Media Literacy for Elementary Education Students: Inquiry into Fake News

Abstract This work focuses on facilitating upper elementary students’ media literacy skills development. Students engage in authentic techniques to recognize and verify media content and sources. Relevant background topics follow this structure: (a) introduction including literature review and purpose, (b) brief history of fake news, (c) impacts of misleading information on society, and (d) how to moderate fake news. The final student inquiry adheres to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies. Students investigate these questions: What is fake news? Why should I care? How can fake news affect people and institutions? Why does fake news affect our lives and societies? Interactive, current resources are included to activate students’ abilities to discern multiple fake news concepts and categories. Extra resources accentuate students’ debate skills regarding free speech rights versus media ambiguity. Recommendations for students’ public informed action solutions are discussed.