Prepare your students for tomorrow's headlines with essential news and media literacy materials.
From misinformation to the 24-hour news cycle (on TV and now on social media), students must learn to navigate a noisy, biased, and challenging world. But with the right support, they can learn to be critical and not cynical -- to speak up, not sit back. This collection of news and media lessons, videos, printables, and more is a great place to start. Everything's been carefully vetted by Common Sense editors (and fellow teachers) to help you find that "just right" resource for your classroom.
Check out our current favorites below. Read on for full collections.
The Courage of Ida B. Wells
Watch this video to kick off a discussion about the life of journalist and advocate for justice Ida B. Wells.
Being Civil Online
Try out this short activity with your teen students to help them think through civil discourse.
Above the Noise Video Series
Explore this channel full of evidence-backed discussions of tricky and important topics.
Curated Picks from Across the Web
News Literacy Collection
- Fact-checking and critical thinking
- Breaking news
- Misinformation and disinformation
- Finding credible information
Media Literacy Collection
- Interpreting media messages
- Media platforms and industries
- Creating media and media production
- Media manipulation
Social and Cultural Literacy Collection
- Cultural understanding
- Bias and prejudice
- Difficult conversations
- Equity and social justice