The teacher introduces the topic: Internet memes and how they spread virally in social media. The first task is for the students, individually or in pairs, to browse the Internet for popular memes. (5’).

Each student or pair should find three memes:

• one funny
• one suitable for the current mood
• one that the student can’t understand what its point is

(5’)

Then everyone in the group presents their three memes to the rest of the class. (10’). 

Discussion on the memes after watching them. How could they be classified? What kind of materials are used: images from films, comics, TV, personal photographs? Who are presented in them: pop stars, actors, politicians, athletes; cats, dogs or other animals? What is the message of the meme: Does it tell us anything about the mood of the sender? Is it commenting on other people? Is it commenting on some current issue?

If it is not mentioned spontaneously in the discussion, the teacher may mention how the same image may be used with different captions, or vice versa. (15’).

The teacher focuses on memes whose point was not clear. Those who got the point explain it to the others. If needed, Internet resources may be used to determine what is the message of the meme. Usually memes are based on intertextual references to popular or other well known media texts, and it may be necessary to recognize the reference before the message can be understood. (10’).

In the second session, students have to create their own memes in small groups. In order to do this, they have to look for available meme and gif editors, to gather source materials – this may include taking photographs or video clips with smartphones or tablets. Finally, they should create at least 3 different memes.

The students then present their memes to the rest of the class on a screen and tell them which editors and other tools they used to create them. (30’)

After this, students have to think about possible ways to use the memes. Where could they be published? To whom are they addressed? How does the publishing happen? Those students who want to may publish some of their memes in social media platforms they regularly use, and which they consider appropriate for the specific meme.  (10’).

Closing discussion. (5’).

Follow up (optional activity)

During the next lesson (one to seven days later), teachers check out how the memes have been shared, forwarded and commented. Discussion on why some memes may have gained more attention, and others possibly left unacknowledged. Teacher will describe the basic dynamic of viral distribution, where a critical amount of attention is required in the beginning, and how the peak is usually reached within one-two days, before fading out. (20’).