Home›Lesson Plans›English Language Arts›Media Literacy · Grade 6

Misinformation vs Disinformation

Sixth graders learn a key distinction — misinformation is false information shared by MISTAKE, while disinformation is false information spread ON PURPOSE to deceive. The difference is the intent behind it.

Grade 6Mis- vs Disinformation50 minutes1 class periodMedia Literacy · CCSSExplicit teaching4 StandardsCCSS / NAMLE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define misinformation.
  • ✓Define disinformation.
  • ✓Sort by intent.
  • ✓Think critically.
Essential Question

Both are false — but one is an honest mistake and one is a deliberate trick. What separates misinformation from disinformation?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Misinformation or Disinformation?

Project this and sort each into Misinformation (an honest mistake) or Disinformation (deliberate).

🔎 Sort each — misinformation or disinformation?Try it
🤷 Misinformation (a mistake)
🎭 Disinformation (on purpose)
Tap an example, then tap a box.
The Lesson · Literacy Flow (Hook · Explore · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Mistake or Trick?

6 min

Both are false — but what separates a mistake from a deliberate trick?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a rumor & a fake story.
  • Ask about the intent.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Think.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Mis- vs Disinformation

13 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the sorter.
  • Sort each one.
  • Note the intent.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a misinformation example.
  • Give a disinformation example.
  • Explain the difference.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Give it.
  • Give it.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

12 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Judge three posts.
  • Label each type.
  • Share your reasoning.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Judge.
  • Label.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Define misinformation.
  • Define disinformation.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core ELA Standards (informational literacy) & NAMLE media-literacy competencies.

CCSS
RI.6.8

Trace & evaluate claims.

CCSS
SL.6.3

Evaluate a speaker’s argument.

NAMLE
Evaluate

Judge intent & accuracy.

CCSS
RI.6.6

Determine author’s purpose.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Example cards.
  • Sentence frame: “This is ___ because ___.”
  • Use examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with a mistake vs a trick.
  • Sort one at a time.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find a real example of each.
  • Explain a tricky case.
  • Discuss why intent matters.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔎Example cards
  • 💻Misinformation or Disinformation?
  • 📰Sample posts
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

misinformationfalse info shared by mistakedisinformationfalse info spread on purposedeceiveto trickrumoran unverified claimdeliberatedone on purposeaccidentaldone by mistakemisleadto lead the wrong wayintentthe reason behind it
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is misinformation?
False information shared by mistake, without meaning to deceive.
QUESTION 2
What is disinformation?
False information spread on purpose to trick people.
QUESTION 3
What is the key difference between them?
The intent — a mistake versus a deliberate trick.

Reflect: mis- vs disinformation.

Have students explain the difference between misinformation and disinformation using their own examples. A printable sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Misinformation vs DisinformationFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Misinformation vs DisinformationQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Misinformation vs DisinformationPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: accidental, deceive, deliberate, disinformation, intent, misinformation, mislead, rumor
  1. to lead the wrong way
  2. the reason behind it
  3. to trick
  4. done on purpose
  5. an unverified claim
  6. false info spread on purpose
  7. done by mistake
  8. false info shared by mistake

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is misinformation?
  2. What is disinformation?
  3. What is the key difference between them?
Answer key — Part A: 1) mislead · 2) intent · 3) deceive · 4) deliberate · 5) rumor · 6) disinformation · 7) accidental · 8) misinformation
Part B: 1) False information shared by mistake, without meaning to deceive. 2) False information spread on purpose to trick people. 3) The intent — a mistake versus a deliberate trick.