Created
by: ©Kurt
Haste 2004, mrhaste@comcast.net
7th Grade
Science Teacher, Dodd Middle School, Cheshire, CT 06010
(used here by permission of the author)
Scientific Method and Media Literacy
In every classroom from elementary, especially middle school, and
high school, teachers are continually emphasizing the steps and
processes associated with the scientific method.
1. ANALYZE STUDIES REPORTED VIA THE MEDIA
What parts of the
scientific method are represented?
What parts of the scientific method are
omitted?
Are there any trends in what the media
tends to represent and/or omit
regarding the scientific method?
2. GENERATE PEER STUDIES UTILIZING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD ON
MEDIA RELATED ISSUES
Instant Messaging
Habits/Behaviors
Popularity of Artists Over
Time
Frequency of themes in songs, movies,
television, magazines, etc.
Counting Advertisements in Magazines &
Categorizing
Reinforcing Studies reported in the Media
about the Media
3. OBSERVATIONS VERSUS INFERENCES
Use
of advertisements to identify
observations (qualitative and quantitative)
What inferences are the advertisers hoping
that the consumer will make based on the observations?
HUMAN BODY
Middle school and high school science classes can turn their attention to issues
that are
affecting this generation of students.
1. BODY IMAGE
How does the media affect the issue of body image? (Jean
Kilbourne,
http://jeankilbourne.com,
Mary Pipher, Reviving Ophelia)
2. OBESITY
American culture and nutrition
(Adbusters Nov/Dec.2002; NOW With Bill Moyers on PBS)
3. SEX
What pressures do
students feel by watching their favorite shows, seeing their
favorite movies, listening to their
favorite songs, reading their favorite magazines, etc.)
ECOLOGY
1. CONSUMERISM
What are the effects of
consumerism on the planet's resources?
2.THE NORTH VERSUS THE SOUTH
How does first-world
consumerism affect third-world ecologies, economies,
and lifestyles (opportunity to integrate
with social studies) ?
World Summit Activity: students dialogue
about sustainability and current
practices of globalization as they
represent countries (opportunity to
integrate with Social Studies)
CHEMISTRY
Chemicals are overtly and covertly present in our lives. We have grown
quite comfortable with employing their uses and quickly disposing them.
1. GROCERY STORE STORIES- A CIGARETTE COMPANY, MIXING BLEACH
AND AMMONIA, and OIL STAINS UNDER THE
SUV
Describe the aisle of cleaners in
a local grocery store.
Pick up any random, well-preserved item of food.
Record the list of
ingredients, and find out what they do.
What's the correlation between the size of an
eight-year-old and the location
of sugar-coated food products?
PHYSICS
The physical forces of the universe are a step further away thanks to
our unquenchable thirst for technology.
1. PRESIDENT'S DAY SALE AT THE PACIFIC COASTLINE
Zoom! Zoom! How do advertisements
portray cars, computers, ipods, digital
cameras, 60" HD-ready plasma screen
TVs. gadgets, and gizmos? Why do they
include such tiny disclaimers that tell you
not to enjoy the car the way that
professional in the car is? Will you
ever be able to experience G-forces like that?