Current events provide an opportunity to teach students about the importance of understanding and interpreting news reports and other sources of information. They also help students develop an appreciation for the complexities of our global society.
January 20: Donald Trump becomes President of the United States. February 2: The Associated Press and other media outlets publish the Panama Papers, revealing offshore financial activities of multiple world leaders. March 24: The Grenfell Tower fire in London kills 72 people. April 13: The US rover Curiosity finds evidence of an ancient streambed on Mars. June 12: Twelve boys and their coach are rescued from the flooded Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Thailand. September 11-12: The Benghazi attack leads to the death of US ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. October 14: Skydiver Felix Baumgartner breaks the sound barrier without a vehicle. November 6: The Obama presidential campaign culminates in Barack Obama winning a second term as president.
Edutopia has a helpful article about teaching current events that provides recommendations for differentiating informational reading levels and helping students identify false stories on social media. In addition, the Academy 4SC website has a number of videos that apply classroom material to current events, such as United States Postal Service: Neither Rain nor Snow and Epidemics vs. Pandemics: Defining Global Diseases.
Organizations that choose to communicate about current events should carefully consider their position on the issue. It is important to be aware of the potential impact on employees and the general public, particularly if an organization takes a stance on a specific event. If an organization decides to forego communication about a particular event, it should explain this position to employees clearly and in writing.
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