accessibility & help

Newsthink

Sign up  to receive newsthink: a fortnightly email that looks at the stories behind recent headlines, and provides teachers with activities, videos, photos and discussion triggers.

It's ideal in informal education as well as for assemblies, tutor time, and to keep any subject lessons current.

Olympics 2012

Usain Bolt being congratulated by the crowd at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Topical activities exploring health in crowds, security at the games and the Olympic torchbearers.

Photo starter & lesson plan  >

Costa Concordia

A diver inside the cruise ship Costa Concordia, after it ran aground in front of the Isola del Giglio harbour.

Engage students' imagination with a look at the emotional complexities of rescue.

Discussion ideas  >

Previous newsthink activities

Paul McMullan giving evidence at the Leveson Inquiry

Leveson Inquiry

Build students’ resilience to manage their social media use with this audio-based lesson plan exploring humanity, privacy and the media.

The burnt-out shell of a double-decker bus is seen on High Road in Tottenham, north London on 7 August 2011

Photo news quiz

Is it a quiz? Or a citizenship discussion trigger? It's both. Based on high-quality news photographs, it is designed as an educational quiz.

Base jumpers leap from a alpine cliff in the Lauterbrunnen valley in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Base jumping

Some people avoid risk whenever they can. Others seek risk for the fun of it. Explore different points of view and choices by focusing on an extreme sport.

An icy road in the snow

Ready for winter?

You can't stop winter happening. You can change the impact it has on you. Try this series of wintry activities in class or informal education.

Split-screen still of a girl drinking

Alcohol & first aid

High on the list of social skills worth learning is that of staying alive. Use this short video trigger and activities to build young people's capacity to cope with alcohol.

A car and motorbike crash with motorbike in flames and a woman looking under the car

Burning car rescue

A young man lies injured under a car in a busy street. The front of the bonnet is on fire. How would you react? Explore the bystander effect with this real life video.

CCTV footage of shopping centre

Texting while walking

Laughing at someone else's misfortune is highly popular YouTube entertainment. Explore a much-viewed example with this three-phase activity.

Two event first aid volunteers walking at festival

First aid comedy & tragedy

These funny video clips have a serious point. Explore the barriers that prevent people from offering first aid.

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