🌟 Spot the Trick! is an interactive, youth-centered media literacy workshop series designed to help middle schoolers think critically, ask better questions, and feel more confident navigating the media they encounter every day—from social media and ads to videos, memes, and headlines.

This series meets kids where they are. Instead of telling them what to think, they build the skills to figure things out for themselves.

Across three engaging workshops, students learn how arguments work, how emotions are used to influence opinions, and how stories shape what we believe about the world—and ourselves.

The Three Workshops

Workshop 1: “Wait… That Doesn’t Prove Anything!”
Introduction to Logical Fallacies
Students learn how to spot misleading arguments and common “thinking tricks” that show up in ads, videos, and online conversations.

Workshop 2: “Why Did That Make Me Feel Something?”
Emotional Manipulation & Media Tricks
Kids explore how emotions like fear, excitement, and anger are intentionally used to grab attention and influence decisions.

Workshop 3: “Who’s Telling the Story—and Why?”
Narrative Power & Resistance
Students examine who gets to tell stories, whose voices are missing, and how storytelling shapes beliefs—and how they can push back.

Skills Students Will Build

• How to recognize misleading arguments and media tricks

• How emotions are used to influence opinions and behavior

• How to ask better questions before believing or sharing content

• How to think independently—even when everyone else disagrees

What Makes This Series Different

This is not a lecture.

Students will:

• Participate in interactive games and hands-on activities

• Watch short, age-appropriate video and media examples

• Engage in group discussions (with no pressure to speak)

• Experiment with creative, developmentally appropriate learning tools

The environment is trauma-informed, inclusive, and designed to support different learning styles and comfort levels.

Who This Is For

• Middle school students (grades 6–8)

• Parents, caregivers, schools, and community organizations who want to empower young people with real-world critical thinking skills

By the end of the series, students walk away not just more media-savvy, but more confident in their ability to think for themselves.

Schedule a DEI facilitation consultation with me using the scheduling button above to discuss further, or email me at cowriecrossings@gmail.com.