Millions of people move from one place to another. When it isn’t just the city that changes but the language and culture, it can be difficult to feel at home. A doormat says “Home Sweet Home.” (Credit: Andy Dean Photography) This article, by high...
One student compared two schools in different countries and found that where the focus was on academics over community, students were more satisfied. What’s that all about? Students discuss amongst each other in a classroom. (Credit: FatCamera/Getty Images)...
It can spot cancer, answer medical questions and help develop drugs. But we don’t trust artificial intelligence to be our primary doctor just yet. A masked robot next to an MRI machine. (Photo illustration by News Decoder) You’re lying in a hospital bed about to enter...
Psychologists call it cognitive dissonance when you disconnect beef from the killing of a cow. But some think you need to know the animal you eat. Cows look on as someone is about to eat a fat, juicy hamburger. (Photo illustration by News Decoder) This article, by...
Like their parents before them, thousands of U.S. teens head to camp this summer. But for many, this R&R combines relaxation with religion. Two generations of kids at Jewish summer camp. Joshua Glazer, shown right, and his mother, when she was about the same age....
In more regions around the world people want to keep some books out of the hands of youth. But these are the books that engage kids the most. A heavy chain and lock covers three novels at the heart of book banning controversies. (Illustration by News Decoder) This...
Book bans have historically been linked to authoritarian regimes. In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of book bans in democratic countries, too. This is a disturbing trend, and young people are noticing, too. In this piece from high schooler Emily Ireland of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in the U.S. state of Mississippi, prompt student thinking on censorship and banning books with an evidence-based reasoning activity.
Exercise: Read the article with your class. Then, launch a class discussion on whether there are book topics that should or shouldn’t be banned in public schools in your country. Be sure to get into the nuances of this complicated topic: if some topics are inappropriate for certain audiences, who should be responsible for restricting access? Should it be governments, parents, schools? How might these parameters change from country to country, depending on context? This activity is well-suited to be a complementary teaching tool on a lesson about civil liberties (e.g. in the United States, the Bill of Rights).
Some school districts across the world find that one day less of classes per week can produce more effective learning. But not everyone is convinced. Girls in school uniforms head to classes. A calendar column shows that Mondays are off. (Illustration by Kaja Andrić)...
In an excellent piece written by high schooler Devon Chipman of News Decoder partner The Tatnall School, we consider the pros and cons of a four-day school week. Develop students’ critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning skills using this youth voice story.
Exercise: Before reading the article, ask your students whether or not they support a four-day school week. Then, read the article together and see if opinions have changed. After this initial discussion, facilitate a class debate on whether or not to implement a four-day school week at your school. Students should take on different personas in the debate to argue a perspective they may not personally agree with — school administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, students, college admission officers, etc. Each student contribution during the debate should incorporate evidence from the article.
You don’t get a friendly face when you “buy now with 1-click” on Amazon. But the value of that friendly face keeps people shopping local all over the world. A sign in a small business says “Support Local Business”. Credit: lakshmiprasad S...
In Sikh culture, the turban is a symbol of spirituality, holiness, respect and self-honor. Why then do some people react to it with fear and anger? Members of the Sikh community walk during the Parliament of World Religion Parade of Faiths in Chicago, 13 August 2023....
To succeed in the “beautiful game” in much of the world, you just need to prove yourself on the field. Not so in the United States, where you pay to play. The author driving the ball during a soccer game. (Photo courtesy of Gabe Stryker) This article, by...