Most of them who have excelled in academia have claimed that reading newspapers at a young age was instrumental in developing their cognitive and reasoning skills. The newspaper broadens the curriculum by providing an infinite amount of material as a backdrop for learning activities. These activities will assist the students in improving their reading and writing abilities. Some of the skills students develop would be - finding the main idea, increasing vocabulary, comparing readings, forming sentences, asking intelligent questions, and writing an excellent summary.
With online news websites, students now have access to the latest news & trends that can help them expand their research and knowledge. The mammoth storage of information online is incomparable to the physical newspapers, and a student can instantly grasp any statistics. Thus news websites have become a handy tool for students in the fast-paced world.
Here is the list of some of the unbiased and well-researched news websites for students below in alphabetical order.
1. National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids is a publication and website that provides educational content and resources for students. National Geographic Kids features articles, videos, games, and other interactive content on a variety of topics, including science, animals, history, and geography.
The articles are designed to be age-appropriate and encourages students to learn about the world around them. The website features profiles of inspiring individuals, including scientists, explorers, and conservationists, who can serve as positive role models for students.
The videos are short (one to five minutes) and feature clips from National Geographic's wildlife documentaries as well as thematic exploration and information programmes. National Geographic has put together a one-stop shop for elementary and middle school students interested in the cultural or natural environment.
Ages: 6 to 14 years
Price: Free
2. Newsela
Newsela is an online news platform for students that uses curated real-world stories to help students improve their literacy skills. Everything is spread across five reading levels and runs from third grade right up to twelfth.
Newsela offers a free package that allows teachers to share content with students for reading. This is limited to news and current events as opposed to more updated and subject specific content controls, which come with the paid version. Schools and districts can sign-up to Newsela for wide controls and access across a broader use base.
Content is updated daily, with news in English and Spanish from various sources (including the Associated Press, Scientific American, and the Washington Post). Overall, Newsela is a fantastic tool for exposing children to current events and high-interest nonfiction materials.
Ages: 7 to 17 years
Price: Free & Paid
3. News-O-Matic Education
News-O-Matic Edu is a website that provides news articles and other educational resources for students. Each workday (every week of the year), teachers and students can read a new current event article, answer questions, communicate with classmates about the articles, and send comments or questions to the editor. Politics, pop culture, and scientific discoveries are among the topics covered.
News-O-Matic EDU helps students become interested in news and the world by providing various issues and imaginative, current headlines. News-O-Matic is a solid choice for elementary classrooms because of its kid-friendly images,and extra content for teachers.
Ages: 8 to 13 years
Price: Free trial available
4. CNN Student News
CNN Student News provides news stories specifically tailored for middle and high school students. The website offers free videos, discussion questions, and news quizzes.
CNN Student News allows teachers to keep the students up-to-date on current events without overwhelming them with extra information or opinion, thanks to its dependable news in 10-minute video chunks. This website also provides a range of classroom resources, including programme transcripts, weekly quiz questions, and a daily email "heads-up" given to instructors the night before.
Overall, students have access to a good, current foundation of information. Still, teachers need to provide supplements to ensure students go beyond consumption to deep thinking, open-ended conversation, and even innovation.
Ages: 11 to 18 years
Price: Free
5. Dogo News
DOGO News is a news website for students on a wide range of topics. The website aims to make news accessible and engaging for young readers by providing stories that are written specifically for them.
The articles can be searched by grade level from K to 12. The site covers a range of topics including current events, science, social studies, world, environment, sports, video, and fun.
The website also includes a teacher resource section, which provides lesson plans and educational activities based on the news articles. Because the site is updated daily, classrooms can use DOGO News throughout the year as part of their curriculum.
The website provides a safe and educational environment for students to explore the news and learn about the world around them.
Ages: 5 to 18 years
Price: Free & Paid
6. Google News
Google News is a valuable resource for students, as it provides access to a wide range of news articles from different sources around the world. Google News provides access to news articles from various sources around the world, including local, national, and can help students to gain a diverse range of topics including Top Stories, US, World, Local, Business, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Science, and Health.
Google News allows students to engage with the news by providing options for commenting, sharing, and discussing articles with others. This can help to foster an interest in current events and encourage students to stay informed.
Users are directed to where the article or video is hosted once they click on a particular story. Because it is based on user interests and online behaviour, each student's "For you" section will be unique. Students can fine-tune what is included in the stream by influencing it. Teachers might also use this technique to investigate how platforms personalise curriculum depending on student data.
Ages: 14 years and over
Price: Free
7. AllSides for Schools
AllSides for Schools is a flexible website for daily news targeted towards students promoting dialogue among them. Primarily, it could be a smaller component of a larger unit on a topic such as media literacy, research, or bias. Teachers can choose a few of the activities or lessons to lay the groundwork for self-reflection and critical thinking in the classroom.
On the other hand, AllSides might be a more significant element of a wider civics and current events investigation. Teachers can use AllSides to find lessons, activities, and even linked websites targeted at helping students recognise prejudice (including their own), assess news and media, and argue with others while reaching common ground.
Ages: 11 to 17 years
Price: Free
8. Kid Scoop
Kid Scoop is a print and digital magazine with various downloadable tools such as activities and lesson ideas. The magazine's print and digital versions are identical, with roughly 30 pages of stories, games/puzzles, and comprehension or critical thinking questions on social studies, health, science, math, and more.
The majority of the articles sport a colourful, cartoon aesthetic and are about or of interest to children. The rest of the website serves as a resource centre. The website and magazine are kid-friendly and bright, making them ideal for home or classroom use.
Ages: 5 to 10 years
Price: Free & paid
9. KQED Education
KQED Education is a website affiliated with San Francisco's public radio and television station that provides educators with standards-aligned resources and children's educational media. Professional learning, teaching materials, and youth media participation are all covered in sections of the site.
Radio, News, Arts, Science, and Educational programmes are also available to teachers and students. Teachers can obtain micro-credential certifications to evaluate online information, assess student media, and create a code of conduct by taking free educator courses.
Ages: 5 to 18 years
Price: Free
10. Time Edge
TimeEdge helps students develop critical thinking and analytical skills. The multimedia format and interactive features will appeal to students in a remarkable manner. TimeEdge can help pupils in the development of critical thinking and close reading abilities.
Students will be drawn to the digital format, which includes multimedia and interactive features, and teachers will be able to track student progress, which will help with accountability. Teachers can discover articles that support their classroom curriculum, and the articles can also stimulate discussion, debate, and intelligent analysis of current events.
Ages: 8 to 13 years
Price: Free Trial & Paid
The objective should be selecting the news websites for students, regardless of the pricing. In other words, there might be few websites that provide quality and concrete daily news to students for free.
Still, the teachers should measure the impact of such websites as to whether they help the students improve their knowledge and current affairs. A critical evaluation of such websites through a free trial is one of the best methods to use these platforms and then choose the one that suits your requirements.
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