K-12 resources

Media literacy guides for US classrooms

Topic and grade-band guides for curriculum directors, librarians, and teachers. Each page includes objectives, classroom activities, and alignment notes for SaC's modular curriculum.

213 topics · 10003 indexed resource pages

Source Verification

Help students confirm who produced information, when it was published, and what evidence supports the claim.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Fake News Detection

Teach students to recognize sensational headlines, missing context, and fabricated stories designed for engagement.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Media Bias Analysis

Guide students to compare how different outlets frame the same event and whose perspectives are included or omitted.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Digital Citizenship

Build norms for respectful online participation, privacy awareness, and responsible digital identity in K-12 settings.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Algorithmic Literacy

Explain how recommendation systems shape what students see and why engagement-optimized content can distort reality.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Social Media Literacy

Equip students to evaluate posts, influencers, and viral claims on platforms they use daily.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Fact-Checking Skills

Introduce practical fact-checking routines students can apply to classroom assignments and current events.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Primary Source Analysis

Students learn to read original documents, datasets, and firsthand accounts before relying on summaries.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

News Literacy

Core skills for understanding how news is produced, why errors occur, and how to read critically across formats.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Misinformation Resilience

Build long-term habits that reduce panic-sharing and help school communities respond calmly to viral claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Propaganda Recognition

Students analyze persuasive techniques, loaded language, and appeals used to shape opinion at scale.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Echo Chambers & Filter Bubbles

Explain how homogenous information diets form and how students can intentionally diversify perspectives.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Confirmation Bias

Students learn why people accept convenient claims and how to stress-test their own assumptions.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Visual Media Literacy

Analyze photographs, memes, charts, and video thumbnails as constructed messages — not neutral windows.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Deepfakes & AI-Generated Media

Introduce synthetic media risks, detection signals, and school policies for verifying audiovisual content.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Civic Media Literacy

Connect media analysis to local government, elections, and community decision-making in US schools.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Information Literacy

Foundational skills for finding, evaluating, and using information across library and classroom research.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Research Skills for Students

Structured approaches to narrowing questions, gathering evidence, and synthesizing findings in K-12 research projects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Evaluating Websites

Teach domain literacy, author credentials, and redesign flags that signal untrustworthy sites.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Podcast Media Literacy

Students evaluate podcast claims, sponsor segments, and interview formats as persuasive media.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Data Literacy in the News

Read statistics, polls, and charts in news coverage without being misled by scale or sampling issues.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Perspective-Taking in Media

Students practice articulating multiple stakeholders' views before forming a conclusion about a complex story.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Responsible Sharing Online

Classroom norms and skills for sharing information without amplifying harm, rumors, or private data.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Media Ethics

Discuss creator responsibility, attribution, plagiarism, and ethical boundaries when producing school media.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Current Events Analysis

Structured routines for discussing breaking news in class without spreading unverified claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Clickbait Awareness

Students learn why curiosity-gap headlines exist and how to resist impulsive clicking.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Lateral Reading

Teach students to leave a suspicious page and verify claims across the open web.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Reverse Image Search

Use image search tools to trace photos and memes to original context.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Satire vs. News

Distinguish satire, parody, and reported news before sharing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Anonymous Sources in News

Explain when anonymity protects sources and when it weakens verification.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Press Freedom & the First Amendment

Connect student media analysis to constitutional protections and limits.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Local News Literacy

Evaluate hometown reporting, school board coverage, and community outlets.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Weather & Science Reporting

Read extreme-weather coverage without confusing models with certainty.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Health Headlines Literacy

Analyze viral health claims with caution about preliminary studies.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Financial Media Literacy

Spot hype in investing content, crypto promotions, and influencer finance.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Advertising Literacy

Identify persuasive techniques in display ads, video ads, and sponsored posts.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Branded Content & Native Ads

Recognize when editorial content is paid or brand-shaped.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Influencer Marketing Literacy

Analyze sponsorship disclosures and trust cues on social platforms.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

YouTube & Video Platform Literacy

Evaluate thumbnails, creator incentives, and recommendation loops.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Short-Form Video Literacy

Deconstruct rapid edits, trends, and unstated claims in short video.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Gaming Media Literacy

Question patch notes hype, review scores, and community rumor cycles.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Wikipedia & Crowdsourced Knowledge

Use crowdsourced articles responsibly with citation chasing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Database Research Skills

Introduce library databases as alternatives to open-web searching.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Citation & Attribution Skills

Practice citing sources in age-appropriate formats for school work.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Plagiarism Prevention

Define copying, patchwriting, and ethical summarizing for students.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Peer Review Basics

Explain how scholarly publishing validates claims over time.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Science Reporting Literacy

Compare press releases, preprints, and peer-reviewed findings.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Polls & Survey Literacy

Interrogate sampling, question wording, and margin of error.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Maps & Geodata Literacy

Read choropleth maps and avoid geographic misinterpretation.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Statistics in Headlines

Translate percentages and risk language into plain meaning.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Logical Fallacies in Media

Name common fallacies in op-eds, ads, and political clips.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Rhetorical Analysis of Media

Identify audience, purpose, and appeals in persuasive messages.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Hate Speech & Harmful Content

Discuss harmful content policies and reporting pathways at school.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Cyberbullying & Online Harassment

Connect media sharing choices to peer safety and school norms.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Digital Footprints & Privacy

Explain persistent data trails from posts, photos, and apps.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Password & Account Security

Build habits that protect student accounts and school devices.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

AI Chatbot Literacy

Evaluate AI answers, hallucinations, and appropriate classroom use.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

AI Images in the Classroom

Discuss disclosure when generative images appear in student work.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Election Media Literacy

Analyze campaign ads, polling coverage, and results reporting.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Protest & Movement Coverage

Compare how demonstrations are framed across outlets.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

International News Basics

Introduce foreign bureaus, wire services, and translation limits.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Trade & Tariffs in the News

Use trade stories to teach evidence comparison across countries.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Global Health Reporting

Track multinational health agencies versus local reporting gaps.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Refugee & Migration Coverage

Analyze humanitarian reporting with attention to voice and context.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Sports Recruiting Hype

Verify ranking services, highlight reels, and commitment announcements.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Sports Analytics Literacy

Read advanced stats without overfitting narratives to small samples.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Fantasy Sports & Betting Media

Separate entertainment analysis from gambling promotion.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

NIL & Athlete Brand Media

Discuss name-image-likeness deals and sponsored athlete content.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Injury Report Rumors

Trace unverified sports injury chatter to credible beat reporters.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Broadcast vs. Streaming Sports

Compare blackout rules, regional networks, and clip sharing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Copyright & Fair Use Basics

Introduce how schools can discuss clips, memes, and remix ethically.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Student Media Production Basics

Plan short student news packages with sourcing standards.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Podcast Creation Ethics

Apply disclosure and fact-check norms to student podcasts.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Yearbook & Social Posts

Align school publication ethics with fast social sharing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Family Media Talks

Send home discussion prompts that extend classroom literacy.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Substitute-Ready Media Lessons

Plan single-period media literacy that non-experts can facilitate.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Media Literacy for English Learners

Scaffold vocabulary and visuals for multilingual classrooms.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Scaffolded Media Literacy (SPED)

Adapt media analysis routines for diverse learning needs.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Interdisciplinary Media Units

Connect media literacy to science, history, and ELA simultaneously.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Project-Based Media Inquiry

Run multi-week projects with public final products and source logs.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Assessing Media Literacy

Use rubrics for sourcing, reasoning, and civil discourse skills.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Screen Time Literacy

Balance consumption habits with intentional information choices.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Notification Literacy

Understand how alerts shape attention and anxiety.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Comment Section Literacy

Read comment threads as social data, not verified fact.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Forum & Reddit Literacy

Evaluate community-sourced claims and anonymity effects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Messaging App Rumor Chains

Trace how private forwards amplify unverified claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Neighborhood App Literacy

Critique crime and safety posts on local networks.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Google Search Literacy

Use advanced search operators and result page anatomy.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Using Fact-Checking Sites

When and how to use professional fact-checkers responsibly.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Library Database Literacy

Prefer databases for research over random web results.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Annotated Bibliographies

Summarize sources and explain usefulness for projects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Synthesis Writing from Sources

Combine multiple articles without cherry-picking.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Counterargument Writing

Steel-man opposing views using sourced evidence.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Rhetorical Triangle in Media

Analyze speaker, audience, and subject in messages.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Loaded Language Detection

Flag emotionally charged words that replace evidence.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

False Equivalence in Coverage

Spot when two sides are presented as equal without justification.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Bothsidesism in News

Discuss when balance distorts proportionate evidence.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Whataboutism in Debates

Identify deflection tactics in political discourse.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Straw Man Arguments

Compare actual claims to distorted summaries.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Appeal to Authority

Evaluate when credentials support or fail to support claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Appeal to Nature Fallacy

Question 'natural' labels in health and food marketing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Greenwashing Literacy

Audit environmental claims in corporate messaging.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Corporate Press Release Literacy

Read investor-facing language critically.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Earnings Call Literacy

Introduce how markets narrate company performance.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Nonprofit Marketing Literacy

Evaluate emotional appeals in charity campaigns.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Political Ad Transparency

Use public ad libraries where available.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Campaign Mailer Literacy

Analyze direct mail claims and imagery.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Town Hall Media Coverage

Compare local reporting of public meetings.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

School Board Coverage Literacy

Read district news with stakeholder map.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Student Privacy in Media Stories

Discuss ethics when sharing classroom examples.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Consent in Classroom Media

Permissions for photos, audio, and quotes.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Public Records Basics for Students

Introduce FOIA concepts at high school level.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Sunshine Law Literacy

Connect open meetings to local journalism.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Whistleblower Reporting Literacy

Evaluate protections and risks in leak stories.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Investigative Reporting Basics

What makes enterprise reporting different from daily news.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Data Journalism Intro

Read interactive news apps and databases.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Immersive Journalism & VR

Discuss empathy and manipulation in immersive formats.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Comics Journalism

Analyze graphic nonfiction as reported media.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Photojournalism Ethics

Staging, cropping, and context in news photos.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

War Photography Context

Age-appropriate discussion of conflict imagery.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Climate Change Visual Literacy

Read timelines, maps, and disaster photography.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Disaster Coverage Literacy

Follow official sources during hurricanes and fires.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Public Health Communication

Layer CDC/local guidance over social rumors.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Vaccine Misinformation Patterns

Recognize recurring anti-vaccine narratives.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Nutrition Influencer Literacy

Question miracle diet content online.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Mental Health Meme Literacy

Separate support from harmful simplifications.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Financial Influencer Red Flags

Spot guaranteed-return language and scams.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Cryptocurrency Hype Literacy

Analyze speculation versus utility claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Housing Market Headlines

Read real estate media without panic.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Labor Strike Coverage

Compare union, employer, and neutral frames.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Supply Chain Story Literacy

Understand global trade reporting basics.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Energy Transition Media

Compare fossil and renewable narratives with data.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Water Crisis Reporting

Local infrastructure stories and accountability.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Indigenous Media Voices

Seek Indigenous journalists and sources on land issues.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Disability Representation in Media

Critique stereotypes and slurs in coverage.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Gender Bias in Headlines

Compare how stories frame different genders.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Racial Framing Analysis

Discuss representation and coded language carefully.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Religion Reporting Literacy

Respect beliefs while verifying factual claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Global English-Language Sources

Compare UK, US, and international outlets.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Translation Limitations

How nuance shifts across languages in news.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

State Media vs. Free Press

Introduce differences in government-run outlets.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Public Broadcasting Literacy

Role of NPR/PBS-style institutions in ecosystems.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Community Radio Literacy

Local low-power stations as civic media.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Student Newspaper Ethics

Editorial independence and adviser roles.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Prior Review Debates

Discuss administrative review of student press.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Social Media for Journalists

How reporters use X/threads in breaking news.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Corrections Culture

Reward newsrooms that fix errors transparently.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Retraction vs. Update

Teach difference between fixes and full retractions.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Metadata & Byline Literacy

Use author pages and publication history.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

About Page Audits

Check ownership and mission of unknown sites.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Domain Registration Clues

Introduce WHOIS without doxxing exercises.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Typosquatting Awareness

Spot look-alike domains in fast sharing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Phishing Link Literacy

Connect media literacy to security habits.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Account Security for Students

Protect school accounts tied to media projects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Digital Portfolio Ethics

What to publish in college-prep portfolios.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

College Admissions & Social Media

Audit public posts before applications.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Internship Source Standards

High school interns verify before publishing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Mock Press Conference

Role-play asking evidence-based questions.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Crisis Tabletop Exercise

District comms + classroom protocol drill.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Media Literacy Week Plan

One-week building-wide schedule template.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Constitution Day Media Activities

First Amendment activities with current examples.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Student Election Workers

Connect civics service to process literacy.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Judicial Branch Media

Read court reporting versus commentary.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Executive Orders Coverage

Track implementation versus signing headlines.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Legislative Process Media

Follow bills beyond viral clips.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Supreme Court Reporting

Introduce opinions, concurrences, and dissents.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Local Ballot Measure Media

Read voter guides and opposing statements.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

School Bond Issue Reporting

Evaluate facility funding coverage.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Teacher Contract News Literacy

Read strike and negotiation coverage locally.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

School Safety Rumor Control

Official channels during threats and hoaxes.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Viral Challenge Hoaxes

Historical pattern of moral panic headlines.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Copypasta & Chain Message Literacy

Recognize recycled text blocks online.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Bot Detection Basics

Introduce inauthentic amplification signals.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Astroturfing Awareness

Fake grassroots campaigns online.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Think Tank Transparency

Read funding disclosures on policy reports.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Lobbying Disclosure Literacy

Connect advocacy groups to legislative media.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Open Data Portals for Students

Use .gov datasets in classroom projects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Census & Demographics Media

Question misleading demographic maps.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Redistricting Map Literacy

Gerrymandering visuals in civics class.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Voting Technology Myths

Separate equipment facts from fraud narratives.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Mail-In Voting Facts

Process reporting versus fraud claims.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Advanced Polling Literacy

Likely voters, undecideds, and house effects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Forecast Models 101

Introduce uncertainty in election forecasts.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

News Deserts & Local Gaps

Discuss communities with limited local reporting.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Philanthropy & Local News

How grants shape nonprofit newsrooms.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Paywall & Access Ethics

Discuss information access inequities.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Web Archive Skills

Use Wayback Machine to see page changes.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Deleted Post Recovery Ethics

When screenshots help or harm.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Livestream Verification

Geolocation and timestamp checks for streams.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Citizen Journalism Ethics

Bystander video in breaking news.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Crowdsourced Investigations

Collaborative online sleuthing risks.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Doxxing Prevention

Never share private addresses in class projects.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Harassment Reporting Paths

Platform and school reporting tools.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Game Film Literacy

Compare broadcast angles to all-22 film context.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

NFL Combine Metrics Hype

Question drill results as predictors.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Transfer Portal Media

Verify roster news during NCAA/NIL era.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Coaching Carousel Rumors

Track reporter tiers during hiring season.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Playoff Seeding Math

Read tiebreaker explainers critically.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Umpire Controversy Clips

Slow-motion bias in officiating debates.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Esports Reporting Literacy

Patch notes, roster moves, and sponsor influence.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Olympic Media Narratives

National framing of athlete stories.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Paralympic Coverage Gaps

Compare media attention across events.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Women's Sports Coverage Equity

Airtime and storyline equity analysis.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

EU Policy Media Literacy

Read Brussels reporting for US classrooms.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Brexit Lessons in Media

Long-arc case study in economic framing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

China–US Trade Framing

Compare domestic versus international headlines.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Middle East Wire Literacy

Multiple regional outlets on same events.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Africa News Stereotypes

Challenge single-story narratives.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Latin America Trade Media

Supply chain stories south of the US.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Arctic Climate Geopolitics

Resource and security framing.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Global Election Spotlight

Compare electoral systems in coverage.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

UN Security Council Media

Institutional versus national frames.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Refugee Data Visuals

Read UNHCR datasets versus viral posts.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12