719 current-events results | sort by:
return to subject listingCritical Media Project - Alison Trope
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): bullying (50), cultures (131), difficult conversations (60), disabilities (30), identity (29), racism (78)
In the Classroom
Discover the many ready-to-go, short, focused activities found on this site during any lessons on social issues and current events. Each lesson features discussion questions, after class discussions ask students to share their thoughts using an online blogging tool such as edublogs, reviewed here. Have students include information and links that reinforce their ideas. For older students, use Perusall, reviewed here, as a collaborative tool for sharing and discussing issues and ideas in online articles.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Immigration Myths Lesson - Learning for Justice
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (160), difficult conversations (60), empathy (28), immigrants (33), immigration (65)
In the Classroom
Use digital resources to engage and enhance your lesson activities. During each workstation activity, student groups complete and share responses to questions. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to record and share responses in one of two ways. If students write responses, take a picture of the completed response and share it within Padlet using the shelf feature that offers options to create columns for categorizing information. Go completely digital within Padlet and share your Padlet with students to use as a collaborative project by adding responses directly within the Padlet as part of their workstation discussions. Collect poll responses during workstation activities using Socrative, reviewed here, to quickly gather and share responses. As you extend learning by creating the "Immigrants Bill of Rights," have students or student groups use Canva Edu, reviewed here, to design and share their posters and presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Global Climate Change - Laura Faye Tenenbaum, Randal Jackson, Holly Shaftel
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): climate change (90), glaciers (17)
In the Classroom
Share this site with students and provide time for them to explore on their own. Ask them to share their findings and observations using sticky notes posted to a collaborative Google Jamboard, reviewed here. Enhance student learning using Newsela, reviewed here, to assign texts and articles related to glaciers and climate change. Use Newsela's teaching tools to assign writing prompts and quizzes within any shared articles. Differentiate instruction with Newsela by choosing texts that match the different reading and comprehension levels of your students. Extend learning by asking individuals or groups of students to use Juxtapose, reviewed here, to create a before and after image to demonstrate changes of ice formations over time. Be sure to follow the tips and tricks found on Juxtapose as your students build their interactive images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Girl Rising Curriculum & Educator Tools - Girl Rising
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (160), cultures (131), financial literacy (92), money (117), politics (111), sustainability (42), women (140)
In the Classroom
Use these free materials to supplement your curriculum and teaching units. When polling students for short-response questions, use a polling tool such as Answer Garden, reviewed here, to engage learners and encourage them to share ideas anonymously. Answer Garden posts short responses in a word cloud format that encourages students to focus on shared ideas and discover different views. Enhance learning by asking students to share their thoughts through writing blogs using Edublogs, reviewed here. Incorporate blogs into the process as a way for students to share ideas, research, and explore their thinking throughout the projects found in this curriculum. Extend learning by asking students to continue exploring and discovering the role of gender, politics, and other factors in the world around them in various ways. For example, some students might enjoy preparing and producing a podcast using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, others might create a video using Powtoon, reviewed here, and another group might prefer to focus on a specific topic using a timeline tool such as Vizzio, reviewed here, to present a visual timeline of world events.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BouncyMaps - Mapping Worlds
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): agriculture (47), maps (208), minerals (13), population (48), religions (79), visualizations (11)
In the Classroom
BouncyMaps is an excellent way to help students visualize large numbers and provide perspective to data. Use the embed code found on the site to share on your webpage or download images and data using the provided links. Start a discussion using one of the regular maps and hover over countries to show details. After reviewing a standard map, switch to the BouncyMap to show how it changes based on data. This site is an excellent one to share with students to explore during computer centers or at home. After allowing students time to look on their own, ask them to choose one map that surprised them and discuss their findings. Ask them to research the information further with the goal of trying to learn why there are such differences between countries. When finished, ask students to share their findings by creating an infographic using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. When teaching world history, these maps provide context when teaching about major conflicts. For example, when teaching about tensions in the Middle East, refer students to the religious maps to help them understand how different populations of Jewish people and Muslims within that area are key to the conflicts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Change Begins at School - Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bullying (50), climate change (90), conflict resolution (9), disasters (36), diversity (37), elections (80), holidays (171), Juneteenth (22), politics (111), racism (78), religions (79), social and emotional learning (94), women (140)
In the Classroom
Engage students in any of the provided lessons by starting with a simple poll using Slido, reviewed here. For example, ask students if they are familiar with the topic discussed, have experienced a similar emotion, or display an image on your whiteboard and ask students if they know what it represents. Enhance learning throughout any of the lessons by sharing additional resources using a curation tool such as Padlet, reviewed here. Add links to videos, articles, or online activities related to the lesson's content. As you complete lesson activities, extend learning by asking students to share their understanding by creating digital books using Book Creator, reviewed here, flyers made with Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, or infographics created with Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Discussing Tragic Events in the News - Morningside Center
Grades
K to 12tag(s): differentiation (88), disasters (36), social and emotional learning (94)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource for fostering productive class conversations as needed when discussing difficult events. Be sure to share this site with parents who are also dealing with students that are dealing with tragic events at home. After allowing time to reflect upon the events and your classroom discussions, some students may need additional time to process the information. Provide an additional outlet using Google Jamboard, reviewed here. Create a Jamboard that allows students to add sticky notes anonymously that share their feelings or solutions to difficult problems. Curate resources for students (and parents) that include age-specific information such as news articles, videos, and background information using a curation tool such as Wakelet, reviewed here. Consider creating a Wakelet for parents and guardians with information to use at home to support students in meaningful ways. Provide students a creative outlet to share their emotions by suggesting they create short videos, flyers, or websites using the free tools found at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Find more resources to help facilitate difficult conversations on this Special Topics Page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth School - TEDEd
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): agriculture (47), climate (82), climate change (90), design (80), forests (28), oceans (149), recycling (45), remote learning (56), solar energy (34), STEM (269), Teacher Utilities (156), water (101)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site as a resource for science and nature lessons to supplement current materials in your classroom. Because lessons were created for use in remote learning situations, they are perfect for including during elearning or digital learning days. Create an account and customize lessons to personalize activities to fit your curriculum and students. For example, customize lessons easily to change discussion questions to adapt to student abilities, then share the differentiated lessons to different groups of students. Extend learning by adding links to additional activities such as asking students to write a short blog post using edublogs, reviewed here, or create a cartoon based on the activity's content using ToonyTool, reviewed here. Extend learning for all students using Spotify for Podcastors, reviewed here. Begin by creating a discussion question, then share the topic with students. An idea would be to have small groups of students hold a podcast "conversation" about the topic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: TeachersFirst Tech Tools Smackdown (Global Citizenship Edition) - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12There are many technology...more
There are many technology tools available for classroom use, but which ones are teachers' favorites? This session will share and compare some of the TeachersFirst contributors' favorite resources. Help us decide which tool is the session winner of our Smackdown! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about and compare some of TeachersFirst contributors' favorite technology tools; 2. Evaluate uses for one or more tools for classroom use; and 3. Share ideas for using resources with other participants. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): professional development (403)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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60-Second Civics - Center for Civic Education
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): branches of government (63), constitution (87), democracy (19), elections (80), electoral college (22), house of representatives (8), politics (111), senate (10), supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this podcast to use as a quick class-starter to review and discuss civics topics. If you don't have time to listen daily, consider setting aside 15-20 minutes a week to listen to podcasts from the week and to discuss the daily questions. Engage students in any topic by creating a Google Jamboard, reviewed here, that contains any of the daily questions. Ask students to share their thoughts and response using the sticky note tool. Extend learning by asking students to choose a topic of interest to research. Ask them to share their findings using one of the multimedia tools found at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Options found at Adobe Express include creating graphics, webpages, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teachers' Guide to Cranky Uncle - John Cook
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), digital citizenship (86), evaluating sources (27), game based learning (179), internet safety (112), media literacy (103), social media (54)
In the Classroom
Add this game to your toolkit of lessons and activities when teaching Internet safety and media literacy skills. The Teachers' Guide already includes many ideas on integrating the game into classroom lessons and includes using technology to enhance and extend learning. Use these ideas as a starting point to build student engagement and help them understand the real-world applications for the information found in the game. For example, use the suggested Padlet, reviewed here, activity to compile quiz questions as suggested in Activity 5. After completing that activity, have students create their own videos, fake social media posts, or news articles that contain misinformation and create quiz questions for their peers to complete. Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, is an excellent tool for students to use when creating websites, flyers, and infographics. As a final project, and to extend learning, have students share what they learned with others by producing podcasts using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, or digital books for younger students using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Creative Visions - Creative Visions
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civil rights (197), social and emotional learning (94), women (140)
In the Classroom
Include these free lessons in a variety of ways in your classroom. Use the content to help students understand social causes important to them and how to engage in their cause. This site offers various methods to create social issue campaigns, including music, film, and persuasive writing opportunities. Use this information to differentiate learning opportunities for students with activities that appeal to their interests.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World's Largest Lesson - Project Everyone
Grades
K to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (160), earth (185), energy (130), engineering (123), environment (237), inequalities (23), maps (208), STEM (269), substitutes (26), sustainability (42)
In the Classroom
Discover the many free educational resources found on this site to include with your lessons about global cultures, the environment, health, and technology. Use the activities and lessons found on the World's Largest Lesson to engage students in understanding and processing information related to serious global issues. Have students use a collaborative whiteboard tool such as Jamboard, reviewed here, to brainstorm solutions to problems using the sticky note feature or to create mind maps and flow charts to organize further research. Enhance learning by asking students to create an interactive, choose your own adventure story using StoryLab, reviewed here. Ask students to use information learned from their lessons to create a story that tells what happens if the earth continues on its current course vs. what happens when suggested changes are implemented.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Starting Point - Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, and Joe Kiani
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): branches of government (63), civil rights (197), elections (80), foreign policy (12), immigration (65), politics (111)
In the Classroom
Share information from this site with students to demonstrate how to share different viewpoints on current events. This site also provides an opportunity to model how to use facts and information to present ideas and persuade others to consider opposing viewpoints. As students use these videos to compare and contrast viewpoints, use a curation tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, to share information from both sides. Use the shelf feature in Padlet to create columns to add content based on each side's viewpoint or use the map feature to add content found from different locations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Close Up - Close Up Foundation
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civil rights (197), congress (39), constitution (87), elections (80), environment (237)
In the Classroom
Use materials from Close Up to supplement your current civics lessons. Assign groups of students different articles or podcasts to analyze and share with peers. Enhance learning using Edpuzzle, reviewed here, to add comments and questions to videos for student consideration. Use Wakelet, reviewed here, to curate resources including articles and podcasts to share with students. Upon completing your teaching unit, ask students to use Wakelet as a multimedia presentation tool to create and share their learning by including written work, images, and links to reference materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Looming Plague: The Fight to Contain a New Locust Invasion - Tara John and Bethlehem Feleke, CNN
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): africa (139), climate change (90), insects (68), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Include this interactive with lessons about African countries, climate change, weather, or insects. Engage students by exploring this site together using Microsoft Whiteboard, reviewed here, or Google Jamboard, reviewed here, to add notes, images, or create diagrams sharing students' thoughts. For older students, have them explore the site independently and share ideas on a collaborative whiteboard. Ask students to research the problems faced due to locusts and include information from previous infestations. As students conduct their research, use a collaborative site like Milanote, reviewed here, for groups to share articles, images, and brainstorm ideas. Extend learning further by asking students to become the problem solvers and share their suggestions for solving the problem both long term and short term. Provide options for groups to present their findings through various methods of digital media. For example, ask a group to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create a virtual tour of the problem areas and add images and notes with their suggestions. Have another group use tools found at Genially, reviewed here, to create a presentation that includes interactive images, infographics, and videos using templates found on the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resources to Develop a Positive Self-Identity - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bias (26), difficult conversations (60), identity (29)
In the Classroom
Find resources to educate yourself and your students about various topics related to self-identity. This collection includes lesson plans, blogs, book suggestions, and interactives too. Share these resources with your colleagues and families.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resources Related to Difficult Conversations - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): difficult conversations (60), empathy (28), racism (78)
In the Classroom
Explore this collection to use to engage in difficult conversations in your classroom. Learn more about difficult conversations and empathy for others in some of the informational readings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resources Related to Empathy - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): empathy (28), perspective (12), racism (78)
In the Classroom
Help your students to develop empathy for others. Share these resources with your colleagues and school parents by emailing the page or sharing the link from your school web page or on your school's LMS.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resources on Racism and Discrimination - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): black history (128), empathy (28), racism (78)
In the Classroom
Find resources to educate yourself and your students about various topics related to racism and discrimination. This collection includes lesson plans and interactives too. Share these resources with your colleagues and families.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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