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8th grade · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 12

Media & Democracy

A free press and a careful public

What your child practices

Why a free and responsible press matters, broadcast, print and online media, how officials use media to shape opinion, and how to spot misinformation, bias and spin.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 8.SP3.5; 8.C3.1 · judging news sources and the role of the media in politics

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A free press helps citizens hold leaders to account.
  2. Check if a news story is reliable: look for named sources and compare with other trusted outlets.
  3. Social media lets anyone share information instantly, true or false. Primary sources for news include court documents and witness interviews.

Example: How can you check whether a news story is reliable? See who the story quotes. Named sources can be checked. Compare with other trusted outlets. Answer: look for named sources and check other trusted outlets

Media & Democracy in Arizona

In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 12 in 8th grade Social Studies, after Taking Part and before Sources & Evidence.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Arizona Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Officials "spin" a story when they…

    • read facts word for word
    • present facts in the light that helps them most
    • count votes
    • refuse to speak

  2. Question 2

    A responsible press checks facts and…

    • corrects its mistakes
    • only prints rumors
    • hides its sources' errors
    • never names sources

  3. Question 3

    Misinformation is…

    • true information
    • a type of ballot
    • false information shared, even by mistake
    • an official record

  4. Question 4

    Media bias means…

    • perfect balance
    • a slant that favors one side
    • a legal ruling
    • only weather news

  5. Question 5

    How can you check if a news story is reliable?

    • count the likes
    • trust the headline
    • believe it if it's shocking
    • look for named sources and check other trusted outlets

  6. Question 6

    Deepfakes are…

    • court transcripts
    • realistic fake videos or audio made with software
    • live news broadcasts
    • public records

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