U.S. Media Literacy Week
The mission of U.S. Media Literacy Week is to highlight the power of media literacy education and its essential role in education all across the country.
Description & History
The annual U.S. Media Literacy Week is hosted by the NAMLE. The mission is to highlight the power of media literacy education and its essential role in education all across the country. U.S. Media Literacy Week calls attention to media literacy education by bringing together hundreds of partners for events and activities around the country. In 2025, U.S. Media Literacy Week will be celebrated October 27-31.
AASL Partner
The National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing media literacy in the United States. Founded in 1997, NAMLE has grown into a national leader in promoting the skills needed to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act on media responsibly. This association partners with global initiatives, including UNESCO's Media and Information Literacy Week, to connect U.S. efforts with worldwide conversations about media and education. Through advocacy, resources, and professional development, NAMLE works to highlight the importance of media literacy by supporting informed communities and a healthy democracy.
Professional Learning Resources
Media Literacy Week Ideas/Events
The school library relies on community engagement and these ideas and events that are happening nationwide may give you the perfect idea to start hosting your own events to educate your community about Media Literacy Week and why it is so important.
Media Literacy Now Resource Library
Find advocacy tools, lesson plans, learner activities, policy info, and free toolkits in a searchable library—perfect for school librarians seeking classroom-ready resources and support for media literacy advocacy.
The K-12 Library Connection: Media Literacy
This resource bank offers lesson plans, infographics, posters, webinars, and media evaluation tools—ideal for school librarians seeking ready-made presentations or visuals to support instruction and media literacy advocacy.
UNESCO
If you are looking for a more global perspective to bring to your school community, take a look at the NAMLE partner in Media Literacy Week, UNESCO.
"Media Literacy: What is it and Why is it Important?"
The article from AllSides is a tool that is often used in information literacy lessons with our students and school community. Get some ideas from AllSides on how to plan your Media Literacy Week for your school community.
News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project provides in-person, online, or asynchronous professional learning on embedding media literacy into existing curriculum. Tools include lessons, games, videos and examples to use with staff and students.
Project Look Sharp
Project Look Sharp provides free lesson plans and strategies for educators to teach media literacy, critical thinking, and media decoding skills across subjects.
Learner Engagement Resources
Common Sense Media
100s of lessons and ideas for teaching media literacy and internet safety, created by teachers. Always free, lessons cover timely and relevant topics including AI, fake news, and online safety. Resources include videos, games, and interactive activities.
Event + Lesson Ideas
Explore curated event and lesson ideas for U.S. Media Literacy Week—featuring activities for all ages like film screenings, digital footprint exploration, community panels, and creative media challenges.
10 Ways to Celebrate Media Literacy Week
Join UNESCO in celebrating Global Media and Information Literacy Week: register your event, use customizable visual templates, host a Youth Hackathon, and be part of worldwide efforts to build critical media skills.
10 Ways to Celebrate Media Literacy Week
Programming ideas from UNESCO
GALE Media Literacy Week, All Levels
Resources from GALE to celebrate Media Literacy Week
GALE Media Literacy Week, All Levels
This Media Literacy Week hub features media literacy tip sheets and activity packets for elementary, middle, and high school levels, all aligned with the Gale in Context platform for ready-to-use classroom engagement.
Newseum ED
Free lessons, videos, and activities for teaching media literacy and spotting fake news—engaging for all grade levels with interactives, blogs, and historical context to make learning relevant and impactful.
PBS Learning Media: Be MediaWise – Lessons to Teach Media Literacy
Be MediaWise is a series of media literacy lessons that teach specific fact-checking skills to help students sort fact from fiction online.
Knowledge Flow
This resource engages learners by providing curated activities, discussion guides, and event participation opportunities that help students build critical media and information literacy skills.
Book Lists & Recommendations
Media Literacy for Kids
Designed for younger learners, this Kenton County Public Library list presents picture books that promote early media literacy and teaches little learners to question, reflect, and understand messages around them.
Children & Young Adult Books for Teaching Media Literacy
Featuring children’s and YA titles that unpack news, media creation, and the difference between fact and fiction, this list will empower young minds with media literacy.
Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship Books (Gr. 4 - 6)
Great for upper-elementary readers, this list includes Killer Underwear Invasion!, Fake News in Focus, Social Media Savvy, Online Safety for Coders, Breaking News Why Media Matters, and more.
Kids' Books About Social Media and Digital Life
Common Sense Media’s booklist highlights fiction and nonfiction titles that address students’ experiences with social media and digital life. Topics include online identity, cyberbullying, screen balance, media literacy, and digital citizenship.
Picture Books for Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy Conversations and Lear…
Shannon Miller’s Padlet features picture books for teaching digital citizenship and media literacy to young learners—covering topics like respectful online behavior and fact vs. fiction. Great for read-alouds and early library lessons.
