Teaching about Plagiarism with Fun Improv Games (free lesson plan)

One of my Drama Games students put together an excellent lesson plan using improv theatre games on Plagiarism using this awesome resource from Common Sense Media:

 https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/classroom_curriculum/3-5-unit1-whoseisitanyway.pdf

Introduction: Library Session #1

1. Ask students if they have ever created something that they are really proud of. How would you be able to convince others that it was really yours? How would you feel if someone else pretended that they made it?
2. Define the word plagiarism. Using all or some of someone else’s ideas and saying that you created it. It’s a form of stealing and there can be some serious consequences for plagiarizing.
3. Explain how plagiarizing can be copying and pasting text or images or videos without giving the creator credit for it. If credit is not given, then it is assumed that the person who copied is the creator.
4. Explain that apart from stealing, another reason not to plagiarize is to show respect to the creator.
5. Define respect. A way of showing that you admire and value something.
6. Play Scenes from a Hat called Okay or No way. Place four or five different scenarios of plagiarizing or correctly giving credit in a hat. Choose to have a couple of the students come up, draw the scenario and act it out. Class discusses if it was plagiarizing or giving proper credit. Have a couple more students come up and do the next scenario.
7. Wrap up: have students explain plagiarism and respect.
8. End the session with the opportunity for students to check out books.

Lesson 1: Library Session #2

1. Read book What Happened When Marion Copied by Brook Berg.
2. Discuss the story with the students.
3. Review from last week what was learned about plagiarism and respect and some of the consequences of plagiarizing.
4. Explain that one way of showing respect is to give credit to the creator when using other people’s work or ideas. One way to give credit to others is to cite your sources, or include a citation.
5. Define citation. A formal note of credit to an author that includes their name (if it is available), the date published (if it is available), and where you found it.
6. Play Fortunately/Unfortunately . Students will create a story about plagiarism using the Fortunately/Unfortunately format.
7. Wrap up: have students explain what “cite your source” or include a citation means.
8. End the session with the opportunity for students to check out books.

Lesson 2: Library Session #3

1. Review “citing your source” and include a citation.
2. Introduce MLA style of citations by projecting it on the Smart Board.
3. Then project the internet article One Small Step, One Great Man www.timeforkids.com/news/one-small-step-one-great-man/44396.
4. Give students a handout for the students to fill in the different sections of the citation.
5. Have different students indicate from the article what the different sections would be. The class fills in the citation.
6. Pass out different nonfiction books to the different table groups.
7. Have the students look for the author’s list of citations. (bibliography)
8. Explain what bibliography is. A list of all the sources the author(s) used in sharing the information.
9. End the session with the opportunity to check out books.

Lesson 3, Library Session #3

1. Review: what are some of the things that should be included in a citation?
2. Review: what is a bibliography?
3. Give students an article printed from Time for Kids and a worksheet for them to record the citation of the article.
4. Give students about 10 min. to write out their citation.
5. Put up a poster explaining each section of the citation for the students to use for the game.
6. Play Bobbity Balloon Race. Students will form 2 teams. Each half of the team will line up at opposite ends of the room. The first player on each team will bop the balloon to the next line. When the balloon is passed off, player must state the first part of a citation. The next person bops it to the other side explaining the next part of the citation until everyone has had a turn. The first team finished sits down.
7. End the session with the opportunity to check out books.

Lesson 4, Library Session #4 Assessment—can students identify situations where plagiarism takes place?

1. Review everything we’ve discussed about plagiarism.
2. Read the book The Pirates of Plagiarism by Kathleen Fox, Lisa Downey.
3. Students will play the purchased Bingo game The Pirates of Plagiarism. The game entails determining if something is plagiarism or not. Students have the opportunity to go on a treasure hunt if the answer is giving credit or walking the plank if they are “caught” plagiarizing.
4. End the session with the opportunity to check out books.

Thank you Irma!