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Lesson

Updated lessons available!

Hoaxes and Fakes

How can you avoid being fooled by fake videos and other information online?

Grade

9

Time

50 mins.

Objectives

  • Define "misinformation" and explore the consequences of spreading misinformation online.
  • Learn how to use lateral reading as a strategy to verify the accuracy of information online.
  • Apply lateral reading to examples of questionable videos to determine their accuracy.

Vocabulary Show definitions

corroboration . disinformation . lateral reading . misinformation
corroboration – additional source(s) that confirm or support the claims of a news story, article or piece of information
disinformation – false or inaccurate information intended to deceive
lateral reading – a way to check the credibility of online information by leaving the source and seeing what other sources say about the claim and who made it
misinformation – false information that people share without realizing it's wrong
Standards
This lesson meets standards for Common Core ELA, ISTE, CASEL and AASL.
Lesson Slides
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Topics

Information & Media Literacy Digital Citizenship & Literacy
Standards
This lesson meets standards for Common Core ELA, ISTE, CASEL and AASL.

Hey there! We've updated our curriculum!

This lesson will be archived in December 2026. 

We've updated and expanded it into the lessons below.

Young person holding a notebook and pencil doing research
Media Literacy
Building Your Own Perspective
What are you really looking for when you search for information?
Activities:
Researching Skill
Young man looking at computer
Media Literacy
What's Real Online?
Why is misinformation so easy to fall for, and what can we do about it?
Activities:
Researching Skill,
Video
Girl with hands on her head surrounded by talking devices
Media Literacy
Critical Ignoring: What's Worth Your Attention?
How do you decide what's worth your attention in a world designed to capture all of it?
Activities:
Researching Skill,
Video

Get started with our improved Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum today!

See all updated lessons
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Use this lesson to help students understand why and how misinformation is spread. By recognizing these tactics, students can become better consumers of political information, empowering them to make informed decisions in the elections to come.

Lesson Plan

50 mins.

This lesson is an introduction to the concept of lateral reading for your students.  For more information on lateral reading, we recommend these resources:

For related lessons, check out the Essential News & Media Literacy Skills for Students lesson collection.

© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org. Lesson last updated:

What You’ll Need

In Class

For Families

© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org. Lesson last updated: