Grades 3-6: The News Detective

At this age, the goal is to differentiate between fact and opinion and to recognize that two people can see the same event through different lenses. Students begin to look at the "purpose" behind a story—whether it is to inform, to persuade, or to sell.

Key Skills: Investigating the "How" and "Why"

• "Is this a fact (something that can be proven) or an opinion (how someone feels)?" (Building logical reasoning).

• "Why did the author write this? Are they trying to teach me something or change my mind?" (Identifying author's purpose).

• "Does the headline match the story, or is it just trying to get me to click?" (Recognizing "clickbait" and sensationalism).

• "Who is missing from this story? Whose voice would make this more complete?" (Introducing the concept of perspective and bias).

• "Can I find this same information in a different place?" (Developing the habit of verification).

• "How does this news impact our Rochester community specifically?" (Connecting global/national events to local life).