Lessons/Activities:

Discipline/ Lesson #/ Topic Major Focus Teaching Activities and Learning Assessment
Time (Major Questions and Strategies Resources Tools
Concepts) Issues

Sociology and 1. First Look at 1. What is a social Minds On: Social Media Social Media
Anthropology Social Media networking and Have students complete a quiz Logo Quiz Usage Journal:
media? that has logos for popular Quiz will contain Students will be
Days: 1 2. How is it present social media websites. Have images of social asked to begin
in our lives? them discuss what the quiz media logos creating a
was about. without the name journal in which
Activity: As a class, discuss of the website, and they detail their
social media usage in students will have use of social
everyday life. This will to name the media (hours,
include who uses it, what is it website. This will types of
used for, brief overview of give them a gauge websites, etc.)
upsides and downsides. of how effortlessly on a day-to-day
Consolidation: they can determine basis. This will
Provide students with the names of social include ads that
overview of Social Media media sites. accompany
Usage Journal, including these social
requirements, information to media platforms
be included, and culminating and posts that
project at end of unit. they tend to
focus on.
Anthropology 2. Development 1. What sorts of ways Minds On: Communication Evolution of
and Sociology of Social Media did communities As a class, discuss the first PowerPoint Modern Social
and communicate prior to instances of social Media
Days: 1 Communication social media? media/networking. Have Evolution of Timeline:
within 2. Historically, how students try to posit what they Modern Social Students will
Communities did this believe to be the earliest Media Timeline develop a
instances. Instructions Sheet timeline of how
 communication Activity: social
progress? Present PowerPoint on networking and
3. Even primitive earliest forms of media evolved.
societies had ways of communication, including This will
communicating hieroglyphics, letter in a include primary
bottle, etc., to demonstrate resources
that even in the most available at the
primitive times people had time and
ways of communicating with limitations to
each other. Give students the communication.
task to create a timeline for
the evolution of modern day
social media.

Sociology 3. Development 1. How did Facebook Minds On: Movie: The Social Movie
of Facebook: develop? Students will share their Network (2 hours) Reflection:
Days: 2 The world’s 2. How does this experience with Facebook to be watched over Reflection on
biggest social parallel popular amongst their table groups: two periods movie will
network trends in social what they use it for, how they focus on
media? use it, how many people they development of
know who use it, etc. social media
Action: platforms from
Watch The Social Network as small startups
a class. After the movie, we and how they
will discuss the progression of gain traction,
Facebook and the way in particularly in
which social media tends to the user base.
trend into popularity. This will focus
Consolidation: on the way in
Discuss reflection and have which things
students complete it. begin to trend.
Sociology and 4. Trends and 1. How do trends in Minds On: Trends Classroom
Psychology Social Media social media On chart paper, students will PowerPoint Discussion and
develop? list recent trends that they are PowerPoint that Observation
Days: 2 2. What role does familiar with. These trends will contain the (Formative)
‘mob mentality’ play will be posted on the front definition of a
in the progression of board and discussed as a trend, as well as Future Trend
trends? class. Students will then how trends are Exit Card
3. What role do discuss as groups why trends propelled into An exit card on
societal norms play in seem to rise and fall so much popularity. This which students
determining which quicker as a result of will focus on mob must use the
trends become technological advances. mentality that knowledge
popular? Activity: garners a following gained to try
4. What role does PowerPoint on how trends for the trend. and predict a
social media play to begin and how they are trend and
perpetuate trends? perpetuated. This will take a provide
stark focus on mob mentality reasoning for
(also known as herd their decision.
mentality) and the role it (Formative)
plays in trends being set. The
presentation will also examine
the roles that social media has
played in increasing
frequency and intensity of
trends. We will discuss trends
of the past and how the
society of the time affects
which trends become
popularized.
Consolidation:
Students will be asked, on an
exit card, to predict a trend
they foresee as capable of
 being popularized in the near
future and why.
Psychology 5. Consumerism 1. How do companies Minds On: Advertisement Creating an
and Social utilize social media to Introduce advertisements by YouTube Video Advertisement
Days: 1 Media attract customers? showing videos of TV (Top 10 Superbowl Students will be
2. What aspects of advertisements from Advertisements) asked to create
advertisements lead YouTube. To be used to an
us to consumption of (https://www.youtube.com/ prompt students advertisement
products? watch?v=Cqlpbtyckr8). with a visual of that
Activity: what are demonstrates an
Give students some time to considered some of understanding
identify their favourite or the best ads. of the
most intriguing ads from their psychological
social media. Everyone will Advertisement factors that are
present their ad to the class Awareness: exploited by
and we will discuss any Thinking advertisement
common themes that present Critically About agencies to hold
themselves in these ads. This Advertisements an individual’s
will be paired with analyzing Article that will be attention.
the psychological components given to each
of advertisements (emotions, student to critically
exclusivity, etc.) that produce think about the
the desired effects in methods and
consumers. Every student will motives behind
be provided with advertisements.
“Advertisement Awareness:
Thinking Critically about
advertisements” to assist
them. Each group will then
make an advertisement for a
given product (which will be
drawn out of a hat) using the
aspects discussed in class.
 They will also be presenting a
breakdown of their
advertisement to the class.
Sociology 6. Critical 1. How do we Minds On: Fake News Journal Entry:
Analysis: determine the validity Show “Donald Trump – You YouTube Video Check to be
Days: 2 Sifting Through of things we see are Fake News” Video that depicts performed at the
‘Fake News’ online? (https://www.youtube.com/ the fake news start of the
2. Information should watch?v=wJxxQM7GxJA) allegations made second class of
be approached with a and “Donald Trump - Fake by Trump to the lesson in
critical eye for truth News Awards” prompt students to order to ensure
and detail, with (https://www.youtube.com/ discuss validity. students have
particular focus on watch?v=qED1fbrnr-A) brought in an
source. videos. Lead discussion of the Fake News ‘informative
class discussing ‘Fake News,’ Awards YouTube post.’
highlighting its controversy Video
and facilitating debate about Video that
what is true. Discussion will highlights the
incorporate the negatives of ridiculousness of
this type of occurrence and the Fake News
the outcomes. Awards that Trump
Activity: put forward.
Have students brainstorm
methods of critically Padlet
analyzing information that To facilitate group
may appear false in the social discussion and
media environment in order to collective ideas on
find the truth. Students will the importance of
then be asked to include the critical thinking.
first three ‘informative’ posts This will be shared
that they see in social media with the class so
(ie, a news article on Twitter, that they can
an infographic on Facebook) consider the points
in their next entry of their
 social media journal. They made outside of the
will then bring this in to the classroom, as well.
next class and, in groups,
share their articles,
inforgraphics, etc., with their
peers. They will then use the
process of determining
validity (as determined in
class) to identify which posts
were valid and which would
be considered ‘Fake News.’
Consolidation:
As a class, use Padlet to create
a group posting on the
importance of critical analysis
when faced with new
information, particularly in a
social media ecosystem where
it is easy to generate ‘Fake
News.’
Anthropology, 7. Benefits of 1. How can social Minds On: Online social Classroom
Psychology Social Media media benefit users? Provide students with the networks can help Discussion and
and Sociology 2. Social media, like article “Online Social fight social Observation
any tool when used in Networks Can Help Fight anxiety (Formative)
Days: 1 the right way, can be Social Anxiety.” Have them Article to describe
used in novel, read it and then discuss it as a a unique positive
positive ways. class in terms of effect and of social media that
significance. will be used to
Activity: prompt classroom
Students will post on Padlet discussion.
what they believe to be
positives of social media. The
class will discuss how social
 media has benefitted them or
any instances that they have
witnessed in which social
media has played a
significant, positive role.
Consolidation:
As a class, students will later
sort the positives they
provided on Padlet into
“Psychological, Sociological
and Anthropological”
subheadings, to help gain an
understanding of how each
discipline plays a role in
social media.
Anthropology, 8. Negatives of 1. What are some Minds On: Negative Impacts Classroom
Psychology Social Media pitfalls associated Provide students with the of Social Observation
and Sociology with social media and article “Negative Impacts of Networking Sites and Discussion
how can they be Social Networking Sites.” (http://socialnet (Formative)
Days: 1 reduced/avoided? Have them read it and then working.love
2. To reveal to discuss it as a class in terms toknow.com/
students that there are of effect and significance. Negative_Impact_
associated negatives Activity: of_Social_
with something so Students will post on Padlet Networking_Sites)
prominent in their what they believe to be This article gives
lives. negatives of social media. The an overview of the
3. Teach the value of class will discuss how social negatives of social
balancing positives media has hindered them or media and will be
and negatives. any instances that they have used to prompt
witnessed in which social classroom
media has played a discussion.
significant, negative role.
They will then contrast this
 with the positives discussed in
the previous lesson.
Consolidation:
As a class, students will later
sort the negatives they
provided on Padlet into
“Psychological, Sociological
and Anthropological”
subheadings, to help gain an
understanding of how each
discipline plays a role in
social media.

Psychology 9. Cyber- 1. What is Minds On: Amanda Todd Cyberbullying

bullying cyberbullying? Show video of Amanda Todd YouTube Video Exit Card
Days: 1-2, 2. Why has it become (Individual whom was bullied YouTube video (Formative)
depending on so prominent? and later committed suicide that depicts
whether or not 3. What effect does it due to the negativity Amanda Todd’s
students are have on the victim? https://www.youtube.com/ trials and emotions
engaging with watch?v=EKFr3TNMJ4k). she experienced
the topic, Ask students what they know when being
sharing about Amanda Todd or how cyberbullied that
experiences, the situation makes them feel. will be used to
etc. Activity: prompt classroom
Group discussion on moments discussion.
when individuals in the
classroom were bullied. Exit card: Unique
Allow for classroom exit card with
discussion on why bullying subheadings: how I
online is easier and more felt during this
prevalent. Collectively class, anything I’d
develop preventative like to share, how
measures for cyberbullying.
 Consolidation: I’d respond to
Give students opportunity for cyberbullying.
anything they want to say.
Provide them with exit card to
enable anonymous
submissions.
Sociology and 10. Creating a 1. Finding initiatives Minds On: Initiatives Initiating an
Psychology Social Media that students deem Will present a series of PowerPoint Initiative
Initiative relatable/worthwhile initiatives that started on A PowerPoint that Report
Days: 3 (2 in 2. How do you use social media websites (Such lists a number of Students will
class social media to as #MeToWe and #MeToo) in initiatives that hand in the
workdays, 1 bolster positive a PowerPoint. Have students started on social report as
presentation change? discuss what these mean, how media, what they described in the
day) they gained traction, how they were for, and what activity section
heard of them, etc. they have done to of this lesson.
Activity: tackle a social
Students will get into groups issue.
of 4-6. Groups will discuss
their media journals and Initiating an
collectively identify an Initiative
initiative they would like to Assignment
undertake. They will Handout
designate how they will A guide for
utilize social media to students that
perpetuate this initiative. depicts what is
Students will then put their required of them
initiative into motion actually for their initiative.
use social media to try and
gain traction for their Report Handout
initiative in whatever way A guide for
they see fit. In a later class, students that
students will present their depicts what is
initiatives the results of their expected of them
efforts (how many retweets, in the report. See
Facebook likes, etc.) to the Appendix for
class. details.
Consolidation:
Each student will also write a
4½ page report, including
impacts of their initiative,
who their intended audience
is, why their platforms were
the best choice in terms of
gaining traction, etc. (Report
detailed in Appendix)