Real or Fantasy
Real or Fantasy
Curriculum Map | Digital Foundations
Summary
Students learn to sort images, stories, and digital examples as real, fantasy, edited, or uncertain. This is a foundation for later media literacy and AI conversations.
Teacher Overview
Use this lesson before or alongside AI, AR, and VR. It gives younger students practical language for noticing clues and asking questions about what they see.
Core idea:
- Some media shows real things.
- Some media shows imagined or fantasy things.
- Some media can be changed by digital tools.
- Students can look for clues and ask an adult when unsure.
Level 1 - Entry
Goal: Students can sort clear examples into real and fantasy.
Teacher prep:
- Open the teacher slides.
- Prepare a few simple examples.
Steps:
- Show a real example and a fantasy example.
- Ask students what clues they notice.
- Sort examples together.
- Students explain one choice.
- Reinforce that unsure is an acceptable answer.
Check for understanding:
- Student can sort an obvious real or fantasy example.
Extension:
- Ask students to draw a real object and a fantasy version.
Level 2 - Developing
Goal: Students can use clues to sort real, fantasy, edited, or uncertain examples.
Teacher prep:
- Prepare examples with clearer and less clear clues.
Steps:
- Review real and fantasy.
- Add edited or uncertain examples.
- Students identify clues such as impossible features, unusual colors, or context.
- Students sort examples and give reasons.
- Discuss asking for help before believing or sharing.
Check for understanding:
- Student can give one clue for their sort.
Extension:
- Ask students to explain why an example could be uncertain.
Level 3 - Extending
Goal: Students can explain why checking media matters before believing or sharing.
Teacher prep:
- Prepare a safe scenario about seeing surprising media online.
Steps:
- Present the scenario.
- Students identify what they know and what they do not know.
- Students list clues and questions.
- Students decide what a safe next step would be.
- Students explain why checking matters.
Check for understanding:
- Student can connect media checking to safe and respectful sharing.
Extension:
- Ask students to create a class "look for clues" poster or slide.