Level(s): Grades 9 to 11
Overview
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This lesson helps students understand the difference between real-life crime and criminal activities portrayed in crime shows by having them compare their perceptions about crime to actual crime statistics.
Learning Outcomes Students will:
- understand how crime shows construct reality
- appreciate the differences between the constructed reality of crime dramas and crime in real life
Preparation and Materials
Procedure
Ask your students:
- What is crime?
- How many types of crime can you think of?
- What do you think is the most prevalent type of crime in Canada: For adult offenders? For youth offenders?
Administer the Crime Quiz.
- Assign four students the task of summarizing the results.
- While awaiting the results, share the official answers to the quiz with the class and discuss their reactions.
- Have the four students present the results of their tabulation.
- Discuss the quiz results with the class.
Instigate a discussion of crime in the community.
- Is there any?
- What kind of crime is it? (Shoplifting, vandalism, robbery, armed robbery, assault?)
- Why do people commit crimes?
Place the Canadian Crime Statistics transparency onto the overhead and discuss these statistics with your class.
Activity
Journal Entry
- Have students complete a journal entry reflecting on their feelings and beliefs about crime in the community. Were they surprised by any of the statistics? Which ones?
- What factors influence their attitudes and perceptions?
Ask students to consider the types of crime experienced in their daily lives and neighborhoods.
- When it comes to portrayals of crime in society on TV, which television shows (if any) portray crime in a manner that is closest to their life experiences?
- Which crime drama(s) least reflects the types of crimes that might be encountered in the students? neighborhoods?
Evaluation
- Completed journal entries
