Ethel Payne: First Lady of the Black Press

Video

In this video, students learn about the life of Ethel Payne, the second Black woman to be a member of the White House Press Corps. In her position, Payne asked the questions others didn’t, and brought civil rights issues to a national audience. Her coverage of the Civil Rights Movement and international affairs, brought Black people’s experiences to the front page.

This video was made in conjunction with Makematic.

This Video is included in the following units:

Related Resources

Lesson Plan

Interest Groups

The role of interest groups in politics and government is a hot topic in the media today. This lesson uses the battle over school lunch ingredients to illustrate how interest groups and lobbying affect public policy. Take a side in the battle, create an interest group, and try to influence public policy. iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.
View
Game

NewsFeed Defenders

Fight hidden ads, viral deception, and false reporting as a NewsFeed Defender!
View
Lesson Plan

NewsFeed Defenders Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful with activities designed specifically for NewsFeed Defenders. This easy-to-use resource set means deeper learning for students and best practices around game-centered learning for you!
View
Lesson Plan

Propaganda: What's the Message?

Examine the seven forms of propaganda found in advertising and politics. Discover the persuasive methods behind the messaging we see every day and gain skills to effectively identify and counter them. A classroom gallery walk challenges students to detect the propaganda techniques at work and evaluate their effectiveness. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
View
Video

Rachel Carson’s Fight for the Environment

In this video, students learn about Rachel Carson’s achievements. A writer and marine biologist, Carson educated people about nature’s ecosystems. She also warned against the overuse of chemical pesticides. In her bestseller, Silent Spring, Carson urged people to consider the consequences of altering nature and called on the government to protect the environment.
View
Lesson Plan

The Public Sphere

Public sphere, public agenda, public opinion, public policy… What’s the difference? Students discover the relationships among these concepts and how they influence the issues we all discuss and care about. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
View
Lesson Plan

The Role of Media

What is the media? What does it do? Students examine the types and roles of the media by taking on the role of newsmaker and agenda setter. iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.
View