
This Lens In Action: Mini-lessons to Try Tomorrow!
Chapter 4: [GRADES 9-12]

Mini Lesson #1
Link to Resource
- Line-Ups: This activity is designed for use with all of the unit plans found in chapters 8-10. However, they can also be used with any source material you select. Note: while suspect cards were designed for easy printing, screenshots of individual images may also facilitate digital line ups.
Notes for the Teacher
- Provide Digital Detectives with a list of suspects who may be responsible for creating false information.
- Then have them select one suspect from the “line-up” who they feel is most likely responsible, using what they know about suspect types to support their answers.

Mini Lesson #2
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- Heads Up Game – *Version 2: This activity is designed to help students become more familiar with specific suspects, their motivations, tools and how they win or lose at the false information game.
*Another version of this game can be found in the mini-lessons designed for grades 4-5
Notes for the Teacher
This activity is modeled after the popular game “Heads Up” and is designed for use with the Digital Detectives suspect cards.
- Each Digital Detective is given a suspect card WITHOUT the information details included on the back.
- Set a timer for five minutes.
- When the time starts, Digital Detectives move about the room giving each other clues with the goal being to try to figure out their own suspect/card.
- In this version, students need to rely on their knowledge of the suspects, rather than the information cards.
- If a Digital Detective guesses their own card correctly, they put theirs back in the deck and retrieve another.
- When the five minutes is up, the round is over. The Digital Detective who identified the most suspect cards correctly wins.
- Repeat as many rounds as are desired.

Mini Lesson #3
Link to Resource
- Mis Dis or Mal Information – Matching Game: This activity is designed to help students think about which suspects are most likely to spread specific types of false content.
Notes for the Teacher
- Students will need some familiarity with mis, dis and mal information prior to playing this game. Note: there are two optional questions for reflection at the end.

Mini Lesson #4
Link to Resource
- Honest Social Media Profiles – This activity is designed to help students to:
- think about the ways in which social media profiles can be manipulated to hide true motives
- synthethize what they’ve learned about specific suspects
Notes for the Teacher
- Assign each student a specific suspect.
- Use the blank Honest Social Media Profile to have Digital Detectives create an HONEST social media profile for that suspect that reveals their goals, motives and tactices.
- This version may be used to provide Digital Detectives with specific directions.
POTENTIAL COLLABORATION: This work may support ELA standards related to characterization. This activity may also be used to reinforce those skills.