- Definition
Bias is when someone unfairly favors one thing or person over another, which can show up in what they say or write. This favoritism can be obvious (explicit) or hidden (implicit), and it can make it hard to be fair or see things clearly.
An article that calls dogs 'loyal and brave' but describes cats as 'lazy and sneaky' shows a bias in favour of dogs.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Bias is like being the referee in a game where your best friend is playing, and you only call the fouls on the other team.
Ask your child: Does this text sound like it's cheering for one side?
Common mix-up: Kids may think bias is the same as having an opinion. Bias is when a preference makes a text unfair or only shows one side of the story.
Examples
- A report on a basketball game that only interviews players from the winning team.
- A history book that only describes the great things a king did, without mentioning any mistakes.
bias is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 5 The Arts
- Grade 4 Language Arts
- Grade 5 Language Arts
- Grade 6 Language Arts
- Grade 7 Language Arts
+7 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
