Lesson Plan

Free Press Makes Democracy Work

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This Free Press Makes Democracy Work lesson plan also includes:

A unit study of the importance of a free press in a democracy begins with class members listening to a podcast featuring two journalists, one from a United States public radio station and one from Capetown, South Africa. The lesson, which sets up the focus for the unit, asks learners to consider why a free press is so important to a democracy.

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Instructional Ideas
  • Create a listening guide to help learners keep their focus on the commentary
  • Have groups investigate recent charges of fake in print and broadcast news as well as misinformation on social media using fact-checking sites to determine the validity of statements
  • Pause the audio frequently to permit listeners to ask questions, take notes, and clarify understanding
  • Complete a Venn diagram that compares and contrasts Jefferson's, Fleming's, and February's ideas
Classroom Considerations
  • The resource, the first in a series of eight, is part of the Election 2020 collection
Pros
  • Includes links to extensions that expand the scope of the unit
Cons
  • None