We all know teaching current events is important for many reasons. For most of our classes, we are teaching about the past; however, learning about what is going on in the world today is crucial. This gives students context, and usually piques their interest. These are the things that are impacting them right now. Today, we are touching on the importance of current events and how to incorporate them into your classroom using CNN.
To go along with the CNN 10 videos, we have created this resource package that includes 15 different worksheets to go along with any of the CNN 10 videos of your choosing. These templates make it simple to bring relevant, engaging, current events learning into your classroom routine. We love this resource because it is so versatile and can be used in a ton of different ways.Â
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What is CNN 10?
CNN 10 is a free, daily news series that features short, 10-minute(ish) video segments designed specifically for students. Each episode breaks down major current events and global issues in an accessible, age-appropriate way. What makes CNN 10 especially effective for classroom use is its balanced reporting. Each story presents multiple perspectives and focuses on presenting just the facts rather than opinions.
The platform is also incredibly teacher-friendly. In addition to the daily CNN 10 videos, CNN provides a newsletter teachers and parents can subscribe to. The newsletter offers extra insights into each featured story. This added context helps spark meaningful classroom discussions and supports deeper student understanding.
CNN Current Event Activities
This activity set includes 15 templates that are both printable and Google Classroom-ready. These graphic organizers are designed to be used as worksheets to go along with any of the CNN 10 news clips. Each of the templates is also aligned with Common Core Literacy and Writing standards for ELA. In addition to Common Core history and science.Â
These worksheets get students to make claims about current events and support them with evidence from the videos. In addition, students are encouraged to draw conclusions, illustrate data, map where stories take place, summarize key information, and reflect on class connections as they impact different current events.
Additionally, having 15 templates allows for flexibility. You can select one that best fits your learning objectives, or switch them up to maintain engagement. The variety helps you strike a perfect balance between consistency and creativity. Using our CNN in the Classroom activities helps provide a reliable structure for your students while also providing a wide variety of activities to keep your students consistently engaged.
Check out this entire resource on our Teachers Pay Teachers store!
How to Use CNN 10 in the Classroom
Using CNN in the classroom can look different depending on your goals and class structure. One of the most popular ways teachers use CNN 10 is as a bell-ringer activity. Watching a short video and completing a corresponding worksheet 1–3 times a week is a great way to start your class. These activities can be done fairly quickly or extended with discussion and reflection into a full period.
Some teachers choose to use these materials as part of a larger current events unit. Since CNN 10 is free and easily accessible, this resource also works well as an extra credit assignment or makeup work. They can also be used as a foundation for student-led presentations or enrichment activities. They’re also ideal for sub plans, makeup work, or flexible assignments that can be done individually or in groups.
Finally, if you’re experimenting with a flipped classroom model, you could have students watch a CNN 10 video at home and then complete the analysis activity or discuss the next day. No matter how you use them, these activities are a meaningful, low-prep way to use CNN in the classroom.
Why Using CNN in the Classroom Matters
Incorporating current events into your teaching isn’t just about staying informed. It’s about helping students build critical thinking skills and become active, thoughtful citizens. Using CNN in the classroom provides an authentic way to connect lessons to the real world. The combination of CNN 10 and our accompanying resource package really makes current events approachable, engaging, and easy to integrate into your classroom schedule. Whether you teach middle school social studies, high school world history, or even science or ELA, these activities can help students see how classroom learning applies to the world around them.
If you’re ready to make current events a consistent and exciting part of your lessons, explore our CNN Current Events Activities on Teachers Pay Teachers. Your students will love the chance to explore what’s happening in the world, and you’ll love how easy they are to implement! If you enjoy Instructomania lessons, check out our history teacher membership. With this membership, you have access to all curriculum content through a single login. If you do not want to miss any of the upcoming lessons, join my email list to be notified of all the interactive lessons coming up! By joining the email list, you will receive freebies for blog-exclusive subscribers!
