experiences, have helped them comprehend various texts

Grade 6: explain and compare how various strategies, such as visualizing, making predictions, summarizing, and connecting to their experiences, have helped them comprehend various texts and set goals to improve their comprenension

C3 Critical Thinking in Literacy

C3.1 Literary Devices

Grade 4: describe literary devices, including personification and anthropomorphism, in a variety of texts, and explain how they help create meaning and are appropriate for the intended purpose and audience

Grade 5: describe literary devices, including imagery and humour, in a variety of texts, and explain how they help create meaning and are appropriate for the intended purpose and audience

Grade 6: describe literary devices, including hyperbole and idioms, in a variety of texts, and explain how they help create meaning and are appropriate for the intended purpose and audience

C3.2 Making Inferences

Grades 4-5: make local and global inferences, using explicit and implicit evidence, to extend their understanding of various texts

Grade 6: make local and global inferences, using explicit and implicit evidence, to develop interpretations about various texts and to extend their understanding

C3.3 Analyzing Texts

Grade 4: analyze various texts, including literary and informational texts, by identifying main and supporting ideas, sequencing the events of multiple plots, and explaining cause and effect

Grade 5: analyze various texts, including literary and informational texts, by identifying main and supporting ideas, sequencing the events of multiple plots, recording relevant information, and explaining cause and effect

Grade 6: analyze various texts, including literary and informational texts, by identifying main and supporting ideas, evaluating the quality of information and its relevance for a specific purpose, and formulating conclusions

C3.4 Analyzing Cultural Elements of Texts

Grades 4-5: identify cultural elements that are represented in various texts, including, norms, values, artifacts, sports, and music, investigate the meanings of these elements, and make connections to their lived experience and culture

Grade 6: analyze cultural elements that are represented in various texts, including, values, rituals and ceremonies, architecture, art, and dance, by investigating the meanings of these elements, making connections to their lived experience and culture, and sharing their interpretations with others

C3.5 Perspectives within Texts

Grades 4-5: identify explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in various texts, explain how these perspectives are conveyed, give some evidence of any biases the texts may contain, and suggest how such biases could influence an audience

Grade 6: explain explicit and implicit perspectives communicated in various texts, including narrative texts, provide any evidence that could suggest bias in these perspectives, and suggest ways to avoid any such bias

C3.6 Analysis and Response

Grades 4-5: explain how various topics, such as diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, are addressed in texts, and describe what insights or messages are conveyed

Grade 6: explain how various topics, such as diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, are addressed in texts, analyze the insights or messages conveyed, and identify different positions presented

 

 

Strand D: Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

D1. Developing Ideas and Organizing Content

D1.1 Purpose and Audience

identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various texts they plan to create, and explain why the chosen text form, genre, and medium suit the purpose and audience, and how they will help communicate the intended meaning

D1.2 Developing Ideas

generate and develop ideas and details about various topics, such as topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to other subject areas, using a variety of strategies, and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences

D1.3 Research

Grade 4: gather information and content relevant to a topic, using a variety of sources and strategies, and record the sources of information

Grade 5: gather and record information and content relevant to a topic, using multiple textual sources; verify the reliability of sources, using simple criteria; and record the creator and source of all content created by others

Grade 6: gather information and content relevant to a topic, using multiple textual sources; summarize the information; verify the reliability of sources; and record the creator and source of all content created by others

D1.4 Organizing Content

Grades 4-5: select and classify ideas and collected information, using appropriate strategies and tools, and sequence content, taking into account the chosen text form, genre, and medium

Grade 6: classify and sequence ideas and collected information, using appropriate strategies and tools, and identify and organize relevant content, taking into account the chosen text form, genre, and medium

D1.5 Reflecting on Learning

Grades 4-5: describe the strategies and tools that helped them develop ideas and organize content for texts of the chosen forms, genres, and media, and explain how they helped them improve as a text creator

Grade 6: explain and compare how the strategies and tools used helped them develop ideas and organize content for texts of the chosen forms, genres, and media, and how they helped them improve as a text creator

 

 

 

 

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Discovering Digital Media Literacy - Teacher Textbook Copyright © by MediaSmarts. All Rights Reserved.