EMSB classrooms prepare to mark Media Literacy Week

Media Literacy Week (MLW) is an annual event promoting digital and media literacy across Canada. Schools, libraries, museums and community groups organize events and activities throughout the week.

From October 25 to 29, organizer Media Smarts is celebrating each of the first five days of MLW by highlighting one of five media literacy themes - use, understand, engage, access and verify.   

Activities will be taking place in a number of EMSB classrooms.

At East Hill Elementary School in RDP, teacher Nadia Barrafato will be conducting lessons with students in Grades 3 to 6 that week using the lessons provided by Media Smarts. “Our students learn about Internet safety yearly in conjunction with various activities,” said Ms. Barrafato. “One project that stands out is their Internet Safety/ video game project using Scratch. In addition, they learn all about the world of advertising in Grade 6.”

At Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemount, teacher Martin Marcil will  have his students  work on creating  historical comics linked to history and geography in 5th and 6th grade immersion.  His project is based on something developed by the service national du RÉCIT en univers social within the themes for Media Literacy Week. The RÉCIT is a network focused on the development of students' competencies through the integration of technologies.  In this project, students will design historical comic strips in French. They will have to research, select, and use information so that their comic strips are historically and geographically accurate. 

Throughout the academic year EMSB teachers at the primary and secondary levels include various components of the themes of the Media Literacy Week in their curriculum as they are linked to many elements of the Quebec Education Plan and the Ministry of Education Digital Competency Framework.

About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.