In the fast-paced Information Age, it’s become increasingly clear that individuals at all educational levels need to develop stronger media literacy skills. From delving deeper into news articles to spot media bias or making associations between various events, enhancing these skills empowers students to become informed citizens who think critically about the information they encounter.
We’ve put together useful tips and resources aimed at teaching high school students about current events, applicable across social studies, language arts, and beyond. You’ll discover straightforward, standards-aligned methods that empower students to analyze texts, locate trustworthy sources, discuss sensitive issues, and relate news stories to their personal experiences.
1. Establish Discussion Norms in the Classroom
Before incorporating an article or news segment into your curriculum, it’s crucial to establish discussion norms. These guidelines foster a positive classroom environment where students can engage with any news topic, even those that may provoke strong emotions.
- Inform students that respect is essential, even during disagreements, and that offensive language is inappropriate.
- Encourage them to focus on discussing concepts rather than individuals, and to attentively listen to others’ perspectives before contributing their own.
- Use low-stakes current issues to model respectful discourse, preparing students for more contentious news stories.
2. Educate Students on Consuming News
Even at the high school level, students may still need guidance in the nuances of informational reading. Employ the core components of CCSS for informational text to help them thoughtfully analyze news content.
- Begin by familiarizing them with the structure of news articles, including headlines, bylines, and the inverted pyramid layout that prioritizes critical information.
- Remind them that news articles serve as primary sources, but this does not guarantee their reliability, and discuss how unreliable sources may contribute to misinformation.
- Talk about media bias, teaching students to recognize it in the news they consume, while stressing that social media should never serve as the sole source for current events.
Support Students in the Informational Reading Process
To encourage thoughtful reflection before group discussions, implement structured activity sheets, graphic organizers, and analysis tasks that guide students through the main ideas and critical details of what they’ve read.
Use a versatile current event assignment worksheet to review any news story. This resource features a ready-to-use worksheet that includes review questions, an adaptable template for classroom needs, and a digital submission form for students.
This guided activity combines ELA informational reading skills with social studies content, featuring various questions that cover literal comprehension, inferential thinking, and opportunities for students to cite textual evidence.
3. Diversify Discussion Styles and Activities
Engaging high school students in discussions around current events requires more than a standard talk format. By employing diverse discussion styles and activities, you can stimulate critical thinking and ensure more voices are heard.
- Implement Socratic seminars to help students articulate their thoughts and respond to questions regarding current events.
- For events that lend themselves to debate, have students collaborate in teams to conduct formal debates.
- Encourage students to express their views on current issues through journal writing, allowing for deeper reflection, or assign extended research projects.
Design a Comprehensive Current Event Research Project
While staying updated with daily news is vital, delving into an in-depth analysis of a specific current event is equally important. Guide students through extensive research, writing, and presentation projects within social studies.
Consider this adaptable current events research project that meets a range of social studies literacy standards. It includes both a full research essay and a one-pager, along with helpful checklists, annotated sample essays, and graphic organizers.
4. Incorporate Current Events into Your Routine
Students might find discussing sensitive topics easier if current events are a regular part of their learning routine. Introduce news stories on a weekly or daily basis to help them practice analyzing pressing issues.
- Frame a timely news event as a discussion starter that students can contemplate and write about.
- Encourage students to bring in news stories they find interesting and share these with their peers.
- Utilize familiar worksheets or graphic organizers when tackling topical news stories to streamline the process.
Acquaint Students with Informational Text Analysis
Continuity in students’ informational reading practices can be maintained through resources relevant to any article throughout the school year.
This no-prep worksheet enables students to analyze recent news or historical events, covering key details, inquiry questions, picture analyses, and a concise summary.
5. Connect Current Events to Core Subjects
Current events can transcend social studies classes. Discover ways to relate relevant news stories to other core subjects in your students’ syllabi for a comprehensive exploration of various contexts.
- For stories centered on medical research or scientific breakthroughs, examine both the social ramifications and scientific principles.
- Incorporate quantitative reasoning by analyzing data and statistics found in news reports.
- Prompt students to locate news stories related to specific historical periods, literary themes, or the performing arts.
Encourage Personal Connections to Current Events
Students are more likely to engage with news stories that resonate personally. Assist them in connecting current events to their own experiences, historical contexts, or other contemporary issues.
This resource includes various forms where students can log source information as they conduct research on current events, with checklists, rubrics, and guidance on presentations.
6. Introduce Multiple Perspectives
Every individual perceives events differently, and that diversity extends to your students. Teach them to appreciate the complexity of current events by exploring multiple vantage points.
- Encourage students to analyze the different presentations of the same event across various media, including print, social media, and 24-hour news channels.
- Facilitate debates where students express opposing views on the same issue to illuminate diverse perspectives.
- Discuss how the target audience of a news organization can affect its coverage and the importance of seeking varied viewpoints.
7. Be Prepared to Discuss Sensitive Topics
Controversial or emotionally charged news stories often draw students’ attention. Rather than avoid these discussions, engaging with them provides valuable opportunities for processing intense emotions and opinions.
- Prepare to discuss significant news stories promptly, whether through brief class discussions or journal prompts.
- Model your authentic feelings about sensitive topics, as sharing your genuine reactions can resonate with students.
- Reinforce discussion norms and remind students of the importance of respectful dialogue, even when the subject matter elicits strong emotions.
Finding Current Events for High School Students
The days of handing out newspapers to find current events are long gone. Use these modern, free resources and platforms to guide students toward credible current events suitable for classroom discussions.
- Common Sense Education: A curated list of free and paid news magazines with assignments and lesson plans.
- Scholastic Magazines: Grade-appropriate articles and activities centered on engaging news stories.
- PBS News Hour Classroom: Multimedia resources exploring current events designed for secondary education.
- CNN 10: A video resource offering up-to-date news and events for students.
- Newsela: A platform supplying leveled articles and assessments aligned with reading standards for various grade levels.
- Smithsonian: A collection of digital articles and interactive materials to connect teens with current events.
Integrate Media Literacy into High School Education
Teaching high school students about current events organically addresses vital literacy standards and encourages critical thinking. Through these life skills activities, students will gain fresh insights into news and develop informed opinions on ongoing stories. Explore more resources for high school current events to enrich media literacy discussions in your classroom.
Jennifer Gunner, M.Ed.
Jennifer Gunner is an educator and writer with over fifteen years of experience in classroom teaching and educational writing. She earned a BA in English and Creative Writing and an M.Ed., and has taught ELA in grades 7 through 12, including reading intervention, college prep, and creative writing. With a passion for guiding students through literature and enhancing their understanding of grammar, Jennifer enjoys exploring new places, participating in timed writing contests, and sipping coffee while watching her children play soccer.
