Importance of teaching news for kids
As I argued in Teaching with News, teaching news to kids is an essential aspect of education, as it helps them develop a range of skills and understanding about the world they live in. Here are some reasons why teaching news is important for kids:
Awareness of current events
Exposing children to news helps them stay informed about local, national, and international events. This understanding contributes to their development as responsible and engaged citizens.
Critical thinking skills
Teaching news encourages children to think critically about the information they consume. They learn to analyze and evaluate news stories, discerning fact from opinion, recognizing biases, and questioning the credibility of sources.
Media literacy
In a world saturated with media, teaching kids about news helps them develop the skills to navigate and interpret various media formats, including print, online, and broadcast journalism.
Encouraging curiosity
By discussing news stories, children become more curious about the world around them. This curiosity can inspire them to ask questions, seek answers, and explore new ideas.
Developing empathy and understanding
Exposure to news stories from diverse perspectives helps children develop empathy for people from different backgrounds, cultures, and situations. This understanding promotes tolerance, respect, and compassion.
Building vocabulary and language skills
Reading and discussing news stories exposes children to new vocabulary and language structures, improving their reading comprehension, writing, and communication skills.
Connecting to the curriculum
News stories can be linked to various subjects in the curriculum, such as history, geography, science, and social studies. This connection helps children see the relevance of their studies and the real-world application of their knowledge.
Encouraging civic engagement
Teaching news empowers children to become active participants in their communities and societies. They learn about the importance of voting, engaging in community projects, and voicing their opinions on issues that matter to them.
Developing problem-solving skills
Discussing news stories encourages children to think about solutions to problems and consider the impact of different decisions. This helps them develop problem-solving and decision-making skills that are essential for success in various aspects of life.
Fostering a lifelong interest in learning
Teaching news at a young age can help foster a lifelong interest in learning, as children become more engaged with the world around them and develop a habit of staying informed.
Best news websites for kids
1. TIME for Kids
Time for Kids offers news for kids of different age and grade level. Simply select the grade you are interested in to start browsing reading materials. You can choose among the following grades: K-1, grade 2, grades 3-4, and grades 5-6. Featured news in Time for Kids cover various categories including art, science, media literacy, and more.You can also access news covering only the United States or go global and choose world news. Other features provided by Time for Kids include read aloud with the ability to adjust reading speed, the ability to print news articles, and many more.
2. Newsround
Newsround from the BBC offers daily news stories for kids covering topics such as climate and environment, science, space, entertainment, and mnay more. Newsround also offers news shows, quizzes, games, and puzzles making news reading fun and engaging.
3. Space Scoop
Space Scoop provides news related to space and the universe. "The articles cover all the most exciting cosmic events in a language that's easy to understand. With Space Scoop you can learn about the latest missions aboard the International Space Station, watch as new planets are born and travel with us to the early Universe."
4. DoGOnews
DOGOnews is another good news website for students. It offers kids friendly news stories covering current events in the world. DOGOnews offers a unique feature that allows you to search for news articles by word count.For instance, you can filter your search by articles that are written in up to 200 words, 200--400 words, 400-600 words, and so on. You can also search for news articles by category. Major categories included are Current Events, Science, Social Studies, Civic, World, Environment, Fun, Video, and Sports.
5. CNN 10
CNN10 is another reliable news website for students. It offers news programs for kids 6 years and up. Its popular show, Today's News in 10 Minutes, provides kids with a summarized version of current news that teachers can easily integrate in their classroom instruction.6. Science Journal for Kids
Science Journal for Kids features a huge collection of scientific articles written for kids and teens covering topics in technology, social science, physics, chemistry, biology, and many more.
The journal also offers various educational resources for teachers including podcasts, translated articles, interviews with researchers, lesson ideas, tutorials, read along versions of articles, and more.
7- News-O-Matic
News-O-Matic is a daily newspaper for kids. "It provides an exciting and engaging nonfiction experience for children, complete with valuable literacy tools for the classroom…Thanks to its unique combination of editorial and technology, News-O-Matic creates innovative solutions to help children become tomorrow’s responsible citizens. It gives young readers a window into the world — and a reason to love reading news".8. News for Kids
News for Kids is a website created by a teacher to make news accessible to young learners. It offers a wide array of news stories covering world current events written in a simple language accessible to struggling readers. News categories include: world, US, science, sports, and arts.
9. KidNuz
KidNuz offers daily news podcasts for kids covering news from all around the world. Besides news, podcasts also feature games, puzzles, learning challenges, and several other interesting educational materials to use with your kids and students.
KidNuz mission, as is stated in their homepage, is to "engage kids in current events, encourage critical thinking, and spark meaningful conversations."
10. Scholastic Kids Press
Scholastic Kids Press is a service from Scholastic where talented kid reporters share news stories covering various topics including politics, breaking news, sports, entertainment, the environment, and more. Students from all around the world aged 10-14 can apply to become Kid Reporters in Scholastic Kids Press.In summary, teaching news to kids is crucial for their development as informed, responsible, and empathetic individuals. It helps them build essential skills that will benefit them throughout their lives and contribute to their
