How to address violence in the news with your kids.
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Best News- and Media-Literacy Resources for Students
Top Picks
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Help Students Critically Evaluate Media
Project Look Sharp
Mighty media literacy resources powered by inquiry-based approach
Bottom line: A thoughtfully-created collection of tools for teaching media literacy across the curriculum.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
ThinkCERCA
Structured literacy program inspires deep analysis, thoughtful writing
Bottom line: This is an expertly scaffolded and pedagogically sound resource for developing critical reading and writing skills.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Paid
Critical Media Project
Relevant media clips get students examining identity, culture
Bottom line: Teachers will need to take time to build effective lessons, but if they do, this is a useful, relevant, high-interest resource for deconstructing identity and building critical thinking and empathy skills.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Digital Public Library of America
Organized digital library features piles of useful primary resources
Bottom line: DPLA is at the top of the list of high-grade, online primary source collections if teachers make effective use of what's on offer.
Grades: 5–12
Price: Free
Hypothes.is
Browser extension adds layer of annotation and discussion to the web
Bottom line: Free, user-friendly tool opens up the web to in-context annotation and discussion.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
DocsTeach
Historical texts, interactive activities can promote critical thinking
Bottom line: This text-rich app encourages students to conduct their own analysis of history, but the formats and graphics may prevent them from making a thorough analysis.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Most Likely Machine
Interactive experience quickly exposes algorithms
Bottom line: This is an effective and well-designed intro to the dangers of algorithms and how we have to approach them with care.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
NewsFeed Defenders
Social media simulation builds news literacy skills
Bottom line: This is a great tool to kick off critical discussions about news and social media.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Bad News
Modern, minimalist fake news game has players be the villains
Bottom line: Quick, fun, and to the point, this game gets at the social mechanics behind viral falsehoods.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
BBC iReporter
Spot real stories, dodge fake news in cheeky media literacy sim
Bottom line: A refreshingly modern way for students to explore how to filter and interpret info and media during breaking news events.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Checkology Virtual Classroom
Go-to news literacy site is an excellent primer on media issues
Bottom line: With "fake news" a pressing concern, Checkology's literacy lessons offer essential, if not totally comprehensive, skills to help students evaluate sources.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Informable
Spot fake news, sharpen media literacy skills with speedy quizzes
Bottom line: A solid starting point to support critical-thinking habits and media literacy skills.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Thinkalong
Civics site offers a PBS-guided approach to thoughtful debate
Bottom line: This is a powerful framework for building critical media literacy, but teachers might need to bring in some extra perspectives.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Harmony Square
Take on the role of troll to better spot social media manipulation
Bottom line: This game-based approach can be an innovative part of your media literacy toolkit.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
Journalism in Action
Journalistic history site helps students analyze primary sources
Bottom line: This is a strong resource for showing the power of journalism and research, and it'll engage most students; others will need teacher support.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
PolitiFact
Independent website fact-checks political statements
Bottom line: A tool to help students become independent thinkers and question what is said by those in positions of power.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Truth or Fiction?
Foil fake news and viral rumors with fact-checking site
Bottom line: This can be a handy reference -- and a good model for critical thinking -- but it'll require some teacher scaffolding and guidance.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Give Students a Voice Through Media Remix and Creation
Edpuzzle
Crop, customize, and remix online video content with interactive tool
Bottom line: This is a valuable tool that teachers can use to flip classrooms or support student-led creation.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free, Paid
Skitch - Snap. Mark Up. Send.
Add a hint of fun to note-taking or annotating images
Bottom line: It's easy to annotate images and screenshots, take handwritten notes, and organize it all with Evernote.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free to try
MediaBreaker/Studios
Free video-remix tool boosts media literacy, presents some challenges
Bottom line: It's not without its challenges for teachers, but at its core MediaBreaker is an easy-to-use and free tool for teaching critical media-making and literacy.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
Vidcode
Cool coding tool tuned to teen girls' passions aids creativity
Bottom line: Learn-to-code programs for youths often too narrowly define what can be done with code; Vidcode expands the options, helping girls see code's value in culture and express themselves.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free, Paid
Build Students' News Literacy With Trustworthy Sources
News-O-Matic EDU
Daily news stories and supplements keep elementary schoolers current
Bottom line: This highly useful current events platform can be a daily fixture of elementary school classrooms.
Grades: 2–6
Price: Free to try
News2you
Draw kids into weekly news with powerful symbols and voice narration
Bottom line: Students can expand literacy skills, learn about the world, and get involved with discussion questions and activities.
Grades: 2–6
Price: $219.65 per year
Newsela
Great stories, just-right leveled reading; now mostly by subscription
Bottom line: Up-to-date, high-interest articles will meet students right at their level, and help teachers bolster students' nonfiction reading skills.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free, Paid
PBS NewsHour Extra
Trusted news brand's current events site could pique teens' interest
Bottom line: This isn't going to necessarily excite students, but the high-quality content is credible and timely and should support interesting discussions.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
The Learning Network
High-powered news site offers daily resource to process current events
Bottom line: Driven by a trusted news organization with its finger on the pulse of the world, this free resource can be a reliable source of activities and ideas for current event discussions.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
YR Media
Dynamic site harnesses creative young talent to speak truth to power
Bottom line: This fresh and socially aware website will draw students in with catchy -- often controversial -- topics, but keep them there with quality content.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
NPR News
Top-notch digital content takes students beyond the airwaves
Bottom line: Provides an easy, fun, and effective way to engage students with radio.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
The New York Times
Easy access to news, but most content is available only to subscribers
Bottom line: Provides an easy-to-use news resource, but only section front pages are accessible without a subscription.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free, Paid
