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This Use ‘War of the Worlds’ to Teach Media Literacy lesson plan also includes:
- Use ‘War of the Worlds’ to Teach Media Literacy (.html)
- Use ‘War of the Worlds’ to Teach Media Literacy (.docx)
- Worksheet - Consumer's Questions (.pdf)
- Background: ‘War of the Worlds’ (.pdf)
- Background: ‘War of the Worlds’ (.docx)
- The War of the Worlds Broadcast
- Activity
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Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" is the focus of a lesson that looks at the importance of clarity in broadcasting. After listening to the radio broadcast, class members discuss the ethical obligations to consider, such as fake news stories.
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Concepts
Instructional Ideas
- The Consumer's Questions worksheet may be used with any broadcast or print news story
Classroom Considerations
- The broadcast of "War of the Worlds" is an hour-long; consider whether to assign the audio as homework or in-class listening
- Requires copies of the Consumer's Questions worksheet
Pros
- An extension activity includes links to the next-day coverage of the panic
Cons
- None