Real or Fake?

cgregory

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Real or Fake?

Students will be able to identify real and fake information on social media and explain how it affects their daily lives, including emotional well-being and decision-making.

In today's digital world, social media is a major source of information for 8th graders. Learning to distinguish between real and fake content is crucial for making informed decisions, protecting their emotional health, and navigating online interactions responsibly. This lesson empowers students to be critical consumers of online information.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion and scenario-based learning

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Real or Fake? Slide Deck, Teacher Script: Real or Fake?, and Discussion Scenarios Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Review the Real or Fake? Slide Deck and become familiar with its content.
- Read through the Teacher Script: Real or Fake? to understand discussion prompts and key talking points.
- Print copies of the Discussion Scenarios Worksheet, one per small group or individual if preferred.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Social Media Snapshot

5 minutes

Display Slide 1 of the Real or Fake? Slide Deck.
- Ask students: "How many of you use social media regularly? What's one thing you love about it?"
- Transition to the day's topic by asking: "Have you ever seen something online and wondered if it was real?"

Step 2

Introducing Real vs. Fake

7 minutes

Display Slide 2 and 3 of the Real or Fake? Slide Deck.
- Use the Teacher Script: Real or Fake? to guide a brief discussion on the importance of distinguishing real from fake information.
- Introduce key concepts like 'clickbait,' 'deepfakes,' and 'misinformation' using relatable examples.

Step 3

Scenario Analysis Activity

12 minutes

Distribute the Discussion Scenarios Worksheet to each small group.
- Display Slide 4 of the Real or Fake? Slide Deck.
- Instruct groups to read each scenario and discuss whether the information presented is likely real or fake, and why.
- Encourage them to consider the potential impacts on the people involved if the information is believed to be true.
- Circulate among groups to facilitate discussion and offer guidance.

Step 4

Group Share and Debrief

4 minutes

Bring the class back together.
- Display Slide 5 of the Real or Fake? Slide Deck.
- Have each group share one scenario and their conclusions.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on common themes and strategies for identifying fake information.

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Personal Impact Reflection

2 minutes

Display Slide 6 of the Real or Fake? Slide Deck.
- Ask students to quickly jot down or share one way being able to identify real vs. fake information will help them in their daily lives. (e.g., "I'll think twice before sharing a dramatic story.")
- Conclude by emphasizing the importance of critical thinking on social media.

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Slide Deck

Real or Fake?

Navigating Social Media Truths

How do you know what to believe online?

Greet students and begin with the warm-up question: "How many of you use social media regularly? What's one thing you love about it?" Then, bridge to the lesson: "Have you ever seen something online and wondered if it was real?"

What's the Big Deal?

Social media is everywhere!

It shapes how we see the world, how we feel, and what we believe.

But not everything online is true. Why does that matter?

Explain why this topic is important for them. Discuss how social media shapes perceptions, decisions, and feelings. Introduce the idea of misinformation and its potential negative impact.

Spotting the Fakes: Your Detective Kit

Check the Source: Is it a trustworthy site or account?
Look for Evidence: Are there facts, other sources, or just opinions?
Emotional Appeals: Does it try to make you feel super angry, sad, or happy?
Date: Is the information current or old news taken out of context?
Second Opinion: Does anyone else report this?

Go over quick tips for spotting fake news or misinformation: check the source, look for evidence, notice if it tries to make you feel really strong emotions, look at the date.

Scenario Challenge!

Work in your groups to read each scenario on your worksheet.

Decide if the information is likely REAL or FAKE.

Discuss:

Why do you think that?
What could be the impact if someone believes this information?

Explain the upcoming activity. Students will work in groups on the scenarios worksheet to identify real/fake content and discuss impacts. Emphasize critical thinking and group discussion.

Let's Share!

Each group will share one of their scenarios and discuss their conclusions.

What were some common clues you used to tell if something was real or fake?

Facilitate the group sharing portion. Ask each group to present one scenario and their findings. Guide a discussion about common strategies for identifying fake content.

Your Daily Life Impact

Think about your own social media use.

How will being able to tell real from fake information help you in your daily life?

For the cool-down, ask students to reflect individually: "What's one way being able to identify real vs. fake information will help you in your daily life?" Encourage them to think about their own social media use.

Script

Teacher Script: Real or Fake?

Warm-Up: Social Media Snapshot (5 minutes)

(Display Real or Fake? Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To start, I want to hear from you. How many of you use social media regularly? Raise your hand if you check Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or any other platform almost every day."

"Great! Now, tell me, what’s one thing you really love about social media? What makes it fun or useful for you?"

(Allow a few students to share. Listen for themes like connecting with friends, entertainment, news, etc.)

"Awesome. Social media can be amazing for many reasons. But have you ever seen something online – maybe a wild story, a shocking video, or a really convincing post – and you found yourself wondering, 'Is that even real?'"

(Pause for nods or brief responses.)

"Today, we're going to become social media detectives. We're going to talk about how to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake on social media, and why that skill is so important for all of us."

Introducing Real vs. Fake (7 minutes)

(Display Real or Fake? Slide Deck - Slide 2)

"Let's dig a bit deeper into why this topic matters. Social media is a huge part of our lives, right? It shapes how we see the world, how we feel, and what we believe. Think about it: a post you see can make you feel excited, angry, happy, or even insecure. And if that post isn't true, how does that impact you?"

"Can anyone share an example of how something they saw online, true or false, made them feel or think differently about something?"

(Encourage sharing, focusing on the impact rather than judging the content.)

"Exactly. When false information spreads, it's called misinformation. And there are people who deliberately create and share fake content – sometimes just for attention, sometimes to mislead others. We'll also briefly touch on terms like 'clickbait,' which uses catchy headlines to get you to click, and 'deepfakes,' which are incredibly realistic fake videos or audio that can be hard to spot."

(Display Real or Fake? Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"So, how can we be super-smart consumers of social media? Here's your detective kit!"

"First, Check the Source. Who posted it? Is it a well-known news organization, a reputable expert, or just a random account? A famous person's post might seem real, but are they an expert on that topic?"

"Second, Look for Evidence. Does the post offer facts, statistics, or links to other reputable sources? Or is it just someone's opinion or a vague claim?"

"Third, Notice Emotional Appeals. Does the post try to make you feel really strong emotions – super angry, incredibly sad, or unbelievably excited? Fake news often uses strong emotions to get you to share without thinking."

"Fourth, Check the Date. Is the information current? Sometimes old news or out-of-context photos resurface and are presented as new."

"Finally, get a Second Opinion. Does anyone else, especially trusted news outlets or other reliable sources, report the same thing? If only one obscure account is talking about it, that's a red flag."

Scenario Analysis Activity (12 minutes)

(Display Real or Fake? Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Alright, detectives! Now it's your turn to put these skills into practice. I'm going to give each of your small groups a Discussion Scenarios Worksheet. On this worksheet, you'll find a few social media posts."

"Your task is to read each scenario and, as a group, discuss whether the information is likely REAL or FAKE. More importantly, I want you to talk about why you think that, using the 'detective kit' we just reviewed."

"Also, consider: What could be the impact if someone believes this information and acts on it? How might it affect them or others?"

"You'll have about 10-12 minutes for this. I'll be walking around to listen in and help if you get stuck. Go ahead and start your discussions!"

(Circulate among groups, listen, and prompt with questions like: 'What makes you say that source isn't reliable?' or 'What kind of evidence would make this post more believable?')

Group Share and Debrief (4 minutes)

(Display Real or Fake? Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Great discussions, everyone! I heard some really insightful points."

"Let's hear from each group. Can one person from each group share one of the scenarios you discussed and tell us whether you thought it was real or fake, and what clues led you to that conclusion?"

(Call on each group to share one scenario. After each, briefly ask: 'Did any other group have a similar scenario or a different perspective?')

"Fantastic. What were some common threads or strategies that came up across your discussions? What was the most helpful 'detective kit' tip for your group?"

(Allow for a few quick responses.)

Wrap-Up: Personal Impact Reflection (2 minutes)

(Display Real or Fake? Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"To wrap up, I want you to think for a moment about your own daily life and your social media use."

"In your mind, or if you want to quickly jot it down on your worksheet, what's one way being able to identify real versus fake information will help you in your daily life? How will this skill change how you interact with social media?"

(Give students a moment to think or write.)

"Thank you all for being such thoughtful social media detectives today. Remember, being smart about what you see and share online is a powerful skill. Keep questioning, keep checking, and stay critically aware! Class dismissed!"

Worksheet

Discussion Scenarios Worksheet: Real or Fake?

Instructions: Read each social media scenario below with your group. Discuss whether you think the information presented is REAL or FAKE, and explain why using the 'detective kit' tips we discussed. Then, consider the potential impact if someone believes this information.

Scenario 1: The Viral Pet Video

Post: A TikTok video shows a tiny squirrel teaching a cat to play fetch. The video has millions of views and comments like, "OMG, so cute! My heart melts!" The account is called "CutestAnimalsDaily" and posts several similar videos a day.