About This Lesson
Thinkalong.org is a free, evidence-based interactive tool for students to develop media literacy skills by applying the 5 Key Questions of Media Literacy to public media content. Importantly, the tool does not require registration for teachers or students, abides by student privacy laws, and is advised by a board of both youth and educators.
Each module consists of:
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a compelling and timely question;
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related current and age-appropriate public media content including audio, video, and text;
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extension resources for advanced or highly-interested students;
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student graphic organizers;
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a simple debate tool;
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a teacher's guide to the module;
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and a guide to the 5 Key Questions of Media Literacy.
This Teacher's Guide supports the Should all Americans vote by mail? module on thinkalong.org. Here is the full module and below is a summary.
In a democracy, every eligible voter has the right to cast a ballot and have it counted. While each state determines its own voting laws in the United States, many people have begun pushing for all states to accept ballots by mail, especially as the Covid-19 pandemic made going to the polls in person more difficult. However, after the 2020 election's record turnout, the conversation has turned to vote-by-mail for every election. Opponents say mail-in voting can cause all kinds of problems, including uncounted ballots and voter fraud. Is universal vote-by-mail pushing the envelope?
To use this module with learners in any setting, we recommend using one of the structured discussion formats outlined at thinkalong.org/structuring-discussions. You can find options for a small or large group, so that all students or just a few participate, and examples of some discussion formats.
