With current events, teachers must teach students to distinguish between true and false news stories. They also must help students understand the impact of terrorism, natural disasters, war, political unrest and other global issues. In addition, because many of these topics are negative, educators must teach students to find positive aspects in the news as well.
A trove of resources on current events is available online. Some sites provide a wide range of lesson plans and activities, while others offer general guidance on teaching these topics to students. For example, KQED offers a guide on teaching current events that encourages educators to let students take the lead by providing them with a variety of options for research and investigation. Another resource, from Education World, features twenty-five great ideas for teaching current events.
Another useful tool for teaching about current events is the concept of green, yellow and red lines. This approach helps students determine the extent to which a specific piece of news impacts their emotions and feelings. The goal is to protect their mental health and well being by limiting exposure to things that cross the red line (such as school shootings) and focusing on those things that fall within the green or yellow lines.
The American Historical Association has compiled a series of resources to help educators and students understand the history of racism and racist violence. These resources are a great starting point for educators seeking background on the current crisis; journalists can use them to add historical context to their reporting; and scholars can draw on them to inform future scholarship.