Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Mention the blue gradient theme and today’s goal: become digital detectives by learning a rubric to spot misinformation.

Display a big, colorful image of the headline. Ask students to read it quietly, then invite a few quick shares of their first impressions.

Briefly outline what students will learn and why it matters. Connect to real life—everyone uses social media!

Define the role of a digital detective. Emphasize curiosity, skepticism, and systematic evaluation.

Hand out the [Digital Media Reliability Rubric Handout](#digital-media-reliability-rubric-handout). Briefly show each criterion—authority, accuracy, bias, currency, purpose.

Model scoring an authority example. Highlight author credentials and publication domain.

Show an example with clear factual errors. Point out missing citations or contradictory data.

Highlight language that appeals to emotion or one-sided viewpoints.

Discuss why up-to-date info matters. Show a dated article used as a current source.

Examine hidden agendas—ads, sponsored content, or clickbait motives.

Divide students into pairs. Remind them to use the rubric on the [Credibility Example Analysis Worksheet](#credibility-examples-analysis-worksheet). Encourage discussion and critical questions as you circulate.

Bring the class back together. Call on a few pairs to share. Record common red flags and best practices on the board.

Collect exit tickets as students finish. Use their responses to plan any reteaching or follow-up.