K-12 US · K–2
Media Ethics for Grades K–2
This guide helps US primary classrooms teach media ethics with clear objectives and classroom-ready activities. Discuss creator responsibility, attribution, plagiarism, and ethical boundaries when producing school media. Use short texts, picture prompts, and guided discussion. Keep vocabulary concrete and revisit the same media literacy habits weekly. Use it to plan a single lesson or a short unit arc in K–2 — then explore how Split a Cookie (SaC) modules reduce prep time for teachers and substitutes.
Last reviewed 2026-07-05
Learning objectives
- In Grades K–2, students use simple words to describe plagiarism and attribution standards — aligned with media ethics instruction in primary classrooms.
- In Grades K–2, students discuss consent in filming classmates — aligned with media ethics instruction in primary classrooms.
- In Grades K–2, students look at two examples and talk about ethical guidelines across professions — aligned with media ethics instruction in primary classrooms.
Classroom activities
- Use picture cards to sort "helpful" vs. "needs checking" sources after a read-aloud connected to media ethics.
- Open with a 5-minute "Media Ethics" warm-up using a short age-appropriate clip or headline, then chart student questions on the board.
- Run a paired source comparison: give primary classrooms two short texts on the same event and ask which is more trustworthy and why.
- Send home a one-sentence family prompt: ask an adult how they check news on their phone.
SaC curriculum fit
Navigator's Guides state the pedagogical 'So What?' goal for each module — anchoring ethics in daily practice.
Standards alignment note
Districts across the United States align Grades K–2 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 K–2 outcomes.
Related resources
Other grade bands — Media Ethics