Evidence Locker Masthead

This Lens In Action: Mini-lessons to Try Tomorrow!

Chapter 1: [GRADES 4-5]

Mini Lessons - Grades 4-6

Mini Lesson #1

Link to Resource
Notes for the Teacher
  1. This activity was designed for use with information that you have selected. Some examples might be a meme, a video, an article or something else entirely.
  2. In the first part of the activity, learners should identify the emotion(s) being triggered by the information.
  3. Then have them rate that emotion’s strength by identifying how it affects their urge to like or share it.
Mini Lessons - Grades 4-6

Mini Lesson #2

Link to Resource
  • Speed or Brake Activity: Use this activity to help Digital Detectives sharpen their ability to practice impulse control when triggered.
Notes for the Teacher
  1. This activity is designed to be completed in pairs.
  2. Together learners will play a game and record their responses.
  3. Step two asks them to play the game a second time in order to identify potentially triggering emotions.
Mini Lessons - Grades 4-6

Mini Lesson #3

Link to Resource
  • Finish The Comic #1 – by Jarrett Lerner!  Use this activity to help Digital Detectives identify ways to “press pause” when they feel triggered by information.
Notes for the Teacher
  1. Use the second frame of the comic to help learners think metacognitively about the type of information that they find particularly triggering.
  2. The remaining frames are available for learners to imagine healthy ways to press pause when those emotions are triggered.
Mini Lessons - Grades 4-6

Mini Lesson #4

Link to Resource
  • Pressing Pause Choice Board!  Use this activity to help Digital Detectives practice strategies for “pressing pause” when they feel triggered by information.
Notes for the Teacher
  1. The complete board can be used, as is, to help Digital Detectives practice strategies for navigating emotions when feeling triggered.
  2. Because every learning environment is different, we recognize that not all of the strategies in the completed board will be practical in all instances. The blank board can be used with your Digital Detectives to create their own strategies for pressing pause.
Mini Lessons - Grades 4-6

Mini Lesson #5

Link to Resource

Facts VS Opinions VS Emotions (and Robots)!

All of the following resources may be used during this mini-lesson. See the procedure below for more details.

Notes for the Teacher
  1. Read Facts VS Opinions VS Robots, by Michael Rex, with learners to help them understand (or remind them of) the difference between facts and opinions. Then… 
  2. Instruct learners to record facts and opinions about an assigned (or choice!) research topic. Then… 
  3. Instruct learners to think about how they might use emotions to convince someone else that an OPINION about their topic is a fact. Then… 
  4. Instruct learners to create headlines to
      • demonstrate their understanding of how emotions can be used to influence and…
      • share the emotions they were trying to trigger.