Noting that the school curriculum is in daily competition with the "alternative curriculum" of the popular media, this teacher's guide presents over 100 classroom activity units to bring purpose and critical interactions to children's encounters with the media. The first section of the guide presents a base for starting to "read" the media, including a set of literate values, a Unesco declaration on media education, a guide to critical "reading" of television, and four basic questions for the viewer to ask when "reading" a television item. The next four sections then present activities for critical viewing of television and television advertising, radio listening, and newspaper reading. The remaining three sections discuss developing a media studies program, sample letters to parents regarding the media studies program, and a list of resources for instructional materials on the media. (HTH)