
This Lens In Action: Mini-lessons to Try Tomorrow!
Chapter 2: [GRADES 4-5]

Mini Lesson #1
Link to Resource
- Seek and Find: Community Reading Experience – This tool can be used to help Digital Detectives identify potential triggers in elements of content being viewed in an app on a mobile device.
Notes for the Teacher
- This resource can be used with any content you select.
- We recommend taking screen shots of an item that best suits your Digital Detectives.
- Then have them use the worksheet to circle/label the elements of the community reading experience that have the potential to affect a person’s urge to trust.share content. For example, if the number of dislikes a video receives affects their opinion of the content, they might circle that item on the worksheet and label it with the corresponding number.
- To extend the learning, discussions can be had to compare/contrast what different Digital Detectives identified. These conversations can lead to a deeper understanding of what kinds of items are triggering to others, thereby developing empathy.

Mini Lesson #2
Link to Resource
- Finish The Comic #3 – by Jarrett Lerner! Use this activity to help Digital Detectives identify examples of how information looks different on a mobile device (vs a desktop or laptop).
Notes for the Teacher
- Use the second and third frames of the comic to help learners Digital Detectives identify ways that information looks different on a mobile device than it does on a laptop of desktop.
- The remaining frames are available for learners list ways to locate common markers of credibility (such as the primary source or date of publication) on both devices.

Mini Lesson #3
Link to Resource
- Compare and Contrast: Mobile VS Traditional – This activity can help Digital Detectives outline the steps for locating clues to credibility on different devices, while also thinking deeply about how/why information looks different depending on the device through which it is accessed.
Notes for the Teacher
- Specific instructions for this activity can be found page one.
- The second page can be printed for student use.

Mini Lesson #4
Link to Resource
Mobile VS Traditional: Can You Spot The Difference?*
[TEMPLATE] Can You Spot The Difference?
*Inspired by #DigitalDetectiveSquad member @pattylois
Notes for the Teacher
Use the Can You Spot The Difference Template (above) to help learners think about how the same story (from the same source!) may look different on a mobile device than it does on a traditional desktop or laptop computer.
- In the corresponding space(s) provided on the template, add a screenshot of the same news story or post (one as seen in the browser on a desktop of laptop; one as seen in an app, on a mobile device). Then…
- Instruct learners to follow the directions on the template to identify the differences between each version. Then…
- Once all differences have been identified, instruct learners to develop a hypothesis about why those differences exist.
- Discuss their findings as a class (or in small groups).
To use digitally, upload image file to Google Slide deck. Set that image as the slide background. Then follow the directions above, having learners use tool options within Google Slides to complete tasks.
Potential extension:
- Have learners locate and add screenshots to the template for their classmates to review. Then…
- Follow directions in steps 2-4 as written.