Lateral Reading Lesson Script

Introduction: The Challenge of Online Information (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a quick thought experiment. In today's world, we're constantly bombarded with information online – news articles, social media posts, videos. My question to you is: How do you know if something you read or see online is actually true? Turn to a partner and share your initial thoughts for about 30 seconds."

(Allow students to discuss briefly. Call on a few students to share their methods.)

Teacher: "Great responses! It's tough, right? We live in what some call the 'digital jungle,' where not everything is as it seems. There's a lot of misinformation out there – false or inaccurate information that can sometimes be intentionally misleading. It spreads incredibly fast and can really influence our opinions and even big decisions in society. And the tricky part? It's not always easy to spot!"

"That's why today, we're going to learn a crucial skill, a 'digital superpower,' if you will, called Lateral Reading. This skill will help you become master detectives of the internet, able to quickly figure out what's trustworthy and what's not. Let's look at our first slide."

(Display Lateral Reading: Your Digital Superpower! Slide Deck - Slide 1 & 2)

What is Lateral Reading? (7 minutes)

Teacher: "So, what is lateral reading? Think about it this way: when you're reading a book, you read from top to bottom, right? We call that 'vertical reading.' But when you're trying to verify information online, vertical reading isn't enough. Lateral reading means you literally open new tabs and leave the website you're on to investigate its claims and credibility by checking other, more reliable sources."

(Display Lateral Reading: Your Digital Superpower! Slide Deck - Slide 3)

Teacher: "Imagine you're a detective. If you only talk to one witness, you might get a biased story. A good detective gathers evidence from multiple sources to get the full picture. That's exactly what we do with lateral reading!"

(Display Lateral Reading: Your Digital Superpower! Slide Deck - Slide 4)

Teacher: "Let me show you a quick example. (Teacher projects a hypothetical news article on a topic relevant to students, e.g., a strange health claim or an unusual historical fact.) Let's say I stumble upon this article. Instead of just reading down the page, I'd immediately ask: 'Who wrote this? What's this website about? Are there other sources talking about this?' I'd open new tabs and type the website's name into Google to see what Wikipedia says about it, or if major news organizations have reported on this topic. I might even check a fact-checking site like Snopes. My goal isn't to read the whole new article, but to get quick answers about the source and the claim."

(Teacher briefly demonstrates this process, verbally explaining thoughts and actions.)

Guided Practice: Lateral Reading Scenarios (8 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to be digital detectives. I'm going to hand out a Lateral Reading Scenario Worksheet. Each worksheet has a few scenarios, each with a link to an online article or website. Your task, in pairs or small groups, is to practice lateral reading. Use your devices to investigate the sources and answer the questions on the worksheet. Remember to open new tabs and don't be afraid to leave the original site! You'll have about 5 minutes for this."

(Distribute Lateral Reading Scenario Worksheet. Allow students to work. Circulate and assist.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share what they found for Scenario 1? What did you discover about the source or the information, and how did lateral reading help you?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion, reinforcing good lateral reading habits.)

Teacher: "Excellent job, everyone. It's clear that by taking a few extra moments to check outside sources, you can quickly uncover a lot about the trustworthiness of information online."

(Display Lateral Reading: Your Digital Superpower! Slide Deck - Slide 5)

Wrap-up & Assessment (5 minutes)

Teacher: "To wrap up, remember that lateral reading is your superpower in the digital world. It helps you stop the spread of misinformation and become a more informed and responsible digital citizen. Always be skeptical, don't rely on just one source, and use your detective skills!"

"For our exit ticket today, please complete this Lateral Reading Quick Check Quiz. It's a quick way for me to see what you've learned. Please complete it individually and turn it in as you leave."

(Distribute Lateral Reading Quick Check Quiz and collect upon completion.)

Lateral Reading Scenario Worksheet

Instructions: For each scenario below, you will be given a link to an online source. Your task is to practice lateral reading. That means, instead of just reading the article on the given website, you should open new tabs and use search engines, fact-checking sites, and other reputable sources to investigate the original website and its claims. Answer the questions that follow.

Scenario 1: The "Miracle Cure" Article

You see an article shared on social media titled: "Scientists Discover Ancient Herb That Cures All Colds Overnight!"

Link: (Imagine a fictional link here, e.g., https://www.natural-healing-secrets.info/miracle-herb-cold-cure)

1. Stop & Think: What is your initial reaction to this headline? Does anything make you skeptical?
   
   
   

2. Investigate the Source (in a new tab):

   • Who runs "natural-healing-secrets.info"? What does Wikipedia or another search say about this website?
     
     
     
     
     
   • Does the website appear to sell products? Is there an "About Us" page? What does it tell you?
     
     
     
     
     

3. Find Other Coverage (in new tabs):

   • Do major health organizations (like the CDC or WHO) or reputable news sources report on a "miracle cold cure"?
     
     
     
     
     
   • What do fact-checking websites (like Snopes or FactCheck.org) say about this type of claim or this specific website?
     
     
     
     
     

4. Conclude: Based on your lateral reading, how credible do you find the original article? Why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Scenario 2: The "Local Alien Sighting" Report

You read a post on a neighborhood forum about a local resident claiming to have seen aliens in the community park last night. The post links to a local blog.

Link: (Imagine a fictional link here, e.g., https://www.ourtown-unexplained.blog/alien-park-sighting)

1. Stop & Think: What are your initial thoughts on this story?
   
   
   

2. Investigate the Source (in a new tab):

   • Who is the author of the blog post? What can you find out about them?
     
     
     
     
     
   • What is the overall tone and purpose of "ourtown-unexplained.blog"? Is it satire, personal opinion, or serious journalism?
     
     
     
     
     

3. Find Other Coverage (in new tabs):

   • Do any local news outlets (reputable ones) report on an alien sighting in the park?
     
     
     
     
     
   • Are there any official statements from local authorities or park officials regarding unusual events?
     
     
     
     
     

4. Conclude: How credible do you find the blog post after using lateral reading? Explain your reasoning.