Activity 01
Sorting Station: True or False Online
Prepare cards with screenshots of true facts (e.g., koala diet) and made-up stories (e.g., koalas fly). Students sort into piles, discuss reasons, then check with teacher. Extend by drawing their own true/false examples.
Differentiate between a true story and a made-up story online.
Facilitation TipFor Sorting Station, print each statement on a separate card so pairs can physically move them into true or false columns.
What to look forProvide students with two simple online scenarios: one with a factual statement about animals and one with a fantastical claim. Ask students to write or draw a symbol next to each indicating if it is a 'true story' or a 'made-up story' and why.
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Activity 02
Picture Detective Challenge
Show pairs edited vs real photos (e.g., animal in wrong habitat). Students circle clues of trickery, predict if true, and vote as a class. Follow with adult consultation role-play.
Justify why it's important to ask an adult about new information found online.
Facilitation TipIn Picture Detective Challenge, give every pair a magnifying glass to emphasize close observation and comparison.
What to look forShow students two similar pictures of a park, one normal and one with a cartoon character added. Ask: 'Which picture looks like it could be real? How do you know? Who could you ask if you weren't sure?'
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Activity 03
Adult Check Role-Play
Students draw scenarios of online finds (e.g., recipe or game tip). In pairs, one 'discovers' info, the other acts as adult to verify. Share justifications whole class.
Analyze how pictures can sometimes trick us online.
Facilitation TipDuring Adult Check Role-Play, keep scenarios short and familiar so students connect the practice to daily life.
What to look forAsk students: 'Imagine you see a picture online of a dog flying. What should you do if you are not sure if it is real? Who is a trusted adult you can ask?' Record student responses on a chart.
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Activity 04
Digital Story Hunt
Under supervision, explore teacher-curated safe sites for animal facts. Note one true and one silly item, then justify with group why to ask adult about unknowns.
Differentiate between a true story and a made-up story online.
What to look forProvide students with two simple online scenarios: one with a factual statement about animals and one with a fantastical claim. Ask students to write or draw a symbol next to each indicating if it is a 'true story' or a 'made-up story' and why.
RememberUnderstandAnalyzeSocial AwarenessSelf-AwarenessDecision-Making
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teachers approach this topic by modeling doubt out loud. Say phrases like, ‘This looks strange, I wonder what a teacher would say.’ Avoid rushing to correct; instead, use peer debate to surface misconceptions. Keep activities under ten minutes to match young attention spans and repeat key moves across lessons.
Students will confidently label online content as true or false, point out edits in pictures, and name a trusted adult to verify unclear information. They will explain their choices using clear language.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Picture Detective Challenge, watch for students who assume any image online is real.
During Picture Detective Challenge, ask pairs to list three clues that help them decide if a picture is real or altered, then lead a quick class share of the strongest clues.
During Sorting Station: True or False Online, watch for students who rely only on length or excitement to decide truth.
During Sorting Station, prompt students to underline the facts in each statement and circle any words that seem exaggerated or unrealistic before sorting.
During Adult Check Role-Play, watch for students who skip the adult check if they like the story.
During Adult Check Role-Play, require students to physically walk to a paper cut-out of a trusted adult, ask their question aloud, and receive an answer before making a final decision.
Methods used in this brief