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.
Key Vocabulary: 24/7 news cycle · bias · breaking news Show definitions
Key Standards Supported
Common Core ELA
L.8.6,RI.8.1,RI.8.4,RI.8.8,RI.8.9,RI.8.10,SL.8.1,SL.8.1b,SL.8.1c,SL.8.1d,SL.8.2,SL.8.6,W.8.10
CASEL
1a,1b,2a,2c,2d,3a,3b,3d,4a,4b,4c,4d,5a,5b,5c,5d,5e,5f
AASL
I.A.1,I.A.2,I.B.1,I.B.3,I.D.1,I.D.2,I.D.3,I.D.4,II.A.2,II.A.3,II.B.1,II.B.2,II.C.1,II.C.2,II.D.1,II.D.2,II.D.3,III.A.1,III.A.2,III.B.1,III.B.2,III.C.1,III.C.2,III.D.1,III.D.2,IV.A.1,IV.A.2,IV.A.3,IV.B.3,IV.B.4,V.A.1,V.A.2,V.A.3,V.C.1,V.D.1
ISTE
1d,2a,2b,3a,3b,3c,3d,6a,7b,7c,7d
Lesson Plan
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.
Extension Activity:
Have students explore Checkology by the News Literacy Project, and complete the InfoZones lesson for more practice identifying newsworthy sources and evaluating breaking news. Print out the Legit-O-Meter poster. Have students use it to evaluate news stories they find online.
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Lesson last updated: August 2020
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News & Media Literacy