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 the U.S. raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour? module on thinkalong.org. Here is the full module and below is a summary.
The debate over raising the minimum wage has raged on for years. While many states have increased the minimum wage on their own, the federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009. As inflation and an ever-rising cost of living continue to make it increasingly difficult to live off of a minimum wage income, people have begun to specifically demand a $15.00 federal minimum wage. While some are concerned that raising the minimum wage would ultimately hurt the economy, others argue that lifting low-wage workers out of poverty would benefit everyone. All of this begs the question: Should the federal minimum wage be increased to $15 per hour?
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.
