"SIFT"+ Lateral Reading
Unit Overview
Welcome to the "Froot Loop Conspiracy Theories" media literacy unit and lesson series by Wes Fryer, designed for middle school students but adaptable for older students and adults as well. (last updated 15 Nov 2024)
Note these lessons and ideas are openly licensed: See the Creative Commons license details below.
I (Wes Fryer) have been teaching versions of this lesson series since Fall 2019, after I participated in the Summer Institute in Digital Literacy hosted by the Media Education Lab.
This page is currently being updated with changes from my fall 2024 lessons. The archived Spring 2024 version of this page is available. More background about this project is available on my "Conspiracies and Culture Wars" media literacy inquiry project homepage.
The 6 minute video, "Froot Loop Conspiracy Theory Unit (Parent Intro)" provides an overview of project goals and activities, which are further detailed below.
Prior Lessons
Before starting this unit, my middle school students have participated in / completed multiple pre-requisite lessons, including:
SIFT 1 - conspiracy theories and crazy people
Intro Video ("Wonder Link"_
Goals
Introduce SIFT.
Introduce the idea of "people pulling your strings."
Continue developing Sketchnoting skills and InfoPic creation skills.
Continue learning and practicing "lateral reading skills."
Practice ways to responsibly and effectively utilize WikiPedia when checking online news / information sources.
Start thinking about CONSPIRACY THEORIES and why they are often popular.
Steps
Watch and discuss the 4 minute YouTube video, "Meet a puppeteer with a gift for pulling strings."
Decide whether you want to create a SKETCHNOTE or THREE INFOPICS for this assignment.
EITHER:
Sketchnote: On your iPad using a STYLUS, start a new Sketchnote titled, "Conspiracy Theories and Crazy People." Add that as a title, today's DATE and your FIRST NAME.
Learning Journal Google Doc Notes: Open your Google Doc LEARNING JOURNAL. At the TOP create a new entry for today's date. Title it, "DATE - Conspiracy Theories and Crazy People" and format as HEADING 1.
Capture the key points of TheOdd1sOut / James Rallison's video, "Conspiracy Theories and Crazy People" in your SKETCHNOTE or in your learning journal Google Doc as you watch it.
Learn about the AUTHOR / CREATOR of our main assignment video / next video by:
Discuss with a classmate some things you learned about James Rallison from his WikiPedia page.
If creating InfoPics:
Use Canva.com, Adobe Express for iPad (in PDS Self Service) or Google Slides and create THREE, high quality InfoPics about main ideas from the video.
Post EACH InfoPic as a separate post on our Padlet for InfoPics. (Private Padlet link removed from this webpage)
If Sketchnoting:
Save your sketchnote as an IMAGE (exported image.) SAVE TO YOUR IPAD CAMERA ROLL.
Post your sketchnote image(s) to our shared Padlet, "Our Sketchnotes" Include an appropriate TITLE. (Private Padlet link removed from this webpage)
Copy the link to your PADLET POST.
Turn in
In Canvas, paste / turn in the LINK to your Sketchnote PADLET post or your favorite (of 3) InfoPic posts on PADLET here in Canvas. (below)
Sift 2 - Moon Hoax?
Intro Video ("Wonder Link")
Goals
Understand the SIFT Framework: You'll get to know the SIFT web literacy framework better.
Critical Thinking: Practice your critical thinking by analyzing and deciding how credible different sources are, especially when it comes to conspiracy theories.
Narrative Skills Development: Improve your storytelling skills by making and narrating your own sketchnote.
Media Literacy: Use different digital tools like your iPad, a sketching / drawing app like FreeForm, and Padlet effectively.
Awareness of Misinformation: Learn about how misinformation spreads and why it's important to check how reliable sources are.
The lesson slideshow is available, which includes embedded videos.
Steps
Introduction and Video Viewing: First, learn about the SIFT framework by viewing the attached slideshow. Then, start to check out JP Sears' video, "13 Reasons the Moon Landing was Fake."
Research and Investigation: Use LATERAL READING to check out JP Sears' Wikipedia page and at least TWO of the links from the REFERENCES. Think about how believable his claims are.
Watch and Note Taking: Watch JP Sears' video, "13 Reasons the Moon Landing was Fake." Take notes on your iPad or laptop summarizing JP Sears' main ideas from his video.
3 InfoPics: Use a tool of your choice (Google Slides, Canva.com, Adobe Express) to create THREE (3) InfoPics which communicate why it is important to use SIFT to "Investigate a Source" like JP Sears. You can create these on a laptop or your iPad. You can use any of these images if you want.
OPTIONAL - AI Brainstorming: You can use this FlintAI custom activity to help BRAINSTORM ideas for your InfoPics! (Private link removed from this page.)
Share to Padlet: After LOGGING IN, upload your THREE InfoPics to our shared Padlet. (Private link removed from this page.)
sift 3 - Moon Hoax not!
Goals
"Find Trusted Coverage" as part of the SIFT process for the Apollo Moon Landings
Create meaningful notes about SG Collins' video, "Moon Hoax Not!"
Compare the ideas and arguments Collins presents with those of JP Sears.
Steps
Check out this introductory lesson slideshow (Also summarized in the "Analyzing the “Moon Hoax Not” Video with SIFT" video)
Decide what you want to CREATE as "meaningful notes" about our new video, "Moon Hoax Not!" This can be:
a sketchnote
3 related InfoPics
Watch the video "Moon Hoax Not!" by SG Collins
If you are NOT creating a sketchnote, take other notes using Notability, a Google Doc, etc.
Now STOP and INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE:
SG Collins' Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/sgcollins (archived version)
Optional
"diary 2023-04-03" (by SG Collins)
Think about and discuss: What are some reasons we can consider SG Collins a better source about the historical facts around the Apollo Moon Landing in 1969 than JP Sears?
Either:
Finish and "polish up" your sketchnote about SG Collins
ORUse Adobe Express (for iPad/iOS or online) Canva.com to create 3 1500 x 1500 pixel (square) InfoPics about key ideas shared by Collins in this video.
Use this Figma Whiteboard to get ideas for InfoPic messages (your TEXT)
Use this shared GOOGLE DRIVE FOLDER of images for your InfoPics.
Here's the link to Canva.com
Turn In
You need to:
Upload / share your sketchnote or 3 InfoPics to Padlet:
If you created a Sketchnote, here is the PADLET SHARE LINK FOR SKETCHNOTES to use.
If you created 3 related InfoPics, here is the PADLET SHARE LINK FOR INFOPICS to use.
Add your SKETCHNOTE or your INFOPICS to your Google Site / Digital Portfolio.
Turn in the PUBLIC LINK to your Google Site / Digital Portfolio page which includes your Sketchnote or InfoPics here / below!
Bonus Links
Here are some additional links related to this assignment you can OPTIONALLY check out:
Use images from our Shared "SIFT - Froot Loop Conspiracy Theories" Google Drive Folder in your InfoPics or Sketchnotes.
Operation PaperClip (WikiPedia)
Apollo 11 Moon Landing Site Seen in Unprecedented Detail (Space.com)
More videos about The Apollo Moon Landings, "Moon Landing Hoaxers" and SIFT!
sift 4 - culminating video project
(details coming soon - refer to the archived Spring 2024 version of this page)
Videos on Lateral Reading
Check out my main "Media Literacy" website for more recommended and curated resources related to this unit and other topics.
