Constructive Learning: Entry Level

5-8 Lesson

Current Events Exploration

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Grade Level

6

Classroom Configuration

  • Whole group instruction, using a projector (and interactive white board, optional)

Arizona State Content Standards

  • Social Studies
    Strand 1: American History
    Concept 10: Contemporary United States
    PO 1: Describe current events using information from class discussions and various resources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, books, maps).
    PO 2: Identify the connection between current and historical events and issues studied at this grade level using information from class discussions and various resources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, books, maps).
    Strand 2: World History
    Concept 9: Contemporary World
    PO 1: Describe current events using information from class discussions and various resources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, books, maps).
    PO 2: Identify the connection between current and historical events and issues using information from class discussions and various resources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, books, maps).

    Arizona Common Core Standards
    Comprehension and Collaboration
    6.SL.1
     Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly.
    a. Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
    c. Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.
    6.SL.2
    Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, and orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.

    Arizona Educational Technology Standards (2009)
    Strand 1: Creativity and Innovation
    Concept 1: Knowledge and Ideas
    PO 1: Analyze information to generate new ideas and products.
    Strand 3: Research and Information Literacy
    Concept 2: Processing
    PO 3: Evaluate information and media through determining facts, opinion, bias, and inaccuracies by consulting multiple sources.
    Objectives

    1. The student will discuss a current events newscast.
    2. The student will connect the event to an event from the past.
    3. The student will assess fact vs. opinion, bias, inaccuracies, or misleading information.
    4. The student will consider multiple media types to compare.

    Procedure

    1. The teacher will access CNN Student News (or other online student news service) and show the class a segment from the newscast.
    2. Students will respond to the discussion questions from CNN Student News Daily Discussion and Newsquiz in their journal.
    3. In class, students will share their answers orally and discuss connections to historical events.
    4. The class will use media literacy skills to look at the story objectively, and the teacher will ask students for examples of fact vs. opinion, bias, inaccuracies or misleading information.
    5. The class will discuss how to check the information in the newscast vs. other sources. What other sources/types of media could be used to further investigate the facts? Examples could include: news web sites, newspapers, magazines, television.
    6. The teacher will display (through a computer and projector) at least one of the other information sources based on the class discussion related to checking the information.

    Materials

    1. One computer with projector
    2. CNN Student News web site
    3. Other media sources (news web sites, newspapers, magazines, TV broadcasts)
    4. Student journals
    5. Speakers
    6. Document camera
    7. Sample newspapers, magazines (optional)

    Assessment
    Students will compare their journal answers with a partner.

    For the class discussion, the teacher can assess by checking for understanding with whole class responses (white boards, thumbs up/thumbs down, etc.)

Technology Integration Matrix

Active

Collaborative

Constructive

Authentic

Goal Directed