Media & civic literacy · 35 minutes · Core ages 11–14
Check before you share
Practise checking a claim without presenting an old listing as a guarantee.
Read first
- How to read Gambian statistics
- Businesses, livelihoods and local discovery
- How the guide is checked and kept useful
Investigate
A fictional poster says: “The population is 100,000.” List three missing pieces of information you would ask for. This number is invented for the exercise and is not a Gambian population figure.
Explain the difference between a census count and a population estimate. Why should their dates stay attached?
A directory record says “Contact reviewed”. Does this mean the business is definitely open today? Explain using the directory’s review policy.
Choose a public guide article. Find its source list, review date and one claim you would recheck before sharing. Do not call businesses as part of this activity.
Draft a correction about an imaginary business using: the issue; proposed wording; public evidence needed. Label the draft “classroom exercise” and do not send it through the live form.
Adapt for ages 7–10
Use a fictional notice and ask “Who says this?”, “When?” and “How could we check?” Work orally instead of completing all five tasks.
Extension for ages 15+
Compare two real statistics that use different years or methods. Write a short explanation of why they cannot be swapped without qualification.
Teacher notes & suggested answers
- Ask what place or population is being measured, the reference year, the source and the method. Any three relevant checks are acceptable.
- A census counts a population for a defined reference point; an estimate uses methods and assumptions. They describe different measures and periods.
- No. It means published contact information has been examined; it does not guarantee operation, location or a working phone number.
- Accept a relevant claim and a realistic checking plan. Review dates describe the review and are not a promise of continuous monitoring.
- Look for a clear issue and evidence request, with no private information. A classroom draft should not create a real correction report.
AD-GAM · Activity edition 30 October 2026 · Independent learning resources; adapt to the group.