All media – from cereal boxes to TV commercials – contain messages and are “constructed” by people. Deconstruction – or “taking apart” a media message in order to examine it more closely – is one of the foundations of media literacy.

This kit teaches learners to critically think about the media around them through the deconstruction process. It includes basic, intermediate, and advanced "deconstruction questions" that you can use with youth or adults of all skill levels, and key concepts that help foster a deeper understanding of media literacy. The kit includes sample deconstructions of two media examples, walking learners through the process. This kit will help learners have a more thorough understanding of any media message.