Engaging Current Events Lessons for All Levels

If you’ve ever tried to teach the news and thought, “This matters… but I don’t have time to build it well,” you’re not alone. Current events can be powerful, but they can be tricky and time consuming to teach.

Think of Current Events Hub as a printable, teachable current events textbook that rewrites itself every week. Each lesson takes an event from somewhere in the world and turns it into a ready-to-teach package: three levelled readings, questions, slides, a critical thinking task, and a research extension. Print it, teach it, and check back often for new lessons.

What’s Included

• Each lesson includes:
  • Three ready-to-print PDF documents (level 1, level 2, level 3) that include:
    • A background reading of the current event
    • Comprehension questions
    • Thinking questions
    • A deeper critical thinking activity
    • Research extension.
  • PowerPoint slides that include:
    • Explanations of the concepts central to the current event
    • Embedded videos about the current event designed to generate discussion
    • Discussion activities

New Lessons Added Every Week!

Lesson Levels:

Level 1

• Readings of approximately 250 words
• Grades 6-8
• CEFR Level B1 and below / IELTS 4.5 and below / TOEFL 34 and below
• ELL Learners

Level 2

• Readings of approximately 350 words
• Grades 9-10
• CEFR Level B1-B2 / IELTS 5-6 / TOEFL 35-60
• More Advanced ELL Learners

Level 3

• Readings of approximately 450 words
• More advanced conceptual connections
• Grades 11-12
• IB and AP (Global Politics, Government and Politics, Geography)
• College preparation
• CEFR Level B2 and above / IELTS 6 and above / TOEFL 60 and above

Simple Plans for Individual Teachers and Departments