Activity 01
Pairs: Headline Workshop
Provide a short news summary on a school event. Pairs brainstorm three headline options, then classify them as catchy, neutral, or misleading with reasons. Share top choices class-wide for a vote and discussion on effectiveness.
Explain how a journalist maintains an objective tone while reporting on a sensitive issue.
Facilitation TipDuring Headline Workshop, provide students with a list of facts and ask them to draft headlines before comparing them as a class to discuss which best summarises the key information objectively.
What to look forProvide students with a short, factual news report about a recent school event. Ask them to write one sentence identifying the main event and list the 5 Ws covered in the report. Then, ask them to suggest one alternative headline that is catchy but still objective.
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Activity 02
Small Groups: Mock Press Conference
Assign a school event scenario. One student acts as subject, others as reporters asking 5W questions. Groups draft a lead paragraph from notes, then swap drafts for peer edits on objectivity.
Evaluate what makes a headline catchy without being misleading.
Facilitation TipFor the Mock Press Conference, give each student a role card (e.g., student, headteacher, reporter) and circulate to listen for how accurately quotes are captured and whether questions stay neutral.
What to look forStudents work in pairs to draft a news report about a school assembly. After drafting, they exchange reports. Each student checks their partner's report for: 1. Clear identification of the 5 Ws. 2. Absence of personal opinions. 3. An objective headline. They provide one specific suggestion for improvement.
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Activity 03
Whole Class: Bias Detective Game
Project annotated news articles with hidden biases. Class votes on fact or opinion phrases, discusses evidence, then rewrites biased sections objectively as a group.
Construct a news report about a school event, focusing on objectivity.
Facilitation TipIn the Bias Detective Game, display two versions of the same news report and ask students to highlight biased language, then justify their choices in small groups before a whole-class vote.
What to look forPresent students with two headlines for the same fictional event. Ask them to vote on which headline is more objective and explain their reasoning in one sentence. For example: 'School Fair Raises Record Funds' versus 'Amazing School Fair a Huge Success'.
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Activity 04
Individual: Full Report Draft
Students select a recent school news item, interview a peer, and write a complete report with headline. Submit for teacher feedback on structure and tone before class sharing.
Explain how a journalist maintains an objective tone while reporting on a sensitive issue.
What to look forProvide students with a short, factual news report about a recent school event. Ask them to write one sentence identifying the main event and list the 5 Ws covered in the report. Then, ask them to suggest one alternative headline that is catchy but still objective.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teach this topic by modelling the process: read a short news report aloud, think aloud about the 5 Ws, and discuss why certain words are chosen over others. Avoid over-correcting early drafts, as the goal is to build confidence in fact-based writing. Research suggests students learn best when they see the purpose of objectivity—emphasise that clear, accurate reports are more trusted by readers.
Students will show they can separate facts from opinions, write clear headlines, and structure reports in the inverted pyramid. Success looks like reports that place key details first, maintain a neutral tone, and include all five Ws without bias.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Headline Workshop, students may believe all attention-grabbing headlines must exaggerate.
Use the provided facts to draft headlines and then vote as a class. Ask students to explain why a headline like ‘Local School Wins Big Award for Science Fair’ is objective, while ‘School Triumphs in Amazing Science Victory’ leans toward opinion.
During Mock Press Conference, students might think including their own thoughts makes the report more interesting.
Provide role cards that explicitly ask reporters to stick to questions and quotes. After the activity, ask students to underline any opinionated language in their notes and rewrite it as a neutral question or statement.
During Bias Detective Game, students may assume neutral tone means using only simple words.
Display two versions of a report—one with plain language and one with varied, precise vocabulary—and ask students to discuss which maintains neutrality while still engaging the reader.
Methods used in this brief