G5 Stereotypes & Bias

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Beyond
Bias &
Stereotypes

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | GRADE 5

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How do gender stereotypes shape our experiences online?

Essential Question

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Define stereotypes and describe how they can
be present online.

Describe how stereotypes can lead to
unfairness or bias.

Create an avatar and a poem that show how
stereotypes affect who they are.

Learning Objectives

l

2

3

Introduction Activity

I will read aloud some statements about boys and girls.
What do you think about them?
Respond by choosing one of the emoji responses

Poll

Boys are competitive and like to win.

Poll

Girls worry about how they look.

Poll

Boys are aggressive and loud.

Poll

Girls are drama queens

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WARM UP: CLASS DISCUSSION

What do you think about these statements?

Girls

Boys

●Girls worry about how they
look.

●Girls are all drama queens.

●

●

●Boys are competitive and like to
win.

●Boys are all aggressive and loud.

●

●

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Oversimplified ideas about how women and men are
or should be

Gender Stereotypes

KEY VOCABULARY

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An unfair belief about a person
or group based on a stereotype

Bias

KEY VOCABULARY

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct definition of "gender stereotype"?

• A true fact about how men, women, or people of other genders act.

• Oversimplified ideas about how women, men, and people of other genders are or should be.

• A type of stereo that has to do with gender.

Multiple Choice

Believing in gender stereotypes can result in which of the following?

• Avatars

• Interests

• Truth

• Bias

Multiple Choice

Princess Peach is the only girl in the video game Super Mario Bros. The purpose of the game is to save Princess Peach, who wears a pink dress and earrings. What are some stereotypes about girls you recognize in Princess Peach?

• Girls are brave fighters.

• Girls like pink and need to be saved.

• Girls play video games.

• Girls are strong and powerful.

Multiple Choice

What could the creators of Super Mario Bros. have done differently to challenge gender stereotypes?

• Created new male characters with different powers.

• Changed the story so Princess Peach has superpowers and doesn't need to be saved.

• Kept the game as it is and let players decide how to play.

• Removed Princess Peach from the game.

Poll

How confident are you in being able to spot gender stereotypes online?

• I feel very confident.

• I feel somewhat confident.

• I do not feel confident.

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An image or character that
represents a person online

Avatar

KEY VOCABULARY

What stereotype did you follow or challenge in your avatar?
How did you follow or challenge the stereotype?
What details did you include?

Reflect

Think about the stereotypes we’ve discussed and create an avatar that responds to them. It could follow the stereotype, challenge the stereotype, or both.

Make sure your avatar is clear and includes some specific details.

Use bold lines because avatars are small

​Design a game avatar

Stereotype Bias

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