Using the news media
Life and living processes is an area of science that is rich in potential for the development of the global dimension.
The environment provides an enormous amount of editorial and electronic information. The internet has an abundance of images and texts that help to make this topic exciting for primary pupils. (See image above.)
Another theme that we see in newspapers and television reports almost daily is that of diets and healthy living. If we ally this to other reports of droughts, war zones and famine, the issues are enormous. Links to the global dimension could include values and perceptions, human rights, sustainable development and citizenship, to name the most obvious.
Food and famine
In little more than a week (July 26 - Aug 3, 2005) The Times contained articles on:
- Quelea birds driven south by drought and famine in Nigeria destroy already depleted crops (30/7/05);
- Nomads in Niger kill their cattle for food before the beasts collapse and die due to drought and lack of fresh pastures (29/7/05);
- The Blow-out diet to lose weight - fast one day, eat what you like the next (26/7/05);
- Atkins Diet company files for bankruptcy protection (2/8/05);
- Food Standards Agency provides guidelines to identify 'junk' food by a points system (29/7/05);
- Damning report on our nation's health, as alcohol and junk food sales show huge increase (3/8/05);
- Heavy drinking among young women now seen as a problem in UK (3/8/05);
We need to consider whether these reports are of use to us as teachers and, if so, how to use the information from them most effectively in our teaching. Have a go at this yourself in the Activity on the right.
Activity Resources:
- Images
- Interactive
- Sound
- Text
- Video
Activity
- Look at The Times article headlines on the left again and consider the positives and potential negatives of using media reports with your pupils. Clicking on the Text icon above will provide an example for discussion.
- Visit the free online CD-Rom below to assess its use for your pupils: Science Year CD-Rom online You can read an extract from the online topic 'Eating and Drinking Around the World' from the link 'Scream for Ice Cream!'. This focuses on the nutritional aspects of food, and looks at links between diet and health. Pupils are able to reflect on the nutritional and social values of different diets, and examine the links between diet and health.
