Use the News Promoting Critical Thinking Using the News and Current Events Laura Wilons

How do these traits of giftedness correlate to using the news and current events as a teaching tool in your classroom? 0 Deeply, intense reactions and feelings 0 Advanced sense of justice and fairness 0 Concern with social and political issues and injustices 0 Constantly asking probing questions 0 Innate desire to lead and organize people/events 0 Empathetic to others 0 Often skeptical and critical, challenging the status quo

How do I use the news? Watching the news and reading the paper can require some maturity (especially these days), but we shouldn’t shield our students from the world. It’s all about how its worded and how you approach situations and sensitive issues. It is OK to… 0 Watch news stories 0 Read the newspaper 0 Talk about current events, no matter what they are, and allow for questions and answers

How do I use the news? 1. Choose appropriate news. 0 Select stories they can understand and are current. What was on the news last night? In the paper this morning? 2. Bring it down to their level and make it relatable. 0 What matters to them? What will affect them? How can news stories tie in to your current unit of study? 3. Discuss news and current events in detail. 0 Don’t be afraid to talk about sensitive issues. It is your job as a gifted teacher to break it down for them. Make them see all sides of an issue. 4. Promote participation and take action! 0 How can you use their passions and emotions to make a change?

How do I choose appropriate news? 0 Choose news events and stories that… 0 Will affect their generation 0 Reflects the population of their community 0 Shows our country for the good and the bad so they can think of a way to improve society 0 Brings awareness 0 Example from Scholastic News: Desperate Journeys Desperate Journeys

0 The news article discusses and breaks down the migrant crisis in Europe. It puts the situation into perspective and in kid-friendly language. It also has high level vocabulary with context clues to help students understand what’s going on. 0 Brings up topics such as… 0 Tossed Salad Theory vs. The Melting Pot 0 Family and Home 0 Immigration 0 Brings awareness to diversity and kindness How do I choose appropriate news?

Bring it down to their level and make it relatable! 0 Smithsonian News: Coming soon- helmets made from carrotsComing soon- helmets made from carrots 0 Why? Many kids play sports or ride bikes, support going green and sustainability, like science and technology, want to invent something, and they all understand sports and food. 0 Smithsonian also provides lexile numbers to differentiate learning!

Turn to your neighbor… Critical thinking question: What advantage does the cellulose in root vegetables have over wood or cotton? Why is the cellulose in root vegetables a better choice than carbon fiber for making protective clothing?

Discussing the News 0 DeBono’s Thinking Hats 0 White- facts 0 Red- emotion 0 Yellow- optimism 0 Green- creative, elaborative 0 Blue- leader, organizer 0 Black- judgment 0 Ask a question with each thinking mode and have the students respond in writing. 0 Bloom’s Ball Toss 0 On a beach ball, write one question using each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Toss it around and whichever question your thumb hits, you answer it and ask a friend to answer it. 0 Chalk Talk- Discussion questions posted on the wall. Rotate and answer.

Promote Participation and Take Action! 0 Migrant Crisis 0 Kindness Campaign- The situation involves people being unwelcoming and others without a home. Start a kindness campaign! Place post it notes around the school to show appreciation for little things. Start a club or buddy system for new students and/or kindergartners. What other ways can we show kindness? 0 Carrot helmets 0 Promote bike safety and sports/athletics safety by starting a campaign to make sure kids are using the proper equipment. What else could you do that relates to the article and/or discussion?

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