For a Google doc version of this lesson, click here.
Overview
This lesson is intended to start the conversation about useful and reliable news sources that help us take on the challenges we care about most. It challenges students to think about what information streams inform them now, where they can find news that speaks to their interests and passions, and how to evaluate news sources for credibility and dig deeper for more information.
Essential question: How can you find reliable information streams about the issues you care most deeply about?
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Discuss what news media streams keep them informed.
- Determine what news sources will help them find out more about their interests.
- Assess the reliability of news sources.
- Develop understanding of how reliable news can help them take meaningful action about the issues that concern them.
Subjects
Media literacy, Social Studies, STEM, ELA
Grade Levels
Grades 6-12
Estimated time
Up to one 50-minute class period, plus extensions
Supplemental Links
Google doc version of the lesson
Introduction
Students have the power today to start changing the world around them. Whether through civic action like getting involved with a community group or coming up with inventive solutions to the problems of the day, teenagers have incredible power to meet challenges head on and address needs in their communities — and the world.
But to change the world, students need good information about the problems confronting us all. Where should we go to find news that will help us know what action to take?
Materials
- Internet connection
- Pen and paper
Warm-up activity
Watch the following video and then answer the questions:
What was the last news story you read or watched?
- How would you answer the question prompt in this video? What was the last news story you read or watched? (You can even include just a headline you remember or something you saw on social media, including TikTok or YouTube).
- What answer from the students in this video most closely matches your own interests in the news?
Main activity
1. What do you care about?
In small groups, discuss what topics most interest you. Start with the question : If you could learn more about one topic that could help you make a difference, what topic would that be? You can use the following chart to help you brainstorm.
Common topics of interest for students:
- Environment
- Examples: Climate change, waste and pollution, wildlife habitats, clean air and water, green living spaces
- Inequality
- Examples: poverty and homelessness, civil rights, food deserts, racism, extremism, criminal justice, voting rights
- Natural disasters and emergencies
- Examples: Protecting communities from storms, fires and other disasters; extreme heat; gun violence
- Health and wellness
- Examples: Disease prevention, disability, mental health, food safety and nutrition, privacy/personal security
- Education
- Examples: Engineering better schools, accommodating all students, making schools safer, sports safety
- Quality of life
- Examples: access to sports, arts and entertainment; freedom to travel and communicate with others; ability to engage in and share creative work
You may also check Britannica’s ProCon.org website here, which lists topics of interest to students.
2. Find useful news about the issues you care about most
Continuing in groups, find news sources online on the topic you care about. Aim to find news sources that are recent (ideally from the past couple of years, and the more recent the better) and present new information instead of just commentary on the news. As you search, consider the following:
News bias: For major national outlets, you can use the website AllSides.com , which categorizes news sources based on ideological leaning. Keep in mind political bias or ideology itself doesn’t make a news source wrong or uninformative, but it’s good information to have about a media source when evaluating its credibility.
National vs. local: Sometimes national news addresses topics that affect many, but it’s always worth closely looking at issue in local news as well, especially for problems and challenges that may be directly impacting your community. Find a news source that’s more local to your town or region by checking out newspapers by state here (scroll down a bit).
You may also be wondering if you can use social media as a news source. There are some great news examples on Instagram’s IGTV and TikTok. Reputable news organizations now have IG and TikTok accounts like this NewsHour Student Reporting Labs TikTok on why one mother got her daughter vaccinated as a baby. Social media is a great tool to pique your curiosity, but don’t stop there. Be sure to check out NewsHour's full story on vaccinations in babies.
3. Evaluate a news source for reliability
Continuing to work in groups, compare the news items you found and work to evaluate their reliability.
- Use this checklist from the News Literacy Project to evaluate your sources.
- Then use this form from the Journalism Education Association to assess bias in your source.
Share and debrief
Have groups share their sources and notes about their reliability. Then discuss the topic of each group and the following question:
- Where else could the group go to find out more information about the topic they chose?
Extension activities
- Want to analyze the problem you identified in your news source more deeply? Continue on with this lesson about analyzing problems and needs in the news with the goal of brainstorming ideas to address them!
- Want to dig deeper into media bias and reliability? Check out this lesson on decoding media bias!
Standards
Common Core
RL/RI.X.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
W.X.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
C3 (College, Career & Civic Life)
D2.Civ.7.6-8. Apply civic virtues and democratic principles in school and community settings.
D2.Civ.7.9-12. Apply civic virtues and democratic principles when working with others.
D3.1.9-12. Gather relevant information from multiple sources representing a wide range of views while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection.
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