K-12 US · 9–12
Algorithmic Literacy for Grades 9–12
This guide helps US high school classrooms teach algorithmic literacy with clear objectives and classroom-ready activities. Explain how recommendation systems shape what students see and why engagement-optimized content can distort reality. Expect primary-source comparison, policy context, and rhetorical analysis. Connect skills to college, career, and civic participation. Use it to plan a single lesson or a short unit arc in 9–12 — then explore how Split a Cookie (SaC) modules reduce prep time for teachers and substitutes.
Last reviewed 2026-07-05
Learning objectives
- In Grades 9–12, students describe how feeds personalize content — aligned with algorithmic literacy instruction in high school classrooms.
- In Grades 9–12, students explain why sensational content spreads faster — aligned with algorithmic literacy instruction in high school classrooms.
- In Grades 9–12, students design strategies to diversify information intake — aligned with algorithmic literacy instruction in high school classrooms.
Classroom activities
- Assign a one-period Socratic seminar on algorithmic literacy using three sources with competing frames — require citations.
- Students maintain a running verification log for one week and present the most instructive correction they found.
- Connect to civics or ELA: draft a short policy memo recommending school-wide media habits with sourced evidence.
SaC curriculum fit
SaC's Split a Cookie framework fractures algorithmic distortion into analyzable parts — moving beyond binary 'true/false' thinking.
Standards alignment note
Districts across the United States align Grades 9–12 media literacy instruction to state ELA, social studies, and library standards. SaC resources support local adoption — they do not replace state-specific scope and sequence requirements. Review your state framework when mapping 9–12 outcomes.
Related resources
Other grade bands — Algorithmic Literacy