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 about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

She’s the preschool teacher to millions, though most of her students have never set foot in her classroom. Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, is the creator of the wildly popular YouTube series "Songs for Littles," a lifeline for parents and a source of joy for toddlers. She sat down with Geoff Bennett to discuss how she's using her platform to call attention to the plight of children in Gaza.

View the transcript of the story.

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. Who is Rachel Accurso, and what is she known for?
2. Why did Ms. Rachel create "Songs for Littles?"
3. What inspiration did Ms. Rachel take from Mister Rogers?
4. How is Ms. Rachel raising awareness about what's going on in Gaza?
5. When did Ms. Rachel decide to start speaking out about Gaza?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. Do you think it is a good idea for Ms. Rachel to talk about Gaza on her personal social media platform? Why or why not? Do you think it was a good idea for Ms. Rachel to have Rahaf on her show? Why or why not?
2. How do you think Ms. Rachel is making an impact by talking to her audience about Gaza?

Media literacy: If you were a journalist covering this topic, who would you want to interview about this topic? A viewer of Ms. Rachel's show? A parent of a viewer?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

• Read this article to learn more about what's going on in Gaza and discuss your thoughts with a partner.
• You may want to watch the News Hour video, 7 quick questions with Ms. Rachel.
• Deliberative Dialogues: Did you know there are people trained to help others have conversations about current issues? What do you think goes into their training? Would you be interested in helping others facilitate conversations on what some people perceive as difficult or sensitive topics? To learn more about one group working on "Deliberative Dialogues," see the Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University. You may also want to check out the National Issues Forum Institute to learn more and for a list of issues.

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