Website review by Erin Brereton, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2013
KidsPost
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KidsPost

Kid-centric news site could use more comprehensive, timely content

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Learning rating
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Community rating
Based on 2 reviews
Privacy rating
44%| Warning Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
2–7
Subjects & Skills
English Language Arts, Social Studies, Communication & Collaboration, Critical Thinking
Great for
Evaluating Media
Price:  $10/four weeks for basic; $15/four weeks for premium
Platforms:  Website
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Pros: Articles are tailored to kids and offer a look at some unique topics; related educator tools can help extend learning.

Cons: The site doesn't offer up-to-date news coverage; annoying ads and page and archive functionality issues affect the overall experience.

Bottom Line: While it doesn't provide complete news updates, analysis, or writing practice, KidsPost content makes for interesting, kid-themed reading assignments.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

You can get lesson plans based on the daily Post edition; the Newspaper in Education classroom resource features curriculum guides and other materials to help teach subjects ranging from health to politics. Educators who are not part of the program can still access most of the resources.

Many guides tie into the Post's coverage of major historical events like the Civil War. An exercise involving letters to the editor can help kids learn to constructively express opinions. Some activities focus on news coverage and encourage kids to search for the number of articles on a topic, find facts in articles, and write a summary of an article lead. Teachers can also encourage students to submit original artwork, including photos, projects on news clippings, and other creative items. 

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Standards:

KidsPost is an online newspaper for kids. Part of the Washington Post's website, it's written for readers in approximately second to seventh grade and appears in the paper from Sunday to Thursday.

It features a few quiz- and puzzle-type activities on topics like nutrition and finance, plus articles designed for younger readers. Its news is a mix of random topics; not necessarily pressing global issues, but subject matter like how dolphins solve problems and anniversaries of key historical events. Headlines like "Bats Are in Danger, and Kids Can Help Save Them" emphasize the readership's role. Book recommendations for younger readers are also included.

Much of the content is good; articles are generally well-written, and many include links to extra content like fact lists on the topic. However, the site sometimes misses out on opportunities to make its content more dynamic and interactive. An article on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, for example, doesn't include an audio, video, or text version of the speech. Washington Post subscription ads appear way too frequently on the site; they pop up before articles, on page corners, as videos embedded in the page. It's also easy to click out of KidsPost and enter the main site; some recommended links lead to regular Post sections, which may or may not be kid-appropriate. Browser issues can also be frustrating.  Recommended Safari and Chrome versions cause some pages to default to the Post's site, and KidsPost archives also don't seem to always function properly.

Still, there's some salvageable content. Kids won't find much direct help with news analysis or news writing. But teachers can use the supplementary lesson plans and activities to enhance learning, and the articles can be used to help kids practice reading.

Overall Rating
Engagement
Content is interesting but rarely breaking news. Users don't seem to utilize the comment option, which could offer discussion or self-expression opportunities. (Many articles have one or no comments.) 
Pedagogy

Articles are informative, kid-accessible, and well-organized, but the site doesn't provide comprehensive, daily news coverage. Unless educators utilize extras, the site's activities center on reading and a few quizzes.

Support

Kids get age-specific book suggestions and links for extra info, but most resources are for educators, including dozens of lesson plans. D.C. area classes have regionally specific content.

Common Sense reviewer
Erin Brereton
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Key Standards Supported

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.4.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.5.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

Reading Informational Text

  • RI.2.2

    Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

  • RI.3.2

    Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

  • RI.4.2

    Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.

  • RI.5.2

    Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

  • RI.6.2

    Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

  • RI.6.6

    Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.

  • RI.6.8

    Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.

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Community Rating

(See all 2 reviews) (2 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Lisa L. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Sweet Home CSD
Amherst, United States
KidsPost is a current events supplement to your curriculum
Overall, this website - KidsPost - has current events which relate to kids and THAT is the biggest benefit to using this site. The major area that detracts from this is there is no audio which accompanies speeches, or other sections which could use an audio component. The other major area are the constant pop-up and ever-present stationary ads which surround the content where ever you click. This can be a major distraction and while I understand that advertisers are the major source of funding for si ...
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Data Safety
How safe is this product?
Users can interact with trusted users.
Personal information can be displayed publicly.
Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
Data Rights
What rights do I have to the data?
Users can create or upload content.
Processes to access or review user data are available.
Unclear whether this product provides processes to modify data for authorized users.
Ads & Tracking
Are there advertisements or tracking?
Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
Unclear whether this product displays traditional or contextual advertisements.
Personalised advertising is displayed.

Continue reading about this tool's privacy practices, including data collection, sharing, and security.

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