Current Events
Using news stories about animals to foster critical thinking and perspective taking
Class or group discussions can be a great place to develop outcomes associated with critical thinking, communication, collaboration and perspective taking. Issues related to animals inherently impact people and the environment, and discussing these interconnections can be a great place work on these skills. In this activity students will examine recent news articles and discuss issues related to animals.
1. Analyzing Animal Articles
There are many news articles that feature animals! As animals, people and the environment are interconnected, this is a good opportunity to focus whose perspectives are being represented in media. Choose an animal article(s) for students to analyze. For a short list of articles organized by topic, click here. We also included a number of questions to promote thinking and discussion.
Have students consider the following questions to assist them in analyzing the article (display the questions on the board or download and print this activity sheet for students to record their answers on):
- What is the source of this information? (What organization or author wrote the article?)
- Whose perspective is represented in the article?
- Whose perspective is missing? (make sure to consider the perspective of animals and the environment!).
- What techniques are used to make the message credible? Quoting experts, using statistics, etc.
- What facts are included in the article? What information are we missing?
- What opinions are expressed in the article, and who expressed them? Do you agree or disagree and why?
- Do you think this article is credible (Do you believe the information in the article)? Why or why not?
- How did the article make you feel? Do you think everyone would feel this way?
Once students have finished analyzing the article, have a class discussion encouraging students to share their analysis.
2. Finding Other Points of View
Have your students find additional articles on one of the animal topics previously explored that offers new information or a different perspective. Have students compare the two articles by considering some of the questions above in addition to:
- What new information or perspectives were expressed?
- Is there anything that made you change your opinion?
A few things to consider when engaging students in class/group discussions:
- Before beginning, decide as a class on the discussion rules (if you haven’t done so yet). This could include, raising your hand before speaking, allowing others to finish speaking before responding, speak and listen respectfully, disagreement is OK -– discussions allow us to learn from others who may have different backgrounds and life experiences.
- Students who might not feel comfortable speaking in front of a class, or who are English language learners, might benefit from scaffolded discussion approach. Students could begin exploring and discussing issues in partners or small groups and work up to full class discussions. Also allow students to demonstrate their skills in other ways such as having students journal about their ideas and perspectives.
- Create some discussion questions of your own, if there is a lack of participation or lag in conversation (we’ve included some with the articles list provided). This should help keep the momentum going, and give students concepts to consider. If you have a few students who are participating more than others, remind your class that the goal is to get as many perspectives as possible, and encourage other students to share theirs.
- Model how to think critically – share your curiosity, considerations of other perspectives, and your imagination. Your contributions can facilitate the discussion and encourage students to share their ideas.
Other Resources:
Media Smarts: A Canadian not-for-profit organization for digital and media literacy. The website has resources for teachers to help student develop critical thinking skills and media awareness.
Curriculum Connections
Social Studies
SKILLS AND PROCESSES
- DIMENSIONS OF THINKING: Students will:
- 7.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- determine the validity of information based on context, bias, source, objectivity, evidence and/or reliability to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue
- evaluate, critically, ideas, information and positions from multiple perspectives
- demonstrate the ability to analyze local and current affairs
- re-evaluate personal opinions to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue
- access diverse viewpoints on particular topics, using appropriate technologies (ICT)
- 7.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AS A DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE: Students will:
- 7.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building:
- consider the needs and perspectives of others
- 7.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building:
- COMMUNICATION: Students will:
- 7.S.8 demonstrate skills of oral, written and visual literacy:
- elicit, clarify and respond appropriately to questions, ideas and multiple points of view in discussions
- listen to others in order to understand their perspectives
- offer reasoned comments related to a topic of discussion
- 7.S.9 develop skills of media literacy
- examine techniques used to enhance the authority and authenticity of media message
- 7.S.8 demonstrate skills of oral, written and visual literacy:
Social Studies
SKILLS AND PROCESSES
- DIMENSIONS OF THINKING: Students will:
- 8.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- analyze the validity of information based on context, bias, course, objectivity, evidence and reliability to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue
- evaluate ideas, information and positions from multiple perspectives
- demonstrate the ability to analyze local and current affairs
- re-evaluate personal opinions to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue
- 8.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AS A DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE: Students will:
- 8.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building:
- consider the needs and perspectives of others
- 8.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building:
- COMMUNICATION: Students will:
- 8.S.8 demonstrate skills of oral, written and visual literacy:
- elicit, clarify and respond appropriately to questions, ideas and multiple points of view in discussions
- listen to others in order to understand their points of view
- offer reasoned comments related to a topic of discussion
- 8.S.9 develop skills of media literacy
- examine techniques used to enhance the authority and authenticity of media messages
- 8.S.8 demonstrate skills of oral, written and visual literacy:
Social Studies
SKILLS AND PROCESSES
- DIMENSIONS OF THINKING: Students will:
- 9.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- analyze the validity of information based on context, bias, course, objectivity, evidence and reliability to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue
- evaluate, critically, ideas, information and positions from multiple perspectives
- demonstrate the ability to analyze current affairs from multiple perspectives
- re-evaluate personal opinions to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue
- access diverse viewpoints on particular topics by using appropriate technologies (ICT)
- 9.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:
- SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AS A DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE: Students will:
- 9.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building:
- demonstrate a positive attitude regarding the needs and perspectives of others
- 9.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building:
- COMMUNICATION: Students will:
- 9.S.9 develop skills of media literacy
- examine techniques used to enhance the authority and authenticity of media messages
- examine the values, lifestyles and points of view represented in a media message
- 9.S.9 develop skills of media literacy
