Teaching Current Events

Studying current events is an excellent way for children and teens to learn about the world around them. News articles and programs touch on what they are learning about in many subjects, showing them the relevance and real-world applications of what they are learning. They can use the geography they’ve learned to understand where the current events are happening and history to evaluate the cause. Through current events, they can learn about the latest scientific discoveries and watch historical events as they unfold.

Your family can learn about current events through local or national newspapers or news programs. However, many families opt to use news sources tailored specifically for children or teenagers. These sources are often more engaging and easier to understand, especially for younger children. While you still need to be careful, these sources are also less likely to report on topics you may find inappropriate.

Below are several free online news sources for children and teens. While I’ve included a recommended grade range, it is very approximate, so please preview the resources to decide what’s appropriate for your children.

News Websites

CNN 10 is a daily 10-minute digital news show that provides an explanation of global news. Printable transcripts of each episode are available.  (4th to 12th)

DOGO News has thousands of news articles with new content added daily. The articles can be sorted by grade level or category. DOGO News offers a pro subscription with added features, but it’s not necessary to purchase this to read the articles.  (K to 12th)

izzit.org posts two news articles each school day, usually at different reading levels. Each article has a readability score and includes several discussion questions. izzit.org selects the articles from various major news sources.  (6th to 12th)

PBS Newshour offers news articles and videos on a wide variety of current event topics. The user can sort the content by subject area. The website also offers lesson plans related to current events and media literacy. (7th to 12th)

Science News for Students publishes articles related to current events in science, health, and technology. Each article includes a glossary of terms used in the article. The reading level of each article is stated at the end of the article.  (4th to 12th)

Teen Kids News is a half-hour weekly news program. On their website, viewers can watch full-length episodes or individual stories. All of TKN’s reporters are teenagers.  (6th to 12th)

BBC’s Newsround provides news articles and programs covering British and international news. The website also has games and quizzes. (2nd to 12th)

Media Literacy

Media literacy is an important part of studying current events. The free resources below will help you teach your children about source credibility, fake news, political bias, fact-checking, and other related topics.

The Hoax or No Hoax? Strategies for Online Comprehension and Evaluation unit from ReadWriteThink teaches research-based comprehension strategies to use when reading and evaluating websites. Your child will compare hoaxes and real websites and learn to identify false or misleading information. The unit consists of four 60-minute sessions. A detailed lesson plan and printable worksheets are included. (8th to 12th)

The Ultimate Guide to Source Credibility from Education World offers information, ideas, and resources to help you teach your children about source credibility. Topics addressed include fake news, hoax sites, political bias, fact-checking, and other related issues. (3rd to 12th)

Crash Course: Navigating Digital Information is a ten-episode series on YouTube that teaches students about fact-checking, source authority and perspective, evaluating different types of evidence, and how search engines and social media feeds work. (6th to 12th)

Mind Over Media provides eight downloadable Propaganda Education lessons. These lessons include defining, recognizing, and analyzing propaganda, deciding what to share on social media, and more.  (6th to 12th)

Propaganda Critic has numerous informative articles about identifying & evaluating propaganda, cognitive biases, social media, and more. These articles can serve as starting points for discussions with your teenager.  (7th to 12th)

Stossel in the Classroom provides videos, teachers’ guides, and quizzes that cover current events. The website also has a Both Sides of the Issue video series which presents opposing arguments on current issues. The series is designed to encourage discussion and critical thinking. (7th to 12th)

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Note: This post was originally published on September 8, 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.