NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

Congress formally certified the reelection of former President Donald Trump on Monday. It was a routine procedural moment, a striking contrast to the violent insurrection of Jan. 6 four years ago.

View the transcript of the story.

KEY TERMS

certification = a formal procedure to document an official act, such as the election of a president

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. When must certification of presidential elections take place?
2. Why does Congress need to certify the results of presidential elections?
3. Who had the Constitutional authority to preside over (that is, control the ceremony) of certification?
4. How did the certification in January 2024 differ from the certification in January 2020?
5. What promise has president-elect Donald Trump made about individuals convicted of crimes for actions at the Capitol in January 2020?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

What effect do you think pardoning those convicted of crimes for Jan. 6 will have on how U.S. citizens view elections in the future?

Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment focused on the normal procedure of certification in 2024 more than the events of Jan. 6 2020?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Four years later, how do you remember Jan. 6, 2020? Do you think your feelings about the day are the same now as when it happened?

Watch the following video and discuss with friends, family or classmates — how do you think public attitudes towards Jan. 6 have shifted in the past four years? What do you think has caused the change?

Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources.