RCSD Social Studies - Current Events

Empowering Rochester’s Future Thinkers, One Headline at a Time

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, being an informed citizen is about more than just knowing what happened, it’s about understanding how the story is told and why it matters to our community. In Rochester, our students are not just observers of history; they are active participants in a global conversation.

Our Mission: To provide Rochester students with the tools to navigate the media landscape with curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy. We aim to move beyond "breaking news" to help students find multiple perspectives, vet sources for accuracy, and form their own independent opinions.

🔍 Our Approach: A Growing Skillset

As our students grow, so do their "Media Literacy" muscles. This page serves as a gateway to age-appropriate resources tailored for every level of the RCSD journey:

Level The Core Goal What Students Are Doing

K-2: Observation & Heart

K-2

Building awareness and empathy.

Distinguishing between news and stories; noticing how news makes us feel.

3-6: The News Detective

3-6

Differentiating Fact from Opinion.

Spotting "clue words" and verifying local Rochester events like the Community Schools expansion.

Middle School: The Media Analyst

Middle School

Identifying Bias & Framing.

Using tools like AllSides to see how different perspectives shape a single headline.

High School: The Researcher

High School

Deep-Dive Synthesis.

Practicing Lateral Reading and connecting modern events to historical events.

🛡️ Why Multiple Perspectives?

We believe that a healthy democracy requires the ability to listen to voices that differ from our own. By using resources like Mismatch.org and AllSides, we encourage students to step out of their "filter bubbles" and engage in civil discourse. Whether we are discussing current events here in Rochester or current global events, our goal remains the same: to teach students how to think, not what to think.

🛡️ The Vetting Checklist

5 Steps to Take Before You Hit "Share"

Use these five steps to become a News Detective. If a story fails even one of these tests, don't share it.

1. 🛑 STOP: The "Brake" Test

The Question: How does this story make me feel?

The Clue: Misinformation is designed to make you feel shocked, angry, or excited.

The Action: If you feel an immediate urge to "tell everyone," take a deep breath. Pausing for just 30 seconds can help your logical brain catch up to your emotional brain.

2. 🕵️ SOURCE: The "Badge" Test

The Question: Who is behind this information?

The Clue: Look for the author's name and the website’s "About Us" page.

The Action: Do a quick "Lateral Reading" check. Open a new tab and search for the name of the website. What do other people say about them?

Rochester Example: If you see a post about the RCSD, check if it’s coming from the official rcsdk12.org site or a random social media account.

3. 🛰️ SEARCH: The "Satellite" Test

The Question: Who else is talking about this?

The Clue: Big news is rarely reported by only one person.

The Action: Use AllSides or Google News to see if other reporters are sharing the same facts. If a story claims something world-changing but is only reported on one website, it might not be true.

4. 🗓️ STUDY: The "Stamp" Test

The Question: When was this written, and what is the full context?

The Clue: Sometimes, people share "old" news to make it look like it’s happening right now.

The action: Check the Date Stamp.

5. 🚦 SHARE: The "Switch" Test

The Question: Will sharing this help or hurt my community?

The Clue: Facts help people make good decisions. Rumors cause confusion.

The Action: Ask yourself: "Am I 100% sure this is a fact?" If you're unsure, keep the switch off. Discuss it with a teacher or parent first.

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