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Start-Up Activity
Have a class discussion about what shows or programs students recently watched on TV. Did they like them, or not? What did students learn from their viewing? What confused or bothered them?
Discuss the difference between real-life and pretend shows, and try to help students tell them apart. Pretend shows, like sitcoms and cartoons, tell make-believe stories through the actions of characters. These shows are meant to entertain us. Real-life shows, like news programs and documentaries, show images of people doing real things in real life. These shows are meant to inform us.
Think About It
“Television isn't inherently good or bad. You go to a bookstore, there are how many thousands of books, but how many of those do you want? Five? Television's the same way. If you're going to show people stuff, television is the way to go. Words and pictures show things.”
—Bill Nye
Start-Up Activity
Have a class discussion about what shows or programs students recently watched on TV. Did they like them, or not? What did students learn from their viewing? What confused or bothered them?
Discuss the difference between real-life and pretend shows, and try to help students tell them apart. Pretend shows, like sitcoms and cartoons, tell make-believe stories through the actions of characters. These shows are meant to entertain us. Real-life shows, like news programs and documentaries, show images of people doing real things in real life. These shows are meant to inform us.
Think About It
“Television isn't inherently good or bad. You go to a bookstore, there are how many thousands of books, but how many of those do you want? Five? Television's the same way. If you're going to show people stuff, television is the way to go. Words and pictures show things.”
—Bill Nye
