Grade 8
Digital Media and Your Brain
How does digital media try to hook you, and what can you do about it?
Sometimes when you're using media, it's hard to stop. Lots of people even say they feel "addicted" to their phones or the apps and games they use. But is digital media actually designed to get you hooked? Have students think about the ways different digital media does -- and does not -- help us find healthy media balance.
Key Vocabulary: addictive design · feedback loop · habit · humane design Show definitions
Key Standards Supported
Common Core ELA
L.8.6,RI.8.1,RI.8.4,RI.8.10,SL.8.1,SL.8.1b,SL.8.1c,SL.8.1d,SL.8.2,SL.8.6,W.8.1,W.8.4,W.8.10
CASEL
1a,1b,2a,2b,2c,2d,2e,2f,3a,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,5a,5b,5c,5d,5e,5f
AASL
I.A.1,I.A.2,I.B.1,I.B.3,I.C.1,I.C.4,I.D.1,I.D.2,I.D.3,I.D.4,II.A.2,II.A.3,II.B.1,II.B.2,II.C.1,II.C.2,II.D.1,II.D.2,II.D.3,III.A.1,III.A.2,III.B.1,III.B.2,III.C.1,III.C.2,III.D.1,III.D.2,V.A.1,V.A.2,V.A.3,V.C.1,V.D.1,VI.A.1,VI.A.2,VI.D.1,VI.D.2
ISTE
1a,1b,1c,1d,2a,2b,3d,6a,7b,7c,7d
Don't have time for a full lesson?
15 mins.
Use this quick activity to engage students around key learning outcomes.
Get the quick activity
Lesson Plan
Warm Up: Attention Getter
10 mins.Watch and Analyze: Why Do We Get Hooked?
15 mins.Compare and Contrast: Addictive Design Vs. Humane Design
10 mins.Wrap Up: Making Healthy Media Choices
10 mins.Additional Resources
What You'll Need
Select resources below, then open in English or Spanish. Unlock free resources
Classroom resources
Take-home resources
Unlock Resources
Set up your free account with Common Sense Education to access the full lesson plan.
Create account
Already a member? Sign in