About This Lesson
Thinkalong.org is a free, evidence-based interactive tool for students to develop media literacy skills by applying the 5 Key Questions of Media Literacy to public media content. Importantly, the tool does not require registration for teachers or students, abides by student privacy laws, and is advised by a board of both youth and educators.
Each module consists of:
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a compelling and timely question;
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related current and age-appropriate public media content including audio, video, and text;
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extension resources for advanced or highly-interested students;
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student graphic organizers;
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a simple debate tool;
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a teacher's guide to the module;
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and a guide to the 5 Key Questions of Media Literacy.
This Teacher's Guide supports the Should school weeks be four days instead of five? module on thinkalong.org. Here is the full module and below is a summary.
Since the Great Recession, schools across America have been struggling with underfunded budgets, which has caused school officials to get creative with saving money. In western states especially, a growing amount of school districts have reduced the school week from five to four days. Studies say the shorter school week doesn't save much money, but some superintendents say they save money on utilities, transportation, and substitute teachers, and the teacher morale boost is worth it.
To use this module with learners in any setting, we recommend using one of the structured discussion formats outlined at thinkalong.org/structuring-discussions. You can find options for a small or large group, so that all students or just a few participate, and examples of some discussion formats.
