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Lesson bundles

Adapting the NewsWise learning journey
The NewsWise unit of work is flexible and can be adapted to suit the needs of your class and curriculum or the skills you want your pupils to focus on.

The three collections offered here are curated routes through the NewsWise learning journey, to help you adapt the unit for the time you have available.
Remember that all lesson plans and resources are available for free. That means you can familiarise yourself with the key skills and knowledge included in the full learning journey and tailor the unit of work to suit your class.
Researcher collection: 5 lessons
Reporter collection: 8 lessons
Correspondent collection: 10 lessons
The full unit of work: 15 lessons
Researcher collection: 5 lessons
This collection focuses on some of the most important lessons for developing pupils’ critical literacy. These lessons will help your pupils’ understand what news is, how and why it’s made, how to know when news is fake or misleading and consider the consequences of fake news.
newswise-unwrap-the-world.png

How is news produced?

To understand the news, a good place to begin is learning how it’s made. Hook your pupils in and immerse them in the world of a real newsroom. They will be introduced to the 5Ws and take on the roles of reporter, subeditor and picture editor.

newswise-character-sample.jpg

Holding power to account

Pupils will recognise how news and journalism can hold power to account and lead to real and lasting change. They will look at how the Windrush scandal was reported, the consequences for those involved, and how power shifted as the reporting continued.

newswise-computer-fake.jpg

Spotting fake news

What is fake news and how can we spot it? Pupils use the NewsWise code and navigator to know what clues to look for as they investigate some suspicious stories.

newswise-balance-illustration-2024.png

Producing balanced news reports

This lesson explores the different points of view in a story, considering why these might differ. Pupils understand how news reporting can sound very different when only the views of one side are heard.

newswise-reader-tablet.jpg

Analysing bias in the news

Pupils look at a real example news report to see that language affects how the reader feels about a story. They also consider how to write an unbiased report.

Some things to consider when teaching this collection:
As most of these lessons will involve looking at real news stories, teachers should make time for a class discussion about strategies that can be used when confronted with news that causes strong feelings. Click the button below for more information about making your classroom a safe climate for discussing the news.
Teaching news safely
What did you think?
Tell us how you found the researcher collection of lessons by completing our survey.
Complete the survey
Reporter collection: 8 lessons
Pupils will understand what news is, why it is important and the steps that can be taken to spot and avoid fake news. They will also have the opportunity to put their learning into practice as they report a real news story.
newswise-unwrap-the-world.png

How is news produced?

To understand the news, a good place to begin is learning how it’s made. Hook your pupils in and immerse them in the world of a real newsroom. They will be introduced to the 5Ws and take on the roles of reporter, subeditor and picture editor.

newswise-character-sample.jpg

Holding power to account

Pupils will recognise how news and journalism can hold power to account and lead to real and lasting change. They will look at how the Windrush scandal was reported, the consequences for those involved, and how power shifted as the reporting continued.

newswise-computer-fake.jpg

Spotting fake news

What is fake news and how can we spot it? Pupils use the NewsWise code and navigator to know what clues to look for as they investigate some suspicious stories.

newswise-balance-illustration-2024.png

Producing balanced news reports

This lesson explores the different points of view in a story, considering why these might differ. Pupils understand how news reporting can sound very different when only the views of one side are heard.

newswise-reader-tablet.jpg

Analysing bias in the news

Pupils look at a real example news report to see that language affects how the reader feels about a story. They also consider how to write an unbiased report.

newswise-interview-illustration-2024.png

Reporting real news stories

How does a journalist prepare to write a news story? Pupils will choose a real news story to report. Then they will plan for the research and interviews they need to carry out.

newswise-writing-news-illustration-2024.png

Writing news reports

Pupils write the first draft of their news report. They will include all of the important parts of a news report, from the 5W introduction to the end, meeting tight deadlines along the way!

newswise-editing-subediting-illustration.png

Subediting news reports

Subeditors are vital to the newsroom. Pupils will subedit their own reports to make sure they are ready to be published.

Some things to consider when teaching this collection:
Pupils will see several examples of real news reports, especially during the first five lessons of this sequence. Teachers should take every opportunity to draw children’s attention to the structure and language of the reports they look at (eg how a succinct 5W introduction is included, how language should be formal and that this is one way journalists can ensure balance.) For more information and activities about the language, structure and layout features of a news report, check out our other lessons and teacher guide. 

In the lesson, Reporting real news, your class will choose the story they are going to write and begin the research and planning. You may find it useful to plan the news story pupils are going to report earlier in the sequence. This gives you time to plan for and carry out interviews to add authenticity to the news reports.

As most of these lessons will involve looking at real news stories, teachers should make time for a class discussion about strategies that can be used when confronted with news that causes strong feelings. Click the button below for more information about making your classroom a safe climate for discussing the news.
Teaching news safely
What did you think?
Tell us how you found the reporter collection of lessons by completing our survey.
Complete the survey
Correspondent collection: 10 lessons
Pupils have the opportunity to learn across all three strands of news literacy. Pupils will understand what news is and why it is important. They will understand the steps that can be taken to spot and avoid misleading or fake news and distinguish between fact and opinion. Pupils will also explore the structure of news reports and write a real news report for a real audience.
newswise-unwrap-the-world.png

How is news produced?

To understand the news, a good place to begin is learning how it’s made. Hook your pupils in and immerse them in the world of a real newsroom. They will be introduced to the 5Ws and take on the roles of reporter, subeditor and picture editor.

newswise-character-sample.jpg

Holding power to account

Pupils will recognise how news and journalism can hold power to account and lead to real and lasting change. They will look at how the Windrush scandal was reported, the consequences for those involved, and how power shifted as the reporting continued.

newswise-computer-fake.jpg

Spotting fake news

What is fake news and how can we spot it? Pupils use the NewsWise code and navigator to know what clues to look for as they investigate some suspicious stories.

newswise-fact-vs-opinion-illustration-2024.png

Identifying the difference between fact and opinion

It can be tricky to spot what's a fact and what's opinion, especially during a breaking news situation! Pupils will learn what language clues to check to help tell fact from opinion.

newswise-balance-illustration-2024.png

Producing balanced news reports

This lesson explores the different points of view in a story, considering how and why these might differ. Pupils understand how news reporting can sound very different when only the views of one side are heard.

newswise-reader-tablet.jpg

Analysing bias in the news

Pupils look at a real example news report to see that language affects how the reader feels about a story. They also consider how to write an unbiased report.

newswise-interview-illustration-2024.png

Reporting real news stories

How does a journalist prepare to write a news story? Pupils will choose a real news story to report. Then they will plan for the research and interviews they need to carry out.

newswise-5ws.png

Structuring news reports

News reports follow a clear structure which helps the reader to get the information they need. This lesson will explore what this looks like so that pupils are prepared to organise their own report in the same way.

newswise-writing-news-illustration-2024.png

Writing news reports

Pupils write the first draft of their news report. They will include all of the important parts of a news report, from the 5W introduction to the end, meeting tight deadlines along the way!

newswise-editing-subediting-illustration.png

Subediting news reports

Subeditors are vital in the newsroom. Pupils will subedit their own reports to make sure they are ready to be published.

Some things to consider when teaching this collection:
While this route includes a specific opportunity to explore the structure of a news report before your class begins the writing process, an equivalent lesson on language is not included. However, your pupils will see several examples of real news reports, especially during the first six lessons of this sequence. Teachers should take every opportunity to draw pupils’ attention to the language of news reports they look at. For example, lessons 7 and 9 look at how language clues can help distinguish between facts and opinion, and how language can be used to add bias to a news report. Teachers can use this lesson to also highlight the formal and concise language that is used in news reporting.

In the lesson, Reporting real news, your class will choose the story they are going to write and begin the research and planning. You may find it useful to plan the news story pupils are going to report earlier in the sequence. This gives you time to plan for and carry out interviews to add authenticity to the news reports.

As most of these lessons will involve looking at real news stories, teachers should make time for a class discussion about strategies that can be used when confronted with news that causes strong feelings. Click the button below for more information about making your classroom a safe climate.
Teaching news safely
What did you think?
Tell us how you found the correspondent collection of lessons by completing our survey.
Complete the survey
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