modified by Meredith Henry

Grade: 2 - 4

Critical Task: Students will survey their television viewing & decide "is television for learning or for enjoyment?"

Overview: The students will examine the kinds of televisions shows they watch on TV and why they like to watch them. As a group the students will decide on criteria for an "educational" show and an "enjoyable" show, and will conduct a two-week survey in their home, where they watch (and rate) a different show every night. They are to answer a set of questions about each program they watch. 

Requisite Tools:

Background Knowledge:

• Students will have watched television
• Understanding that individuals have differing view about topics & it is important to respect that

• Students will fill out program questionnaires for at least nine programs
• Students will explain their judgment based on the class criteria for what is an "educational" show vs. an "enjoyable" show

• Bias: Alternative Perspectives
• Educational / Enjoyable

• Program questionnaires
• T-Chart - listing criteria for "educational" & "enjoyable"

• Respectful of differing opinions
• Understanding "Preference" 

STEP A: Gaining background knowledge on subject

• Students will discuss TV shows they like and WHY?
• Students will discuss validity of "Preference" and "Bias"

STEP B: Introduce Critical Thinking Challenge.

• Students will discuss criteria for what makes a show "enjoyable" vs "educational"
• List criteria on T-Chart
• Students develop "questionnaire" for rating programs (teacher reproduces for booklets)

STEP C: Forming a judgment

• Students view one different show each evening & fill out questionnaire listing their responses.
• Students continue gathering "data" for two weeks (nine different programs 'suggested')

STEP D: Evaluation of critical thinking:

• Students summarize "data" within groups of four - compile "listings" and "ratings" and form conclusions regarding habits and criteria
• Students write reflections to support their decisions & the decisions of their classmates (understanding "preference" & "bias")

Grade 2/3, Grade 4

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