Directions: Read the summary, watch the video and answer the discussion questions. Have students record what they found most significant in the summaries and ask them what they’d like to learn more about. For a transcript of the video, click here.
Summary of the top news: The U.S. hit new milestones with the coronavirus this week with record numbers of hospitalizations and deaths and a medical staffing system that’s burning out.
- Some regions are seeing numbers of hospitalizations high enough that they’re rationing care, which means having to decide which patients they have the resources to care for. Authorities are concerned about continued travel over the holidays.
- Still, there are hopeful signs in the development of effective vaccines that may be available to frontline medical workers in the next couple of weeks and then the general public within months of the new year.
Also in the news:
- Numbers of people filing for unemployment continued to remain high, and some of the benefits like unemployment insurance and paycheck protection passed in the spring is set to expire at the end of the year. Congress has been negotiating a new relief bill since the summer, but they have not come to an agreement. Still, there were hopeful signs that a deal could be reached this week.
- President-elect Biden officially had enough state vote counts certified to reach enough electors to become president. While certification was widely expected, President Trump continues to contest the outcome of the election.
Discussion:
Warm up questions:
- Who is likely to get the first vaccines produced in the U.S.?
- What is the reason that vaccines are not already widely available if they’ve been proven effective?
- Where and when are COVID-19 cases increasing quickly?
- Why are COVID-19 numbers increasing so rapidly?
- How has President Trump tried to contest the results of the election?
Focus questions:
- What do you think local and national authorities should do to keep COVID-19 counts down and hospitals from being overwhelmed while the country waits for a vaccine?
- Do you think the transition in presidential administrations will affect the nation’s COVID-19 response? In what ways, if so?
Media literacy: What news do you think was most important from this summary? What important news are you aware of that was left out?
Additional resources
- Why is the stock market soaring while so many continue to struggle financially during the pandemic? Discuss using this story.
- Why are potential vaccines in such limited supply and who decides who gets them first? Find out using this story.
- Research for one of the most promising vaccines was partly funded by…Dolly Parton? Yes, Dolly Parton. Use this lesson to discuss how one successful artist gives back.
