How do you use current events in the classroom or library? I’ve got some great ideas for you today!
Please note that I originally wrote this post on December 10, 2016. It’s been updated a few times since, with the most recent update happening on April 18, 2026. In the nearly 10 years since, many of the news sites have changed a lot. With every update, I check links and remove or change any that need it.
Regardless of when you are reading this article, the teaching ideas are solid and will still work well for classrooms and libraries.
If you are looking to spice up your library lesson routine, this idea is a must-try! It will work with upper-elementary, middle school, and even high school. And like most of my library ideas, it works in classrooms as well. What a fun way to get students’ attention at the beginning of class!
So what’s the great idea? Well, I recently added current events videos to my daily library lessons, and over the past couple of weeks, the videos have contributed so much depth and value to what I do with my classes. We’ve had some interesting discussions, and it’s awesome to see my students so interested in world news.
Prep for the videos takes only a few minutes, it’s super-easy, and it’s totally FREE. Seriously, all the work is practically done for you; you just have to download it and hit play.
In this post, I explain where I get the videos, how I use them, what prep is involved, and the value that’s been added to our library lessons.
Many of my blog posts are activities I do with middle schoolers in my library. I currently see my middle schoolers for Library every two weeks through their English classes. All our classes are 60 minutes long, so I have the students for an entire hour. Sometimes, yes, that is difficult to fill. An hour is a very long time!
Library Hour always starts with what I am currently reading. I put up a PowerPoint slide of the book I am reading and talk about how it’s going. I then move to library announcements, upcoming events, and reminders. After that, I move into our news video, trivia, and discussion. All of this takes only about 10-15 minutes, but it could go longer if our news discussion gets students fired up. And sometimes, it does!
Just as an FYI, after the news video, we do our main activity. This could be a booktalk, fun writing/art activity, reading strategies, a game, or any one of a wide variety of things. I try to keep these different, light, and fun. As much as possible, I integrate the activity with classroom topics, but that does vary from teacher to teacher.
I show a PowerPoint every single library lesson. I know some people think PowerPoint is tired, and I’m not here to argue that. If you don’t like PowerPoint, you could use Prezi or EMaze or whatever program you love.
The PowerPoint helps keep me focused and in a logical order, and it gives the students something to focus on during our discussions. When I don’t use it, I feel unprepared and may leave out important parts of my lesson.
I download the videos and add them to the beginning on my PowerPoint lesson. Before and after the video, I ask the students a couple of questions about something included in the video. They usually do not know the answers to the questions before I show the video, but they all know the answers afterwards.
Showing the questions before I play the video gives students something to listen for in the videos and helps them pay closer attention.
Always, always prescreen the videos you want to show! Heavy or highly-controversial topics can make this library lesson distressing for some students. Honestly, as an adult, the news sometimes makes me anxious, too!
Aim to keep the vibe light and informative by focusing on topics like science, animals, travel, books, technology, fun facts, or inspiring stories.
PBS NewsHour Extra–This site posts daily news videos for use in middle and high school classrooms. Each video is individual, so it isn’t a series of news stories like FirstNews or CNN10. Each video has a download option (right under the video), which is helpful if your district blocks YouTube. BONUS: All of the videos include discussion questions, but some also include lesson plans with vocabulary, detailed activities, and discussion questions.
FirstNews Live! – This UK site for kids is my favorite! FirstNews has changed a lot over the years, but it still provides loads of free features and access to news videos for kids. The weekly print edition is only delivered during the school year, and it is available outside the UK, though it’s a bit more pricey outside the UK. The subscription also includes free access to loads of printable and online activities.
CNN 10–Also free and without commercials, and they can also be downloaded using Video Download Helper. These videos are 10 minutes long and feature an in-depth look at 3-4 news stories. Great for middle or high school. Featured stories are global, but the 10-minute length is just too long for my use. I do recommend it if you are looking for a longer newscast that gives more detail.
NBC News Learn – This was once a subscription site, but as of 2026, the content is now on this YouTube channel. When I sort the playlist by “newest,” the most recent upload was in 2021, so the content won’t be current. Still, you may find some great stuff here, and it is now FREE. As of April 2026, there are 801 videos uploaded to NBC News Learn.
DogoNews – This site has a free version and a paid version for teachers and schools. The free version requires no sign-up; students can use it straight from the link. The free version includes kid-friendly news articles with video, citation, and alignment to CCSS and NGSS standards. There is also a “vocabulary game” for at the bottom of different articles that gives students an online wordsearch of keywords from that article.
The paid version includes toggles for English-Spanish and reading level (Original or Simplified), as well as the option to switch to OpenDyslexic font. Each article also includes a read-aloud option, as well as comprehension, vocabulary, and parts of speech quizzes. There is a 7-day free trial so teachers and parents can test it out before buying.
