This lesson meets standards for Common Core ELA, CASEL, AASL and ISTE.
With mobile phone alerts, social media updates, and 24/7 news cycles, it's hard to escape the daily flood of breaking news. But do kids really understand what they're seeing when stories first break? Help students analyze breaking news with a critical eye for false or incomplete information, and discuss the downsides of our "always-on" news media culture.
Students will be able to:
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Define breaking news, and understand why individuals and news outlets want to be first to report a story.
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Analyze breaking news alerts to identify clues of false or incomplete information.
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Reflect on the consequences of reacting right away to breaking news alerts.
Lesson Snapshot
Estimated time: 45 mins.
Warm Up:
Who's First?
10 mins.
Analyze:
Breaking Down Breaking News
20 mins.
Apply:
Canceled Concert
10 mins.
Wrap Up:
Trusted Source
5 mins.
What You'll Need
Student and family resources also available in Spanish
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Student Handout: Breaking News!
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Answer Key
Student Handout: Canceled Concert?
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Lesson Quiz
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Take-home resources
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News & Media Literacy