Media Literacy and Letter to the Editor Workshop

IndyKids is excited to announce a new IndyKids classroom workshop for 5th-8th grade students in New York City public schools. Led by an IndyKids staff member, the 45-60 minute in-class workshop develops close-reading and writing skills by working with students to analyze news articles and write a letter to the editor. Selected letters to the editor developed through the workshop will be printed in future IndyKids issues and posted online.

To schedule an IndyKids workshop for your class, contact Natalie at info(at)indykids.org. Please include your contact information, a list of potential dates/times and the grade level of the students.

Sample Media Literacy and Letter to the Editor Lesson Plan

Workshop Summary: To increase youth media literacy and develop youth journalists, IndyKids has developed a 30-60 minute media literacy/writing workshop. The classroom workshop develops close-reading skills and allows students to respond to local and world issues impacting their lives.

Workshop Outcomes:

  • Build youth confidence and self esteem
  • Increase youth literacy and academic performance
  • Introduce media literacy and production process to youth
  • Develop youth teamwork and leadership skills
  • Practice and develop youth oral and written skills
  • Build youth social skills and independence
  • Increase youth civic participation

Media Literacy and Letters to the Editor Lesson Plan (60 min)

I. Analyzing Current Events

  1. Students read out-loud an article from IndyKids. The Instructor works with students to outline the article using the categories from the article dissection worksheet. (8-10 min)
  2. Students look through the latest issue of IndyKids and choose one article to read. (10 min)
  3. Students complete the article dissection portion of the worksheet for the article they read on their own. (10 min)

II.Responding to Current Events

  1. Students review how they dissected the article and complete an article analysis where they identify one theme or point in the article that they find the most important or interesting. Students share why they think the theme is important with the class. (10 min)
  2. The instructor gives an overview of the “letter to the editor” genre using an example related to the sample IndyKids article (10 min)
  3. Students complete a short letter to the editor to submit to IndyKids. (10 min)