Digital Media and Communications

210 Activities

Create, connect, and communicate in the digital world. Learners build media literacy skills through podcasting, photography, coding, and digital storytelling. They learn to navigate and contribute to online spaces thoughtfully and creatively.

Activities

Broadcast News (Student Reporting Labs)

History and Society, Digital Media and Communications

Broadcast News (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

How does news get from the front lines to your feed? Let’s take a look behind the curtain...

Students will gain an understanding of what constitutes broadcast news and how it’s produced. They will use this knowledge to work backwards, investigating and critically analyzing news stories they’ve recently encountered.

This is activity 6 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

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Broadcast News (Student Reporting Labs)

History and Society, Digital Media and Communications

Do Not Sell My Personal Information (Grades 9-12)

History and Society, Digital Media and Communications

Do Not Sell My Personal Information (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students will learn about California’s new data privacy law and create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to educate others about this legislation and how it will affect them. Students will develop key skills in communication, online awareness and safety, and collaboration.

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Do Not Sell My Personal Information (Grades 9-12)

History and Society, Digital Media and Communications

Production (Student Reporting Labs)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Production (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

1 Hour

In this unique set of video tutorials produced by Gil Garcia of Austin High School, students learn about the different roles associated with video production, how to scout a location and set up, best practices for audio gathering, lighting basics, the importance of white-balancing, how to approach interview process, and how to gather different forms of b-roll.

This is activity 14 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

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Production (Student Reporting Labs)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Who Are You? (Grades 6-8)

STEM, Digital Media and Communications

Who Are You? (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students explore the idea that anyone can be anyone on the internet. They role-play various online interactions and try to determine which are truthful and which are fraudulent.

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Who Are You? (Grades 6-8)

STEM, Digital Media and Communications

Build Like a Musician

Arts, Digital Media and Communications

Build Like a Musician

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students learn the basic elements of rhythm. They arrange and rearrange the basic elements to explore various ways to create movement in music. Students will also layer basic patterns to create complex rhythms, mimicking the sounds of jazz.

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Build Like a Musician

Arts, Digital Media and Communications

The Meaning of Music

Arts, Digital Media and Communications

The Meaning of Music

Jazz at Lincoln Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

Through improvisational games, students identify music's ability to transcend language barriers when conveying emotion and experience. Students use this insight to create Sound Skits - or stories told only through sound.

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The Meaning of Music

Arts, Digital Media and Communications

Building an Interview Set A

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Building an Interview Set A

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students bring their interviews to life through puppets and miniature sets. They begin by building puppets to represent the interviewer and interviewee. This lesson, the first of three, provides time for students to build the sets designed in Lesson 20.

This is lesson 24 of PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs' second module, Building a News Hour.

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Building an Interview Set A

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Word Hunt (Grades K-2)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Word Hunt (Grades K-2)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

In this game, children search for words hidden around the schoolyard. When time is up, children work together to combine their words into meaningful sentences. This game builds collaborative learning and literacy skills.

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Word Hunt (Grades K-2)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Quote Match (Grades 6-8)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Quote Match (Grades 6-8)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students find quotes from popular middle school literature and then pool their quotes to play and compete in a quote matching game. This activity may inspire students to read new books.

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Quote Match (Grades 6-8)

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

This is Me: Online Profiles

Social and Emotional Awareness, Digital Media and Communications

This is Me: Online Profiles

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students in this age range may just be discovering social media websites, as well as both the benefits and drawbacks of social media. In this activity, done entirely offline, students complete a simple profile for themselves. The group tries to match the profile to its owner.

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This is Me: Online Profiles

Social and Emotional Awareness, Digital Media and Communications

What is that Tone

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

What is that Tone

PBS

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Uncover the Power of Vocal Tone! In this engaging lesson, students delve into the fascinating world of vocal communication. They learn to alter their vocal tone to convey a specific meaning.

This is lesson 15 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

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What is that Tone

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Picture Book in Pieces

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Picture Book in Pieces

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45 Minutes

Children explore the narrative structure of stories by ordering the pages of a picture book. This entertaining activity introduces children to the general principles of storytelling as well as to concepts that pertain to literature for all ages.

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Picture Book in Pieces

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Collections

Building a NewsHour: Part 3

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

5 Activities

Building a NewsHour: Part 3

PBS

3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Welcome to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL)’s Module, Building a NewsHour: Part 3

This Module from SRL takes youth through the all elements of building their own news hour. A follow-up to the From Concept to Screen Module, this six part Collection takes youth through the all the steps in creating a news hour to tell their stories.

This is Module 3 of 6 in the Building a NewsHour Collection series.

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The News and You: Journalism and Media Literacy for Grades 7-12

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

6 Activities

The News and You: Journalism and Media Literacy for Grades 7-12

Pulitzer Center

6 - 12

How can good journalism empower people? This module begins by asking students to identify what they believe the purpose of journalism to be, and guides them to think critically and creatively about their relationship with news.

Students will move from reflecting on the power and purpose of journalism to examining how bias can affect the news, and the way in which we process information ourselves. Students will learn about news framing and editorial judgment, putting themselves in the shoes of editors and journalists who decide which stories get told and how they are presented to the public. Finally, students will move from analyzing news stories to responding to underreported stories that matter to them through creative and journalistic projects.

Throughout this module, facilitators have access to the option of requesting a free virtual visit with a Pulitzer Center journalist who can support students in digging deeper into any of these topics, getting their questions answered, and exploring careers in the journalism field.

Are you looking for media literacy activities for younger learners? Check out The News and You: Journalism and Media Literacy for Grades 2-6, also on Mizzen.

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Activities to Engage with 'The 1619 Project'

Digital Media and Communications, History and Society

11 Activities

Activities to Engage with 'The 1619 Project'

Pulitzer Center

6 - 12

11 Hours 15 Minutes

Welcome to The 1619 Project playlist for afterschool educators!

These activities give various entry points into exploring the legacy of slavery in contemporary U.S. systems and society, and celebrating Black Americans' contributions to democracy. Each activity is designed for facilitation across one or two 45-minute sessions, and can be completed in any order. To provide a strong foundation for exploring the project, consider starting with the activities entitled "Introducing The 1619 Project," "The Idea of America," and/or "Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery."

Activities in this playlist engage images, podcasts, video, and text excerpts from the project. Students will have the opportunity to connect with the content and one another through meaningful discussions and collaborative team challenges; deepen their research and presentation skills by sharing stories of Black innovators; activate their creativity through writing and visual art; hone their media literacy skills; build historical knowledge; and more.

The 1619 Project is an initiative of The New York Times Magazine that challenges us to reframe U.S. history by marking the year when the first enslaved Africans arrived on Virginia soil as our nation's foundational date. The Pulitzer Center is the official education partner for the project.

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Mizzen Summer Sizzle

Digital Media and Communications, Arts

16 Activities

Mizzen Summer Sizzle

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 12

2 Hours

Join Mizzen and our partner organization for summer learning! This playlist for all ages is a highlight reel of activities from Mizzen's Summer Sizzle features. Continue your summer learning with !Mpact Players, Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Wildlife Federation, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, reDiscover Center, and Mizzen with the list of activities below.

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Building a NewsHour: Part 4

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

6 Activities

Building a NewsHour: Part 4

PBS

3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Welcome to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL)’s Module, Building a NewsHour: Part 4

This is Module 4 of 6 in the Building a NewsHour Collection series.

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Building a NewsHour: Part 1

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

6 Activities

Building a NewsHour: Part 1

PBS

3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Welcome to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL)’s Module, Building a NewsHour: Part 1

This is Module 1 of 6 in the Building a NewsHour Collection series.

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Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Future Ready)

Literacy, Career and Future Readiness, Digital Media and Communications

9 Activities

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Future Ready)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 12

6 Hours 55 Minutes

Gear up for 21st century learning with Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Mizzen!

Designed to create awareness and discussion about how technology and innovation impact the workplace and workforce, this playlist with activities for grades K-12 explores skills and competencies required to success in 21st century careers.

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Reading and Literacy Enrichment, Grades K-2

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

9 Activities

Reading and Literacy Enrichment, Grades K-2

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

6 Hours 45 Minutes

The playlist has been curated to support reading and literacy enrichment through fun and innovative learning experiences. This playlist supports grades K-2 and can be implemented in a various out-of-school settings.

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Building a NewsHour: Part 2

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

5 Activities

Building a NewsHour: Part 2

PBS

3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Welcome to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL)’s Module, Building a NewsHour: Part 2

This is Module 2 of 6 in the Building a NewsHour Collection series.

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