Help students learn how to spot questionable health claims, analyze online information, and recognize common misinformation tactics they may see on TikTok, YouTube, social media, ads, or from friends.
 
In this middle school health literacy lesson (can be fully digital or simply print & go), students look at viral health claims like ice rollers shrinking pores, mouth taping fixing anxiety, garlic clearing a cold, vaping being “just water vapor,” and sunscreen being called toxic. Instead of simply telling students what is true or false, this lesson teaches them how to think critically about health information before believing it, sharing it, or trying it.
 
Students learn how to check where a claim comes from, who is saying it, whether there is real evidence, and whether the source may be using fear, exaggeration, celebrity influence, vague statistics, or “secret cure” language to grab attention or sell a product.
 
The main activity has students create their own fake health ad, post, or article using the “Misinformation Playbook.” Then, students swap with another group to identify the tactics used, spot the red flags, and explain how the claim could be corrected with more accurate health information.
 
This lesson is designed to make health literacy feel relevant, practical, and current for middle school students.
 
Students will learn to:
Analyze health claims from social media, ads, and online sources
Identify common misinformation tactics
Evaluate whether a health source is trustworthy
Recognize how fear, trends, influencers, and sales tactics can affect health choices
Practice correcting misleading health information
 
Included:
15 editable Google Slides to lead the lesson
Double-sided editable follow-along worksheet
"What's Sketchy About This?" paired activity
Fake health ad/post activity
NHES-aligned lesson plan with teacher guidance