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Lesson

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My Media Choices

What makes a healthy media choice?

Grade

4

Time

45 mins.

Objectives

  • Learn the "What? When? How Much?" framework for describing their media choices.
  • Use this framework and their emotional responses to evaluate how healthy different types of media choices are.
  • Begin to develop their own definition of a healthy media balance.

Vocabulary Show definitions

media . media balance . media choices
media – the books, TV shows, video games, apps, and other ways we get information and entertainment
media balance – using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.)
media choices – time spent watching, listening to, reading, or creating media
Standards
This lesson meets standards for Common Core ELA, ISTE, CASEL and AASL.
Lesson video
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Topics

Healthy Habits 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.

An animated alien with three eyes is floating with two eyes closed and one open, thinking.
Healthy Habits
Grade:
4
Spotting Thinking Traps
What are thinking traps and how can they impact our feelings?
Activities:
Dilemma Discussion
A green playing card with a brain and text that reads "Brain Battle" is hovering above a mess of other cards blurred in the
Healthy Habits
Grade:
4
Brain Battle Game
How can we use alternative thoughts to battle thinking traps?
Activities:
Card Activity,
Drawing,
Game,
Media Creation
A tablet contains a depiction of a cat with a magnifying glass with a thought bubble with question marks.
Healthy Habits
Grade:
4
Healthy Tech Habits & Our Feelings
How can I recognize and respond to my feelings about media and tech use?
Activities:
Dilemma Discussion,
Personal Reflection

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

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Lesson Plan

45 mins.
© 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: