Two Truths and A Lie - Can You Tell Fact From Fiction?
Grade 6-8

Inspired by the popular Two Truths and A Lie series, students will read about ancient mysteries, outrageous species, lethal lakes, and more. The trick is, while every story they read will be strange and astounding, one out of every three will be an outright lie. Will students be able to tell fact from fiction? Using clever research techniques, visits to the library, group discussions, and our own powers of deduction, we’ll work together to discover what is real and what isn’t. Next, students will choose a topic that interests them to create their own Two Truths and A Lie series - Will their classmates be able to tell? The better the lie, the more likely their readers will be fooled. Students will practice nonfiction writing skills (word choice, use of evidence, tone mimicry) to present their research in a clear and engaging way. Unlike a typical writing lesson, they’ll also learn how to construct a piece of writing that sounds reliable, looks reliable, but is totally a product of their imagination. They’ll ponder valuable lessons about cultivating a healthy skepticism and asking critical questions about what they read, all while strengthening their own writing skills. This course could be repeated in the second session to continue building aptitude.