Learning Pathway: Current Events
Building Democracy For All is designed so that teachers and students can follow different learning pathways as they explore the material in the book. Rather than proceeding sequentially through the standards, the learning pathways invite a thematic approach. Other learning pathways include: Student Rights, Influential Women, Black Lives Matter, Media Literacy, and Election 2020.
This pathway is designed to provide resources for teachers and students to explore current events in the larger context of educational and public policy questions and issues.
Check out findings from a 2022 study on Young People's Relationship to the News:
- Young people seem to engage more with "news" than "the news." "The news" is narrowly defined as (mainly) politics and current affairs.
- Some young people actively avoid "narrow," "serious" news – at least some of the time.
- Many young people actively engage with alternative brands and perspectives, and with types of content that include that generated by celebrities, social influencers, individual journalists, podcasters, users, and many more others.
Recent Addition to the eBook
The coronavirus pandemic has caused massive unemployment throughout the country. New material has been added to Topic 4.3 (ENGAGE) to frame the debate about whether the United States should adopt Universal Basic Income or Guaranteed Employment as national policies.
Current Events Choice Board
(click here to make your own copy of the choice board)
College of Education, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0
Building Democracy for All Chapters
Topic 1: The Philosophical Foundations of the United States Political System
Topic 2: The Development of United States Government
Topic 3: Institutions of United States Government
- UNCOVER: Electing LGBTQIA Legislators
- ENGAGE: Should Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia Become the 51st State?
- ENGAGE: Can a Woman Be Elected President of the United States?
- ENGAGE: Should the United States Adopt Instant Runoff/Ranked Choice Voting?
Topic 4: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
- UNCOVER: Poll Taxes, Literacy Tests, and Voter Restriction Laws
- ENGAGE: When Should Someone Be Granted Asylum in the United States?
- ENGAGE: Should the U.S. Adopt Universal Basic Income (UBI) or Guaranteed Employment as National Policies?
- ENGAGE: How Would You Get More People, Especially Young People, to Vote?
Topic 5: The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court Decisions
- ENGAGE: What New Amendments to the Constitution Are Needed Today?
- ENGAGE: When Can Girls and Boys Compete Together in Athletic Events?
- ENGAGE: What Steps Should Communities and Governments Take to Reduce Gun Violence?
Topic 6: The Structure of Massachusetts State and Local Government
- UNCOVER: Gender-Inclusive and Anti-Racist Language and Images in State Constitutions, Laws, and Materials
- ENGAGE: Should the Government Pay Slavery Reparations for Black Americans?
- ENGAGE: How Can Teachers and Students Develop LGBTQIA-Inclusive Curriculum in Schools?
- ENGAGE: What Single-Use Plastic Items Should Local Governments Ban to Help Save the Environment?
- ENGAGE: How Can Society Eliminate Gender Gaps in Wages and Jobs?
- ENGAGE: Should States Expand Lotteries to Raise Money for Communities?
- ENGAGE: Should Communities Declare Themselves Safe or Sanctuary Cities?
Topic 7: Freedom of the Press and News/Media Literacy
- ENGAGE: Is Internet Access a Human Right?
- ENGAGE: Should Facebook and Other Technology Companies Regulate Political Content on Their Social Media Platforms?
Teaching and Learning Resources
- How Do Political Cartoons Convey Messages about Current Events? The Kennedy Center
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