Ep 3: Politics Entering the Classroom

 
We are coming up to an election day and talk of issues and events seems to swirl around everything we do. How do you keep your classroom civil when the political landscape is more heated than ever? Angie, Joanna, and our guest educator talk about navigating learning and teaching about what’s happening in the world today.

Episode Transcript

Resources

1. How To Talk To Children About Politics (PreK-5th Grade)
   This article from the PBS Kids For Parents blog provides important, developmentally appropriate considerations for teachers of younger students to think about as they create lesson plans and class activities. The article also links many other sites where teachers can go to continue building their background knowledge and accessing more resources to use directly with students.
2. Above The Noise Video Collection (6th-12th Graders)
   This video collection, featuring over one hundred, 7-10 minute individual episodes and counting, focuses on current events and hot topic issues that are relevant to young people. Perhaps most importantly, the series is known for taking a constructive look at controversial issues, sharing multiple perspectives with viewers to help facilitate thoughtful discussion. Clever, insightful, and open-ended, these videos will readily engage students and simultaneously encourage them to dig deeper into the issues of the day.
3. Current Events Awareness & Media Literacy (9th-12th Grade)
   From PBS NOW, this multi-part lesson plan first has students analyze the implications of two recent, self-selected (or teacher-selected, as desired) news stories, then has them consider the possibility of media distortion and/or bias on those stories.