The Librarian's Internet: Fostering Media Literacy

This handy search page, created especially for teachers, links to lesson plans and other educational activities and resources related to media literacy. A must-see for anyone teaching this subject. Just check the category of your choice (from violence to advertising), media type (Web, music, etc.), and age range, then click on the search button. Created by: Media Channel, New York, NY. Detour: Are you media literate? Take the quiz at www.pbs.org/teachersource/media_lit/media_lit.shtm.

This comprehensive site is searchable by keyword, or click on any of the 45 topics, which include political advertising, propaganda, and product placement. Created by: Frank W. Baker, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Don't miss: 'Alcohol advertising' and 'Celebrities in ads,' which feature teaching ideas as well as images that you can print for classroom use. Detour: For the latest news on media literacy, subscribe to the Media-L discussion group at www.medialiteracy.com/education/mediallistservinfo.htm.

Search this site's 'Lesson Library' by grade level and subject for thorough and thought-provoking lesson plans on various topics such as 'Teaching about Napster' and 'Selling Tobacco.' Most lessons include supplemental handouts, overheads, and background information sheets as part of a downloadable PDF kit. Created by: Media Awareness Network, Ottawa, Canada. Don't miss: The 'Web Awareness for Teachers' section for information on Web site evaluation, online privacy, and more. Plug-ins: Acrobat Reader.

If you're new to the topic of media literacy, visit this clearinghouse site for a wealth of published studies, articles, and other related information. Of special interest are the 250 online articles from the journal Media & Values, searchable by topic or keyword. Created by: The Center for Media Literacy, Santa Monica, CA. Don't Miss: The 'Education References' section, especially the page 'How to Teach Media Literacy' for tons of inspirational classroom ideas.

Visit the 'Resource Links' section to access hundreds of sites containing lesson plans, curriculum standards, and online journals, as well as links to specific media literacy topics and related organizations. The 'Online Readings' section features articles on how media relates to child development and health issues. Created by: Center for Advanced Technology in Education, University of Oregon, Eugene. Don't Miss: The bibliography 'Understanding Media Literacy' in the 'Online Readings' section.