Media Literacy Grade 4 Who Made This and Why Understanding Sources

Grade 4 Media Literacy Study Guide: Who Made This and Why? Understanding Sources

1. The Driving Question

If a video pops up on your tablet saying “This one weird trick makes homework disappear!”—who put it there, and what do they actually want from you? Why would someone make a cartoon about recycling, a news story about a new park, or an ad for sneakers that looks like a game? How can you tell if what you’re seeing was made to help you, trick you, or just sell you something?

2. The Core Idea — Built, Not Listed

Imagine you’re at a school fair. One booth gives out free lemonade and tells you about a summer reading program. Another booth has a flashing sign that says “WIN A NEW BIKE!” but when you look closer, you have to buy five expensive raffle tickets to enter. A third booth is just a kid from your class showing off a science project about bees. Each booth was made by someone with a different reason: to help, to sell, or to share something they care about.

When you see anything online—a video, a meme, a game, a news story—someone made it for a reason. That reason is called the purpose. The person or group who made it is the source. Just like at the fair, some sources want to teach you something, some want to sell you something, and some just want to share what they love. The more you ask “Who made this and why?” the better you get at spotting the difference.

Key Vocabulary:
- Source – The person, group, or company that created the message.
Example: A YouTube video about volcanoes made by a science teacher vs. one made by a toy company selling lava lamps.
- Purpose – The reason the source made the message: to inform, persuade, entertain, or sell.
Example: A poster in the library about a book club (inform) vs. a cereal box with a toy inside (sell).
- Bias – When a source leans toward one side of a topic, often without telling you.
Example: A video about dogs vs. cats made by a cat rescue group might show cats as smarter and cuter.
- Credibility – How trustworthy a source is, based on who made it and why.
Example: A news story about space from NASA (credible) vs. a post from “SpaceFan42” with no facts (less credible).

3. Assessment Translation

How This Appears in Classroom Assessments:
- Exit Ticket: You see a video titled “Kids Discover the Secret to Never Doing Chores!” Who do you think made this video, and what is their purpose? Give one clue from the video that helped you decide. - Short Constructed Response: Look at this screenshot of a website about sharks. The URL is “SharkFactsForKids.com,” but the site also has ads for shark toys. Is this source more likely to inform or sell? Explain your answer using details from the image. - Show-Your-Work Problem: Your friend shares a meme that says “Scientists say eating candy makes you smarter!” List three questions you would ask to figure out if this is true or just a joke.

What a Proficient Response Looks Like:
- Names the source (e.g., “a toy company” or “a scientist”).
- Identifies the purpose (e.g., “to sell toys” or “to teach”).
- Uses clues from the message (e.g., “There’s a ‘Buy Now’ button” or “It has facts from a university”).
- Explains why the clues matter (e.g., “Ads usually mean the purpose is to sell”).

Model Proficient Response:
Prompt: You see a TikTok video of a kid opening a box of “mystery slime” that glows in the dark. The video says, “Get yours now—only $19.99!” Who made this video, and what is their purpose? Response: I think a toy company made this video because the slime is for sale. The purpose is to sell because they show the price and say “Get yours now.” The video is exciting, like an ad, not like a science lesson. If it were a real science video, it would probably explain how the slime works instead of just showing the price.

4. Mistake Taxonomy

Mistake 1: Assuming All Videos Are “Just for Fun”
- Prompt: A YouTube video shows a kid playing a game where they “win” a free iPad. Who made this video, and what is their purpose? - Common Wrong Response: “It’s just a fun video. The kid is playing a game.” - Why It Loses Credit: The response ignores the clues (e.g., “win a free iPad,” links to a website) that suggest the purpose is to trick viewers into clicking or buying something.
- Correct Approach: Look for clues like prices, “click here” buttons, or exaggerated claims. Ask: Would a regular kid post this, or is a company trying to sell something?

Mistake 2: Confusing “Inform” and “Persuade”
- Prompt: A poster in the hallway says, “Join the Recycling Club—save the planet!” Is the purpose to inform or persuade? - Common Wrong Response: “It’s to inform because it’s about recycling.” - Why It Loses Credit: The response doesn’t notice the call to action (“Join the club!”), which is a clue that the purpose is to persuade.
- Correct Approach: Inform = facts only (e.g., “Recycling turns old paper into new paper”). Persuade = asks you to do something (e.g., “Join us!” or “Sign this petition!”).

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Source’s Motive
- Prompt: A news story says, “New Study Shows Homework Is Bad for Kids.” The story is from a website called “NoMoreHomework.com.” Is this source credible? Why or why not? - Common Wrong Response: “Yes, because it’s about homework.” - Why It Loses Credit: The response doesn’t consider that the source’s name (“NoMoreHomework”) suggests a bias—they might only share information that supports their opinion.
- Correct Approach: Ask: Does the source have a reason to lean one way? Does it share facts from experts, or just opinions?

5. Connection Layer

• Within Media Literacy → Lateral Reading: Once you know who made a message and why, you can check other sources to see if they agree. If a toy company says “This slime is safe!” but scientists say it’s not, you’ll know to trust the scientists more.
• Across Subjects → Social Studies (Civics): Understanding sources helps you spot bias in history books or news about elections. If a politician’s ad says “My opponent hates puppies!” you’ll ask: Is this true, or are they trying to persuade me?
• Outside School → YouTube Recommendations: Ever notice how after you watch one video about dogs, YouTube suggests 10 more? That’s because YouTube’s purpose is to keep you watching (so they can show you ads). Now you’ll recognize when a platform is trying to “feed” you more of the same.

6. The Stretch Question

If a video game lets you “buy” virtual coins with real money, and the game is free to download, who is really paying for the game to be made—and how?

Pointer Toward the Answer:
The game is free for you, but the company makes money from the coins you buy. They might also sell your data (like what games you play) to advertisers. This is why free apps often have ads or in-game purchases—they’re not really free for the company. Think about it: If no one is paying for the game, how do the people who made it get paid? The answer is usually you, just not in the way you expect.