How false news can spread

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Speaking practice

video lesson plan

photo of the author Justa |

LESSON OVERVIEW

This video lesson plan starts with a short exercise on adjectives which can be used to describe media and news.

B2 / Upper Intermediate45 minStandard LessonPremium Plan
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First, students have to match adjectives underlined in sample sentences with their definitions. Next, students can express their opinions in a short discussion about fake news and media. The next task focuses on a phenomenon called circular reporting. Students get a short definition and they have to answer three questions connected with it. Then, before watching the video, students have to explain what a quote attributed to Mark Twain, i.e. “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes”, means to them.

After that, students should watch the video and again answer a few questions connected with circular reporting and fake news. The lesson plan is based on a TED-Ed video entitled “How false news can spread”  by Noah Tavlin. The worksheet is about a very important issue of fake news and how we can stop its spread.

EXTRA TASK – FAKE NEWS OR NOT

There is an extra task in the Teacher’s Version. You can find there some examples of news stories and your students will have to figure out whether these are true or fake news.
The lesson should take around 45 minutes (including 3:42 min video). The video is short and in places can be difficult to understand, so it’s advisable to watch it twice with students.

WORKSHEETS

1

Comments

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  1. Célia Gonçalves

    It’s really interesting and meaningful! It will help me to increase my students’ awareness! thank you!

    1. Stan

      Yeah, that was the plan – not only teach English but also talk about something meaningful and up-to-date.

  2. ELIANE CRISTINA SUSIN

    ANOTHER AMAZING AND MEANINGFUL LESSON PLAN! I LOVE USING YOUR RESOURCES! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

    1. Justa

      Thank you 🙂

  3. Jordan Kirksey

    Just want to reiterate that I love all of these lessons. I have a few lessons I’m refining to bring up to par, is there a way to submit them for other suscribers to use?

    1. Stan

      Jordan, let’s talk over email! Send me a sample lesson you have refined to [email protected]

  4. jpbruce

    An interesting lesson! The game ‘Factitious’ doesn’t seem to work – I get a 404 error 🙁 Are there any other activities or games to extend this lesson a little?

    1. Justa

      Hi! Thanks for reaching out to us! I’ve just checked the link to Factitious and the website works fine. Perhaps it went down for a moment. Please, try again 🙂

  5. Maryyybsh

    Perfect
    It’s really helpful and make us more creative about making lessonplans

  6. Melissa

    Great lesson! Factitious link does not work.

    1. Justa

      Thanks! I’m happy you find this lesson useful 🙂 Unfortunately, the Factitious website doesn’t work any more.

      1. Melissa

        So, probably a good idea to remove it from the lesson plan intro.

        1. Justa

          Sure, we’ve already done that 🙂

  7. cbfrye

    My students really enjoyed this lesson. It covers an important topic that resonates with everyone, sparking great discussions. Thanks, Justa, for the engaging and thoughtful material.

    1. Justa

      Hi! Thanks for such positive feedback! I’m happy your students found this worksheet so engaging 🙂

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