7th Grade Critical Thinking Projects

Engage your middle school students (grades 5-8) in the essential 21st-century skill of discerning and evaluating websites with this meticulously crafted Media Literacy Lesson Kit. Perfect for any research-based class, this resource empowers students to critically analyze information, a skill increasingly crucial in today's digital age. Whether you're introducing media literacy or reinforcing it as a review, this lesson kit serves as an invaluable tool, especially effective before students embark on writing essays.

What’s Inside?

• Slide Deck: A visually engaging 27 slide presentation designed to capture students' attention and guide them through the fundamentals of media literacy.
• Handouts: Ready-to-use handouts for students, including a note-catcher to accompany the slide deck and activities, ensuring interactive learning. Includes QR codes!
• Teacher Lesson Plan: A detailed, step-by-step plan for a 60-minute lesson, offering flexibility to adapt to your classroom's needs. The lesson plan is clearly structured with a Do Now activity, whole group lesson, teacher model, partner practice, and independent practice segments.
• ✅ Teacher Answer Key: Answers to all activities, providing you with a quick and efficient way to assess students' understanding and participation.
• Extra Activity: Extend the lesson with an engaging activity using the Media Bias Fact Checker. Students will plot the bias and credibility of 15 popular news websites, deepening their understanding of media bias and reliability.

Why Choose This Media Literacy Lesson Kit?

• ☑️ Print and Go: Save valuable planning time with this comprehensive resource that's ready to use the moment you download it.
• ☑️ Versatile and Interdisciplinary: Designed to fit seamlessly into any research-based unit across subjects, enhancing students' critical thinking and evaluation skills.
• ☑️ Builds Essential Media Literacy Skills: Students learn to identify bias, assess credibility, and understand the impact of media on public opinion, equipping them with the skills to navigate the digital world confidently.
• ☑️ Interactive and Engaging: With a variety of activities, from sorting to reflective writing, students stay engaged and actively participate in their learning journey.
• ☑️ Ideal for Introduction or Review: Whether you're kickstarting a unit on media literacy or reinforcing these crucial skills, this lesson kit is perfectly tailored to meet your needs.

Elevate Your Teaching with Our Media Literacy Lesson Kit!

Prepare your students to critically analyze and navigate the complex landscape of digital media. This lesson kit not only enhances their research projects but also fosters an understanding of the broader implications of media consumption. Don't miss out on the opportunity to equip your students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. Add our Media Literacy Lesson Kit to your teaching toolkit today and witness the transformation in your classroom's approach to media literacy!

Need a new, creative, and fun way to teach landforms? This lesson, which includes a Faces of Earth Landforms Speed Game and will allow your students to grasp the concept of each landform, both contextually and visually

Includes:

Introduction Activity

Speed Time Contract

Faces of Earth Portrait activity

Grading rubric and in-depth teacher instructions

Answer sheets

All game pieces are included. May require minimal amount of teacher prep.

Your kids will have fun while learning!

Note: This lesson is written for individual student instruction, but can be easily modified for group collaboration. Suggestions are included in teacher instructions.

Desert Island Explorer is an engaging, two-week game-based sub unit designed for grades 5 to 9, offering an immersive and bilingual experience centered around the theme of desert islands. This project-based learning module combines elements of language arts, science, and teamwork to enhance students' critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills.

• Lessons are provided in English, and all activities within are French and English.
• These products work in English or French classrooms.

Nothing is more stressful than having to leave work for an extended time: our profession requires us to plan, to create engaging resources, and to assume the subs covering have French capabilities. We all know that's... not the reality of this profession. When you've gotta be out, you've gotta be out, and frankly, when you're in this position, you've not got the time, energy or mental health to allow for this level of planning. That's where I come in! This ressource covers you for roughly two weeks: providing your sub with direction in English, and activities in both English and French to ensure a seamless absence... And if you aren't actually out (or maybe you're checked out and just a body in the room!) but just want someone to tell you what to do for 2 weeks, this checks out for that, too.

I integrate discussion-based prompts, writing activities, reading activities, film watching, reflections, games, math tasks, group work, projects, presentations, art tasks - just about everything to keep them engaged while you're away! This is a clear and engaging this resource for your next emergency absence.

In this mega crypt of activities relating to desert island survival, you'll discover the following activities:

• All lesson plans (in English) for 15 activities and projects;
• Desert Island Charades (An engaging team activity where they must act out different desert island scenarios and go head-to-head against the opposing team);
• Island Survival Expedition (A team-based activity on choosing the items to bring to a desert island - without surpassing a maximum weight limit);
• Shipwrecked (An activity which will have students ranking items based on their importance for survival after being shipwrecked);
• A Brief History of the Message in a Bottle with 2 questions;
• Make Your Own Message in a Bottle (An engaging, meaningful task which involves students writing, decorating, "throwing to sea" and finding bottles with their classmates);
• Bottle + old paper templates (For use with Message in a Bottle activities);
• Dilemme sur une île déserte (4 pages of math activities - French only);
• 2 x Reading comprehension:
  • “Perdus en mer” (French only - grades 7-9) with questions;
  • “L’Île mystérieuse” (French only - grades 4-6) with questions.
• Desert Island Dilemma (A writing prompt with information for idea generation);
• Film project (Success criteria and rubrics included for this team-based, drama-focused task);
• The great survival strategy (Stations activity on persuasive language techniques and strategies)
• The great survival strategy (Persuasive prompt following the stations activity)
• Jeopardy-style flash cards (Whole group team-based game on finding the best answer)
• Watch + Respond (A film to be viewed with examples on how to engage students with their listening)
• Watch + Respond (Student question list - English only)
• Watch + Respond (Collaborative question cards - English only)
• The Ultimate Survival Guide (A final project which will have students creating pamphlets, brochures or an infographic on a desert island. Includes success criteria and rubrics in both English and French).

Hopefully this provides a sense of relief and calm to you in this time of need!

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For goodness sakes, don't forget to have fun!

Kaitlyn.

In this lesson, students use critical thinking and research skills to determine how a specific form of technology evolved. Working with a partner or small group, students start with where their chosen technology was prior to 1900 and then take it through 5 more steps of evolution to the present day. Students use the Internet for research to determine what had to happen between each step to move their technology to the next iteration. Worksheets are provided for six high interest topics, with an editable blank form (PowerPoint) if the teacher chooses to add another topic (or let students choose a different topic). The worksheets are two pages (print front and back). Resources for the teacher and students include a short list of Internet sites as a starting point for each research topic. A sample completed worksheet is also included for one topic. Topics included are:

• How We Listen to Music

• How We Watch a Movie

• How We Take Photographs

• How We Communicate on the Telephone

• How We Research Information

• How We Tell Time

This lesson was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in upper elementary as well.

Files included:

• Teacher & Student Resources

• Technology Then & Now Student Expectations, Instructions and Grading Rubric

• Technology Then & Now Student Worksheets (6 topics, plus an editable blank – both color and black and white versions of each)

• Sample Project

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Geography | Earth Day Project | Creating a 501c3 | Real-World Activity

The Compassion Project | Facing Needs Around the World

Students learn through play or reenactment — yes even when they are older and in middle school or high school. This lesson has students work in cooperative groups to identify an educational, health, human or environmental need around the globe. As if in real-life circumstances, students come together to create a non-profit 501c3 with a purpose or mission on solving this world issue. It may range from animal cruelty issues to lack of resources like water to deforestation, etc.

Each team will work to combat an issue in one of the following categories:

° Animal Cruelty & Endangered Species Issues.

° Plant & Environmental Issues

° Human & Social Issues

° Other

OBJECTIVES:

• The learner will understand the difference between pity, sympathy, empathy, and compassion.
• The learner will research human, educational, health, environmental, and social issues throughout the world.
• The learner will work to plan and create a non-profit compassion organization to help the cause and issue.
• The learner will work with his/her team to create promotional material for their non-profit 501c3 organization.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1. Compassion Goes Beyond Sympathy and Empathy (Compassion Wheel)
2. Technology to display various Compassion Wheel, Compassion Organizations Websites, and introductory video.
3. Whiteboard/Blackboard on which to write.
4. Wall Signs: Animal Cruelty & Endangered Species Issues, Plant & Environmental Issues, Human & Social Issues, and Other.
5. Compassion Organization Planning Guide.
6. Computers, environmental magazines such as National Geographics.
7. Paper, posters, markers, pencils, erasers, rulers, glue, scissors, etc.

INCLUDES:

• Guiding questions
• Suggested YouTube videos
• Compassion Wheel
• Detailed teacher instructions with intro, procedure & closure
• Wall signs for intro activity

Student Packet

• Student instructions: How are You Going to Make a Difference?
• Examples of mission statement & logos
• How to Create Your Non-Profit planning graphic organizer
• Compassion Activity Choice Board
• Guardian permission slip (if needed for YouTube, Instagram, FB)
• Mockup of a 501c3 application
• Grading Rubric
• Mockup letter of tax exemption approval letter.

And More!

Disclaimer:

One purchase is for the use of one teacher. If additional teachers would like to use this product, please purchase additional licenses.

In this lesson, students learn more about how to critically view and judge the validity and trustworthiness of a web site. Included with the lesson is a Webquest to learn about some of the criteria to evaluate on a web site with questions that require reading and critical thinking skills as they learn what to look for in a reliable site. Then, students use the knowledge they have gained to create an Infographic using Canva (www.canva.com – a free, online graphic program) that outlines what others need to look for in a reliable web site. These project are great to print and display in the classroom or hallway!

Great for the beginning of the school year to get student research off on the right foot, this lesson is suitable for technology classes, English Language Arts classes, or any class that will use the Internet as a source for research information.

This lesson was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in upper elementary grades or high school as well.

This lesson is great for distance learning/remote learning. You can upload it to your school's learning management system (Google Classroom, Edmodo, Canvas, etc.) or share with students via Google Drive.

Files included:

• Teacher & Student Resources

• Evaluating Web Sites WebQuest Student Instructions and Questions

• Evaluating Web Sites WebQuest Answer Key

• Evaluating Web Sites Infographic Project Expectations & Grading Rubric

• Canva Quick Start Tutorial

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Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students learn more about safe and reliable use of the Internet in the digital age as they learn how to decipher between fake and real news, spot misleading websites, avoid clickbait, and recognize rumors or misleading information on social media. The lesson starts with a PowerPoint presentation (teacher led or distributed to students to read themselves) that outlines some of the pitfalls of erroneous or misleading information on the Internet. Then, students complete several lessons to develop their skills in recognizing fake news, fake websites, clickbait, and other misinformation. These can also be done with a partner or in a small group if the teacher prefers. Next, students work with a group to answer critical thinking questions about the ethics of fake news and ways to prevent contributing to the problem. Also included with the lesson is a word search puzzle, great for early finishers, or as a part of the lesson.

This lesson was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in upper elementary grades or high school as well.

Materials Required:

· Computers with Internet access for each student (or pair of students)

· Access to Microsoft Word or Google Docs and Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides

Files included:

· Teacher & Student Resources

· PowerPoint Presentation – Misinformation in the Digital Age

· 3 Lessons with Instructions, Grading Rubrics, and Answer Keys

· Reference Sheet: How to Recognize Fake Websites and News

· Group Discussion Critical Thinking Questions with Teacher Guide for Use

· Word Search Puzzle with Answer Key

Approximate Lesson Duration:

· Introduction to the Unit and PowerPoint Presentation: 1 (50 minute) class period

· 3 lessons: 3-4 (50 minute) class periods (for all three lessons)

· Group Discussion Questions: 1-3 (50 minute) class periods depending on class/group size

· Word Search Puzzle: about 20-30 minutes

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In this lesson, students learn more about what makes an effective infographic as they analyze existing infographics and then create their own. Included with the lesson is a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation for whole class instruction (editable) to learn about infographics and analyze them as a class. Infographics with discussion questions are included in the PowerPoint. Next, students choose a topic of interest, research their topic and then create an infographic using Piktochart (www.piktochart.com), a free Web 2.0 tool that does not require download. A Quick Start Guide for the program is included to help students navigate the program. Topic suggestions are included in the teacher/student resource material. These infographics look great printed and displayed in the hallways!

This lesson was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in upper elementary grades or high school as well. It can be used for any subject that wants to incorporate technology in a lesson.

This lesson is great for distance learning/remote learning. You can upload it to your school's learning management system (Google Classroom, Edmodo, Canvas, etc.) or share with students via Google Drive.

Files included:

• Teacher & Student Resources

• Infographics Presentation (whole class with discussion questions) in MS PowerPoint (editable)

• Research worksheet (two versions – for individual or teams)

• Infographic Project: Student expectations, instructions and grading rubric

• Quick start tutorial for Piktochart

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In this lesson, students learn interesting facts about the history and invention of toys as they complete several projects including a WebQuest (Internet Scavenger Hunt) to answer questions about the topic. A complete answer key is provided for the WebQuest for easy grading, along with resources for both teachers and students. The student questions are included in both a print version and a digital (editable) version to make it easy for students to complete the lesson digitally or on paper. Next, students will be challenged by creating a presentation to showcase how different toys evolved over the years, comparing toys of fifty years ago with modern ones. Also included with this lesson is a wordsearch puzzle and an answer key, which is perfect for early finishers or as a part of the lesson.

This lesson is intended to be an introduction to the topic and was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in high school as well. This lesson could be used in a history or technology class and is also a great lesson to leave for a substitute teacher!

Materials Required:

· Computers with Internet access for each student (or pair of students)

· Software such as Microsoft Word/PowerPoint or Google Docs/Slides

Files included:

· Teacher & Student Resources

· The Invention of Toys WebQuest Activity (print and editable digital files included)

· The Invention of Toys WebQuest Answer Key

· Toys Then & Now Research & Presentation Project Student Expectations and Grading Rubric

· Wordsearch Puzzle – The Invention of Toys

· Wordsearch Puzzle Answer Key

Approximate Lesson Duration:

· WebQuest - 1 (50 minute) class period

· Research & Presentation Project – 2-3 (50 minute) class periods

· Wordsearch Puzzle – 30 minutes

· Presentation of Projects to Class (optional) – time will depend on class size

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This unit gives students a new way to plan goals and create a visual representation of them as they create a vision board using the free Web 2.0 tool Canva (www.canva.com), Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides. Canva does not require download, making it easy for teachers who are not able to download software on classroom computers to still give their students a choice in learning. Options for using Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides are also included for use if the teacher prefers.

In these lessons, students are provided with a quick tutorial for Canva, as well as links to other resources to help them with their designs. The tutorial is intended to help students get started with the program and then use the resources within the program to refine their creations. Links are included to tutorials for Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Students start this unit by learning about vision boards and looking at some examples before planning their own. Next, they search for non-copyrighted pictures, quotes and words to convey their goals and create a vision board using Canva (PowerPoint or Slides). Teacher and student resources are provided for the lesson, along with full instructions and project expectation, including a grading rubric. Three versions of the assignment are included: One that includes all software choices, one that includes only Canva, and one that includes only the Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides options. A sample vision board is also included, as well as links to other examples. Links for tutorials are provided for all suggested software choices in the student resources and a Quick Start Tutorial Guide is included for Canva. All student resources are fully editable, so that it can be easily modified for any classroom.

If you prefer, this lesson can be done without access to student computers, using poster board and pictures cut from magazines (see full supply list for this option below). A version of those instructions is also included.

Perfect for the beginning of the school year or the New Year to set goals, this lesson can be used in technology, AVID, leadership or similar classes. This lesson was designed for middle school (grades 6-8) but could be used in any secondary classroom.

This lesson is great for distance learning/remote learning. You can upload it to your school's learning management system (Google Classroom, Edmodo, Canvas, etc.) or share with students via Google Drive.

Materials Required:

• Computers with Internet access for each student (or pair of students)

• Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides (optional if students are using Canva)

• If you want to do this project without computers, you will need these supplies for each student:

o Poster board
o Scissors
o Glue/tape
o Magazines for pictures
o Markers/pens
o Colored Paper
o Stickers (optional)

Files included:

• Teacher & Student Resources
• Planning a Vision Board – Student Instructions & Expectations (editable)
• Planning a Vision Board – Student Worksheet (editable)
• Vision Board Creation Project in Canva, MS PowerPoint or Google Slides – Student Expectations and Grading Rubric (3 editable versions)
• Vision Board Creation Project – Paper version for use without computers – Student Expectations and Grading Rubric (editable)
• Quick Start Tutorial for Canva
• Sample Vision Board

Approximate Lesson Duration:

• Introduction to project and student planning sheet: 1 (50 minute) class period
• Vision Board Creation Project including research: 2-3 (50 minute) class periods

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What middle schooler isn't excited by playing games as a part of their lesson? This activity takes their love of games to a new level as they work with a team to create a new board game, test them for "fun appeal" by playing and critiquing others' games and then making the necessary modifications to complete an awesome final product.

Created for middle schoolers, this project based learning lesson is a great addition to technology classes that teach programming, phone app creation and other game design as a way for students to really focus on what makes a game addictive.

Lesson includes teacher resources, including web links, design ideas and guides, student expectations and rubric, and student worksheets. This lesson can be completed entirely OFF computers, without computer access for students, making it great for those days you have to give up your technology lab for standardized testing.

This lesson is great for distance learning/remote learning. You can upload it to your school's learning management system (Google Classroom, Edmodo, Canvas, etc.) or share with students via Google Drive.

My 7th and 8th graders loved this and I hope yours will too!

Related Products
⭐ Exploring Careers: Information Technology
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⭐ Teach Technology WITHOUT a Computer

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Setting SMART Goals is a lesson that helps students identify and plan goals for school or their personal life by utilizing the SMART method of goal planning (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely). This is a great lesson to start off a new semester or a new year.

In these lessons, students are provided with an introduction to the goals methodology and suggested resources for whole class activities are included to introduce the lessons. Next, students brainstorm with a small group and then work individually to craft their own individual goal. This project was created for middle school students but would easily be adaptable to any age group.

This lesson is great for distance learning/remote learning. You can upload it to your school's learning management system (Google Classroom, Edmodo, Canvas, etc.) or share with students via Google Drive.

Files Included with this Lesson

• Teacher Notes and Resources

• Introduction to SMART Goal Planning (student handout)

• Instructions for Group Brainstorming Activity

• Individual Goal Planning Brainstorming Worksheet

• Individual Goal Planning Final Goal Worksheet

• Follow up Activity (progress check)

• Project Rubric

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