Civics & Government · 9th Grade

Active learning ideas

The Media's Role in Elections

Active learning works for this topic because media framing decisions are subtle yet powerful, and students need hands-on practice to notice them. When students analyze real news clips or debate moments themselves, they move beyond abstract definitions of bias to see how editorial choices shape public perception in tangible ways.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3: D2.Civ.10.9-12
• C3: D2.Civ.7.9-12

• 20–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 40 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Analyzing News Framing

Students examine printed or projected excerpts of coverage of the same candidate from three different news outlets, annotating for word choice, story placement, and image selection. In small groups they compare their annotations and identify patterns. Groups then share observations with the class to build a collective analysis of how framing shapes perception.

Analyze how media coverage can influence voter perceptions of candidates.

Facilitation Tip

During the Gallery Walk, position yourself near a cluster of articles to overhear conversations and gently redirect students who focus only on headline wording without examining article structure or placement.

What to look for

Provide students with two short news clips about the same candidate from different sources. Ask them to identify one instance of framing in each clip and explain how it might influence a viewer's perception of the candidate.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Debate Moments That Moved Polls

Students individually read a short data brief on polling before and after historical debates (such as Kennedy-Nixon 1960 or Clinton-Trump 2016) and form a claim about what drives voter reaction. They pair to stress-test their reasoning, then share with the whole class to build a picture of when and why debates matter.

Evaluate the impact of presidential debates on election outcomes.

Facilitation Tip

For the Think-Pair-Share on debate moments, provide pre-debate polling data so students have a baseline to compare against post-debate shifts.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Given the role of media endorsements, how can voters ensure they are making informed decisions based on a candidate's platform rather than external validation?' Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to cite specific examples.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Socratic Seminar
• 45 min · Whole Class

Socratic Seminar: Should the Media Endorse Candidates?

Using short readings on the arguments for and against editorial endorsements, students hold a structured discussion requiring text evidence. The teacher facilitates by redirecting and asking clarifying questions rather than leading. Students must engage with at least one opposing argument before restating their own position.

Critique the role of media endorsements in a democratic election.

Facilitation Tip

In the Socratic Seminar, assign specific roles to quieter students to ensure everyone contributes, such as timekeeper, evidence collector, or devil’s advocate.

What to look for

Present students with a hypothetical scenario: A major newspaper endorses Candidate A, while a popular online news aggregator focuses heavily on Candidate B's gaffes. Ask students to write one sentence explaining the potential impact of each media action on voter behavior.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Jigsaw
• 50 min · Small Groups

Jigsaw: Cross-Platform Election Coverage

Each expert group analyzes a different media type -- print, television, social media, or podcast -- for how it covered a recent local or national election using a shared comparison framework. Groups reassemble in mixed configurations to build a full picture of how platform differences shape the information voters receive.

Analyze how media coverage can influence voter perceptions of candidates.

Facilitation Tip

During the Jigsaw, require each group to present both the strengths and weaknesses of their assigned platform, not just its advantages.

What to look for

Provide students with two short news clips about the same candidate from different sources. Ask them to identify one instance of framing in each clip and explain how it might influence a viewer's perception of the candidate.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers approach this topic by treating students as critical consumers, not passive recipients of media messages. Avoid presenting media bias as a binary of biased vs. unbiased, because even neutral reporting involves framing. Instead, model source comparison and guide students to ask: who benefits from this framing, whose voices are missing, and what might be the unintended consequences of this coverage. Research shows that when students analyze media coverage of the same event across platforms, they develop a more sophisticated understanding of how different media ecosystems operate.

Successful learning looks like students confidently identifying framing techniques in multiple sources and explaining how those techniques could influence voter behavior. They should also be able to discuss the limits of media influence and the role of outside money in elections with concrete examples.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Gallery Walk: Analyzing News Framing, students may assume that neutral-sounding language means the coverage is unbiased.

  During the Gallery Walk, have students compare the placement and length of articles about each candidate, not just the wording. Ask them to note which stories are buried on page 12 versus featured on page 1, and how that placement shapes reader attention.

• During the Think-Pair-Share: Debate Moments That Moved Polls, students may overestimate the impact of a single debate on election outcomes.

  During the Think-Pair-Share, provide pre- and post-debate polling data and ask students to calculate the actual percentage point change. Have them discuss whether the shift was large enough to justify claims of a 'moved poll' moment.

• During the Jigsaw: Cross-Platform Election Coverage, students may believe that social media platforms are inherently more biased than traditional news outlets.

  During the Jigsaw, have groups analyze both an algorithmically recommended social media post and a traditional news article about the same candidate. Ask them to identify the type of bias in each and explain how the mechanism of delivery (algorithm vs. editorial team) influences the bias.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk
• Think-Pair-Share
• Socratic Seminar
• Jigsaw