News Literacy Project
Get Smart About COVID-19
Pandemic or infodemic? Scholars complete an online quiz to determine if they can sort fact from fiction related to COVID-19 information. Pupils view a variety of news articles, social media posts, and video clips to practice identifying...
News Literacy Project
Critical Observation Challenge: Was Elsa Really Arrested?
A 14-slide presentation showcases a social media post featuring Disney's Elsa from the movie, Frozen. The seemingly harmless post received lots of attention, raising the question, how do we know posts are factual? Scholars go through...
Media Education Lab
Propaganda Techniques
In an age of fake news, alternative facts, and biased reporting, it is more important than ever that 21st century learners develop the critical-thinking skills necessary to recognize, analyze and resist the propaganda techniques used in...
Curated OER
News Comparison
Learners analyze how news is presented in U.S. newspapers from different parts of the country. They develop and sharpen their critical awareness of news media.
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News-2 You Weekly Activities
Young scholars complete activities from a special education newspaper. In this News-2 instructional activity, students read the paper, play games, and complete worksheets. Subscription to newspaper is required.
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Freedom of the Press
Tenth graders explain the "watchdog" role of the press. They identify varied roles that citizens, reporters, and editors play in maintaining a free press. They identify value conflicts between freedom of the press and other rights.
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Turning Literature into News
Young scholars analyze the format and structure of various newspaper articles. Then, they rewrite events from literature into news stories about acts of kindness.
Curated OER
The Invention of the Printing Press
Students are guided through a series of websites which teach about the history of printing, the invention of the printing press, the trials of Johann Gutenberg, and advancements in printing. This 20 question multiple choice quiz is...
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Archaeology In The News
Students investigate the different articles of archaeology that is found in a variety of research and news resources. They read one of the selections and complete the worksheet as a guide to writing a summary of the article. Students...
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School News
Students create a video of school news to improve writing skills, speaking skills, questioning skills, and to help build self esteem.
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Words in the News Solar Sail
Bring current events into your classroom! Middle schoolers complete word work activities before reading and discussing an online article. They complete worksheets and an online quiz. They discuss the Solar Sail as radical new idea and...
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Media Literacy Skills
You're on camera! Third graders find a news story and research it to get more information. Everyone uses their found information to write a script and create their own news broadcast!
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Breaking News English: French Football
Intermediate or early advanced English speakers practice their reading comprehension skills with this short passage and its accompanying activities. After reading the text, learners talk about racism, discrimination, equality, and...
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Breaking News English: Apple Suing Samsung
Why is Apple suing Samsung? Give your English language learners a bit of reading comprehension practice. First, they read the short passage provided, and then they complete 10 activities. There are true or false questions, matching...
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Breaking News English; Deadly E. Coli Strikes Europe
Read a breaking news article relating to a deadly bacteria while building vocabulary and writing skills. Critical thinkers work with a partner to write down the different words they have found in the article. They complete...
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Greenhouse Gasses
Learners study words in the news. They explore vocabulary including "climate change" and discuss its meanings and related meanings. They read a text about climate change and carbon dioxide emissions and answer questions. They complete...
Facing History and Ourselves
The Power of Images
One picture but a thousand stories. As a part of a case study of how the death of Michael Brown was reported by professional news sources and on social media class members examine the reactions of various groups to a photograph taken by...
National History Day
Uncovering a World at War
Has media always had an influence on public policy? After researching and reading news articles written during World War I, learners understand the influence of communication and media. They discuss articles in small groups and as a...
Smithsonian Institution
POWs
Why did Vietnam POWs and their families receive more media attention than POWs in previous wars? To answer this question, class members view artifacts, read articles, and engage in class discussion. Individuals then assume the...
Bill of Rights Institute
Preserving the Bill of Rights
Consider how America's founding fathers and their experiences contributed to the rights we all enjoy today. A collection of reading, writing, and collaborative exercises prompt high schoolers to think about the ways their current lives...
Curated OER
Twenty-Five Great Ideas for Teaching Current Events
Teaching current events can be an amazingly-rewarding part of your teaching week. This resource presents twenty-five ways to incorporate current events into your curriculum. It offers some outstanding ideas, such as providing your...
iCivics
Lesson 2: Misinformation
Fake news is a hot topic right now ... but what is it? Intrepid young investigators track down the facts that separate journalistic mistakes and misinformation through reading, research, and discussion. Part three in a five-lesson series...
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School-Home Links/Book Links
Get youngsters reading at home and their parents involved with this at home reading assignment. This resource consists of a ready-to-use handout for documenting at-home reading. Formatted as a letter home to parents, this activity calls...
Curated OER
Intelligence in the Internet Age
Does technology affect our intelligence? Stefanie Olsen's article, "Intelligence in the Internet Age," and the thought provoking reading comprehension questions that follow, are sure to generate a lively discussion.