Daily News Lesson

SHOW ALL

March 19, 2021, 11:54 a.m.

Student Reporting Labs: Teenagers reflect on how their worlds changed during the pandemic

Summary

For teenagers, this year of quarantine and remote school forced an unprecedented experiment in learning and coping. We asked our network of student journalists to reflect on how their worlds changed and what they're looking forward to once the pandemic is over.
  • Many of the teenagers interviewed for this piece described longing for all the things they missed, including sports and the freedom to drive anywhere.
  • Some also said that the last year has made them more humble or more empathetic.

Five Facts

  • Who appears in this video and where are they from?
  • What are some ways teenagers in the video think about the past year?
  • When and Where are schools reopening?
  • Wh y do some interviewed describe becoming more empathetic during the past year?
  • How has the pandemic affected teenagers differently around the country?

Focus Questions

Looking back on the past year, what was the most important change in your life? Do you think this experience has made you a different person in any way? Media literacy: Where do you think the producers of this piece found the teenagers to talk to?

For More

It's been a year since schools began to close as part of COVID restrictions. As a bookend to the video above, you may want to watch this video from Student Reporting Labs that asks students similar questions about life under COVID, but from the perspective of the pandemics early weeks:

Recent Daily News Lessons

alzheimer-1024x576

Daily News Lesson

How the Mayo Clinic is using improv and music to engage dementia patients

Explore the idea of "music as medicine" and the research behind it

Screenshot 2026-08-26 at 1.04.41 PM

Daily News Lesson

New study reveals widespread signs of brain trauma among former NFL players

"...this is absolutely not a rare disease in the NFL population." — Dr. Chris Nowinski

FILE PHOTO: Parton performs on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset, during the Glastonbury Festival

Daily News Lesson

Remembering Dolly Parton, whose artistry and generosity touched generations

Parton's seven-decade career brought her international acclaim and adoration from fans drawn to her music, charisma and trademark wit

outage

Daily News Lesson

Indiana residents frustrated by extended power outage

Discuss why residents of northwest Indiana are unable to re-establish power many days after being hit by a powerful storm

SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

PBS News Hour Classroom

Copyright © 2025 News Hour Production LLC. All Rights Reserved

Illustrations by Annamaria Ward