Six lessons to unpick numbers in the news. Created with support from data experts at The Economist, the 6-hour unit of work helps 10-16 year-olds explore examples in the news, hear from data journalists and interrogate the reliability of data across four lively lessons before reflecting on their learning. Students are encouraged to form their own conclusions and the final two lessons support learners to plan, create and share what they have to say about data decisions, presented in either audio, video or written format.

A lot of the power to protect the planet lies within people’s lifestyle choices. Do we need tougher climate laws? Ahead of Earth Day on April 22nd, help students understand the urgency of the “climate crisis” and debate whether laws should be adjusted. This lesson gives you everything you need to facilitate a discussion with 9-16 year olds. Student develop essential skills, media literacy, knowledge about the news and every lesson relates to SDGs. Get weekly free lessons on the news from The Economist Foundation via their Topical Talk website: https://bit.ly/TT_Library

Explore how numbers are used in news reporting through a week’s worth of good news stories! 90% of the news we consume is negative. But why? Learn about why we are drawn to negative stories and how this is reflected in the media. Then, investigate how numbers can be used to help us understand a news story. This resource is supported by KPMG

How can a cyber attack shut off an oil pipeline? This resource introduces students to what a cyber attack is using examples and helps learners think about why they could increasingly become a threat.

What does the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former police officer found guilty of murdering George Floyd, a black man, mean for America? This trial was about more than justice for one man. Find out why so many people tuned in to watch the trial and what the verdict means for Black Lives Matter movements.

The race between infection and injection is on. Several vaccines have been developed but how should they be distributed? Uncover the situation so far in the global quest to vaccinate populations against the covid-19, then delve deeper into questions about how vaccines should be distributed fairly.

This year, the theme of International Women’s Day was “choose to challenge” encouraging people to speak out and challenge gender inequality. This resource helps your learners explore why we still having to fight for women’s equality in 2021.

What’s the plan for exams in 2021? Download this resource to explore the pertinent questions surrounding end-of-year assessment. What is the fairest way to give grades during a pandemic? What would different people say? What are the alternatives to exams?

This workshop challenges students to think about plastics, packaging and sustainability. They’ll explore interesting questions like: • What impact do plastics and packaging have on the environment? • Are all plastics bad? • Whose responsibility is it to make a change? Throughout, students will build essential Skills Builder skills: creativity, problem-solving, listening and speaking. The whole workshop is student-led, so perfect for independent learning or home education.

This resource helps students think more deeply about the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. What challenges do the organisers face? What considerations need to be taken into account? And should the games go ahead? Straight-forward activities get students discussing the big questions and practising the Skills Builder skills: creativity, problem-solving, speaking and listening.

Download a resource to help learners understand the military coup in Myanmar, and whether military rule spells the end of democracy in the region. Help your students to explore key vocabulary like; coup, opposition and dictatorship and answer questions such as: How much power do the people in Myanmar have? Why? Why might the military rule work / not work? Who is responsible for helping the people in Myanmar? What other perspectives might help you think differently about this?

New president, new start. Truth, trust and togetherness. Moments after taking his oath of office, President Biden gave his blueprint for overcoming the challenges facing America. This resources explores the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. What’s Joe Biden done in his first two weeks as president? And what next for Donald Trump? T These activities help your learners: Discover what was said on inauguration day Express what this story means to them View the events from different perspectives This is the first of two

Safe and successful covid-19 vaccines have given hope to many, but who will benefit first? And how significant will these breakthroughs be? Help learners get to grips with the numbers behind this development. These activities help your students: Explore questions of fairness and responsibility about the vaccines Analyse evidence to identify opportunities and problems Consider their position in light of new scenarios

During the first UK lockdown, many families reverted back to the traditional set-up of mothers doing more childcare. Experts say we are at a “coronavirus crossroads”: without more support for working mothers, the gender pay gap could widen. So what should be done? These activities help your learners: Analyse statistics about pay discrimination Consider the impact of a culture of secrecy around salaries Suggest solutions to help close the gender pay gap Learn about the law on equal pay Understand the impact of the coronavirus on the gender pay gap See this issue from different perspectives

In October 2020 the World Economic Forum released its most recent research into 300 of the world’s biggest companies. It showed that over 50% expect to speed up their plans for automation because of covid-19. With more robots in the workplace, who will be the winners and losers? Download these resources, supported by the Bank of England, to find out! Use these activities to help answer this question and others about automation: Why are business owners turning to robots? What are the reasons why they shouldn’t? What role might Artificial Intelligence play in the future of work? What kinds of jobs might be better suited to robots? How might automation affect your career plans? How would perspectives differ?

Joe Biden won the US election, but Donald Trump refuses to concede. What’s going on? Help learners to explore the results and the questions they raise. **In part one: ** How do American presidential elections work? What made this election different from all others? How have the candidates reacted? **In part two: ** What might be the consequences of Trump’s actions? Why was the election record-breaking? What’s been the reaction to the result?

A hula-hooping girl appears on a wall in Nottingham, England. What happened next? This week, download a resource that tells the story of Banksy’s latest mysterious mural and gets learners thinking about the questions it raises. Use this resource to help learners: Identify key information from a piece of text View a situation from different perspectives Use evidence to support their own opinion Study different examples of Banksy’s work Find out what the law says about graffiti Consider the impact of Banksy’s murals

Download activities that assess the information around President Trump’s positive test for covid-19. How did the information emerge and who from? What do people think about how Mr Trump handled his own diagnosis? Help learners reach their own verdict. This resource helps your learners to: Discuss recent events with contextual knowledge Identify the consequences of false information Assess different views before forming their own opinion

Strict lockdowns have caused pollution levels in many countries to plummet. Yet, as activity returns to normal, so will emissions. Many see the pandemic as a huge opportunity to press the reset button and build back better. But how? Get students talking about the balancing act of boosting the economy whilst protecting the environment. Use this resource to help your learners: Develop the skill of forming and supporting their opinion and use data to strengthen their reasoning Improve their thinking by connecting one issue to another Practise viewing a topic from different perspectives Research the ways that disasters have led to positive change

Use these activities to help learners discover the story of Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, who was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. What do we know so far? What are governments saying about the case? Is the Russian government guilty of attempted murder? Use this resource to help your learners: Discover the details behind the headlines Answer questions from several perspectives Assess the story’s importance to different people