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Provided by: Project Look Sharp |Published on: September 12, 2025
Lesson Plans
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Synopsis
In this lesson from Project Look Sharp, students will analyze two graphs to determine how the data can be manipulated to perpetuate biases.
Students will grow skills in media literacy by understanding that the same data may be presented in different ways, using different scales, or different time periods to support a narrative or media message.
Media literacy is a vital skill that students will need beyond the classroom.
This is an excellent example of how data can be misconstrued to encourage confusion or misinformation.
Prerequisites
Teachers will need to create a free account to access the materials.
Students should understand that climate change is an agreed-upon certainty in the scientific community.
Differentiation & Implementation
To increase students' inquiry skills, teachers can give students time with the two charts to record what they notice before asking them to look for and analyze specific parts.
Teachers can ask students to think further into bias by discussing who may stand to benefit from climate change denial. Teachers can introduce students to this article, which discusses the climate change denial campaign used by fossil fuel companies beginning as far back as the 1960s.
To make connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, teachers can discuss how many of the SDGs are interdependent and especially reliant on Goal 13, Climate Action. Teachers can highlight how misinformation or information presented to mislead can be detrimental to achieving sustainable development.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Project Look Sharp
Project Look Sharp is a nonprofit, mission-driven outreach program of Ithaca College. Their mission is to help K-16 educators enhance students' critical thinking, metacognition, and civic engagement through media literacy materials and professional development.
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