Host a classroom discussion and activity that explores how the media responds to tragic events.

Young person with headphones staring at a computer screen late at night.

Mass violence -- including school shootings -- has been happening with disturbing frequency, and with each incident comes around-the-clock news and media coverage. While our students need help coping with the emotional trauma and fear caused by news of these shootings, it can also be helpful to move beyond coping to thinking and acting -- especially about how the media covers these shootings. The following video and discussions help students think more deeply about the role media plays in school shootings, how it might change for the better, and what other factors contribute to these events.

Recommended for:

Grades: 9-12
Subjects: ELA, social studies, newspaper/media, digital citizenship

Prep for teachers

  • Review which mental health and counseling resources your school offers. Share with students.
  • Check out and/or teach Facing History's lessons for exploring identity and having respectful discussions.
  • Optional: Print out copies of the exit ticket.

In the classroom

Hook (five to 10 minutes):

  • Before screening the video, ask students to take notes while they watch. Provide them with an essential question to focus their viewing -- e.g., "What role does news media play in preventing and/or perpetuating school shootings?"
  • Show the Retro Report video "Columbine at 20: Media Attention and Copycat Killers."

Pressing play on the YouTube video below will set third-party cookies controlled by Google if you are logged in to Chrome. See Google's cookie information for details.

Discussion (10 minutes):

  • Back in 1999 when Columbine happened, the internet was still relatively new and social media wasn't a thing. How do you think the internet is making the aftermath of school shootings more complicated today?
  • How has social media affected people's pursuit of -- or interest in -- fame? Is that a factor in the "copycat" behavior of some school shooters?
  • Where should news draw the line between informing the public about these events and their causes and not giving the killers attention?
  • How could news organizations and media outlets alter their coverage?

Activity (complete as a group in-class or as homework):

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Preview of the Causes and Fixes worksheet

 

Possible follow-ups


Editor's note: This resource is part of a monthly series that helps teachers facilitate classroom discussions about trending and timely issues in the news and media. For more, browse our library of News and Media Literacy articles.

Tanner Higgin

Tanner was Editorial Director, Learning Content at Common Sense Education where he led the editorial team responsible for edtech reviews and resources. Previously, he taught writing and media literacy for six years, and has a PhD from the University of California, Riverside. His research on video games and culture has been published in journals, books, and online, presented at conferences nationwide, and continues to be cited and taught in classes around the world. Prior to joining Common Sense Education, Tanner worked as a curriculum developer and researcher at GameDesk, helping to design and launch Educade.org and the PlayMaker School. While at GameDesk, he co-designed the United Colonies alternate reality game (ARG) with Mike Minadeo. This ARG is to date one of the most sophisticated to be implemented in a K-12 environment. Outside of education, Tanner has been a Technical Writer-Editor for the Department of Defense, a web designer, and co-editor and co-creator of a print literary journal.