Top 5 Media Literacy Resources for Environmental Science

This article was updated on April  7, 2021.

Science literacy skills are grounded in the ability to evaluate data, build arguments based on evidence and clearly communicate those ideas to others. With our current environmental challenges make this more crucial than ever. Media literacy strengthens these skills by giving students modern tools, such as podcasts, infographics and map-making, to demonstrate the science concepts they are learning.

Whether you’re looking to learn new skills yourself or want some fresh content that’ll generate lively engagement in your classroom, we’ve got you covered. Our free resources for science teachers will help you integrate media literacy into lessons on the environment, climate, carbon tracking and more.

Professional Development

Graphic and Interactive Media Production for the Classroom (Grades K-12)
In this online, instructor-led KQED Media Academy course, you’ll learn to represent complex ideas, information, and data in compelling infographics and interactive maps. Participants will receive personalized feedback on their work by KQED content experts and a certificate of completion. Course starts April 12, but enrollment is open through April 18.

You can find additional courses on media making and media analysis on KQED Teach.

Media Literacy Workshops (Grades 6-12)
KQED offers many free 1-hour workshops to boost your media literacy skills, from infographics to video projects to micro-credentials. Some of our upcoming media-making workshops include:

• April 29: Infographics to Strengthen Data Literacy and Student Voice in Science
• May 19: Using Video Projects to Motivate Student Learning

Classroom Resources

Youth Media Challenge: Engineering for Good (Grades 6-12)
Middle and high school students show off their creative problem solving through the engineering design process by developing solutions for real-world problems. The project culminates in students making short videos to communicate their solutions that will get published on an online nationwide showcase and considered for publication on KQED programming. Preview the curriculum.

KQED Learn Discussions (Grades 6-12)
Our Above the Noise videos for middle and high school students prompt discussions that require students to analyze information about environmental topics and build arguments supported by evidence. Try one of these for starters:

• Are You an Optimist or Pessimist About Our Ability to Take on Climate Change?
• Is It Time for You to Ditch Meat and Dairy?
• Is Earth Running Out of Water?
• Is Carbon Tax the Best Way to Slow Climate Change?
• Would Banning Plastic Bottles Help or Hurt the Planet?

PBS LearningMedia (Grades 4+)
Every day is Earth Day with this video collection for grades 4 and up that covers a range of topics like the history of the environmental movement, environmental justice implications of pollution and waste disposal, and the role of new technologies in conservation efforts. Or explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small with our popular video series Deep Look.