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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Campaigning for fair use: Public service announcements on copyright awareness

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=939

A lesson plan for grades 6–8 English Language Arts and Information Skills

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Legal

This multi–media unit introduces students to fair use and copyright rules. After evaluating their personal usage of text and media, students research actual laws using kid–friendly Internet sites that explain intellectual property rights. Students also create a 60-second audio public service announcement on a current topic to explain to their peers what their research revealed.

The goals of the PSA include:

  • Increasing awareness of what fair use encompasses.
  • Establishing/promoting an honor code.
  • Serving as a deterrent against dishonest or illegal practices.
  • Improving understanding of personal ownership of all types of text (e.g., audio, video, print, image).

ReadWriteThink provides links to sample public service announcements, student–friendly sites that explain intellectual property laws, rubrics for evaluation, and specific assignment guidelines.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 2: The learner will explore and analyze information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Explore informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understand of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
      • studying the characteristics of informational works.
      • restating and summarizing information.
      • determining the importance and accuracy of information.
      • making connections between works, self and related topics/information.
      • comparing and/or contrasting information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • generating questions.
    • Objective 2.02: Use multiple sources of print and non-print information in developing informational materials such as brochures, newsletters, and infomercials by:
      • exploring a variety of sources from which information may be attained (e.g., books, Internet, electronic databases, CD-ROM).
      • distinguishing between primary and secondary sources.
      • analyzing the effects of the presentation and/or accuracy of information.
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.01: Increase fluency, comprehension, and insight through a meaningful and comprehensive literacy program by:
      • using effective reading strategies to match type of text.
      • reading self-selected literature and other materials of individual interest.
      • reading literature and other materials selected by the teacher.
      • discussing literature in teacher-student conferences and small group discussions.
      • taking an active role in whole class seminars.
      • discussing and analyzing the effects on texts of such literary devices as figurative language, dialogue, flashback and sarcasm.
      • interpreting text by explaining elements such as plot, theme, point of view, characterization, mood, and style.
      • investigating examples of distortion and stereotypes.
      • recognizing underlying messages in order to identify recurring theme(s) within and across works.
      • extending understanding by creating products for different purposes, different audiences and within various contexts.
      • exploring relationships between and among characters, ideas, concepts and/or experiences.

Grade 7

  • Goal 2: The learner will synthesize and use information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • analyzing the characteristics of informational works.
      • summarizing information.
      • determining the importance of information.
      • making connections to related topics/information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • generating questions.
    • Objective 2.02: Use multiple sources of print and non-print information in designing and developing informational materials (such as brochures, newsletters and informercials) through:
      • identifying and using appropriate primary and secondary sources.
      • comparing, contrasting, and evaluating information from different sources about the same topic.
      • evaluating information for extraneous details, inconsistencies, relevant facts, and organization.
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.01: Increase fluency, comprehension, and insight through a meaningful and comprehensive reading program by:
      • using effective reading strategies to match type of text.
      • reading self-selected literature and other materials of individual interest.
      • reading literature and other materials selected by the teacher.
      • assuming an active role in teacher-student conferences.
      • engaging in small group discussions.
      • taking an active role in whole class seminars.
      • analyzing the effects on texts of such literary devices as figuarative language, dialogue, flashback, allusion, and irony.
      • analyzing the effects of such elements as plot, theme, point of view, characterization, mood, and style.
      • analyzing themes and central ideas in literature and other texts in relation to personal issues/experiences.
      • extending understanding by creating products for different purposes, different audiences and within various contexts.
      • analyzing the connections of relationships between and among characters, ideas, concepts, and/or experiences.

Grade 8

  • Goal 2: The learner will use and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Analyze and evaluate informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • recognizing the characteristics of informational materials.
      • summarizing information.
      • determining the importance of information.
      • making connections to related topics/information.
      • drawing inferences.
      • generating questions.
      • extending ideas.
    • Objective 2.02: Use multiple sources of print and non-print information to explore and create research products in both written and presentational forms by:
      • determining purpose, audience, and context.
      • understnaing the focus.
      • recognizing and/or choosing a relevant topic.
      • recognizing and/or selecting presentational format (e.g., video, essay, interactive technology) appropriate to audience.
      • evaluating information for extraneous detail, inconsistencies, relevant facts, and organization.
      • researching and organizing information to achieve purpose.
      • using notes and/or memory aids to structure information.
      • supporting ideas with examples, definitions, analogies, and direct references to primary and secondary sources.
      • noting and/or citing sources used.
      • recognizing the use of and/or employing graphics such as charts, diagrams,and graphs to enhance the communication of information.
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.01: Increase fluency, comprehension, and insight through a meaningful and comprehensive literacy program by:
      • using effective reading strategies to match type of text.
      • reading self-selected literature and other materials of interest to the individual.
      • reading literature and other materials selected by the teacher.
      • assuming a leadership role in student-teacher reading conferences.
      • leading small group discussions.
      • taking an active role in whole class seminars.
      • analyzing the effects of elements such as plot, theme, charaterization, style, mood, and tone.
      • discussing the effects of such literary devices as figurative language, dialogue, flashback, allusion, irony, and symbolism.
      • analyzing and evaluating themes and central ideas in literature and other texts in relation to personal and societal issues.
      • extending understanding by creating products for different purposes, different audiences, and within various contexts.
      • analyzing and evaluating the relationships between and among characters, ideas, concepts, and/or experiences.

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 6

  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
    • Objective 4.06: Comply with the Copyright Law (P. L. 94-553).
    • Objective 4.09: Produce and present findings in various formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).

Grade 7

  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
    • Objective 4.06: Comply with the Copyright Law (P. L. 94-553).
    • Objective 4.09: Produce and present findings in various formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).

Grade 8

  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
    • Objective 4.06: Comply with the Copyright Law (P. L. 94-553).
    • Objective 4.09: Produce and present findings in various formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).