Learning Center
Learning Center Classes
The Newseum offers 50-minute, national standards-linked, educator-led class experiences at no additional charge for students in grades 3 – University. Learning Center classes must be requested at least two weeks in advance.
Elementary, middle and high school class descriptions
Times:
Classes are offered Monday-Friday at the following times:
9:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
Capacity
Most classes require a minimum of 15 students and a maximum of 30 students. We cannot offer concurrent Learning Center classes. Groups of over 30 students will be assigned staggered class times based on your group's window of availability.
Select Learning Center classes are also available in the Documentary Theater for larger groups (50 to 300 students). Please contact the Education Department for availability.
Pre- and Post-Visit Lessons:
Pre- and post-visit lessons and activities to augment your students' experience can be downloaded from the Lesson Plan page.
Cancellations and No-Show Policies:
When a school fails to appear for its scheduled educational class experience, it prevents other schools from taking advantage of the learning opportunities the Newseum offers. For this reason, we ask that schools notify us at least one week prior to their scheduled visit if your group needs to change or cancel an education class experience. If your group fails to show without notice, or if you cancel twice without a week's notice, your privileges may be suspended. Click here to book your field trip and a Learning Center class.
Learning Center Elementary, Middle and High School Class Descriptions
Journalism
These classroom lessons teach students the skills and knowledge to tackle the responsibilities journalists face in their everyday work, including reporting, decision-making and ethics.
Speed of News
Explore how news spread 200 years ago, how it does today, and how it might tomorrow. From cave paintings to telegraphs, cuneiform to television and Twitter, the information we want and need spreads in multiple ways. Students will interact with and manipulate tools that have changed the speed of news throughout history and learn how technology drives how quickly we receive our news.
Grades: 3 – 5
Capacity: 30 Students
Media Ethics
What are the guiding principles of journalism? Examine real-world media ethics cases and learn how journalists make the tough calls while on deadline. This class is based on "Media Ethics: Where Do You Draw the Line?" the Newseum's case-study curriculum for secondary schools.
Grades: 6 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
Photo Ethics
Learn how journalists make hard decisions about what images to capture and what images to distribute. Students explore real-world photojournalism ethics cases and witness how digital technology is used in various ways in photojournalism today.
Grades: 8 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
Choose the News
Investigate the factors that influence the variety of content, news coverage and sources of news in local newspapers. Participate in a budget meeting and decide what stories make the newspaper as you discover the impact of breaking news on print journalism.
Grades: 6 - 9
Capacity: 30 Students
Reporting Under Fire
Journalists and photojournalists face ethical issues while reporting in conflict and war zones. Discover how the role of war reporters has changed over time with more advanced technology, and how journalists have shaped American views of conflicts through their stories and images. By examining real-life case studies, students grapple with the dilemmas faced by journalists and become more informed news consumers.
Grades: 8 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Students gain a deeper understanding of the history and significance of the five freedoms — speech, press, religion, assembly and petition — guaranteed by the First Amendment, and the power of this cornerstone of democracy to inspire social change.
Battle for the Bill of Rights
Go back in time and take on the positions and arguments of the framers of the Constitution. Discover the arguments against the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment from over 200 years ago and how they were overcome.
Grades: 4 - 6
Capacity: 30 Students
You Can't Say That?!
Are there limits placed on the First Amendment? If so, why do they exist? Debate the benefits and dangers involved in government regulation of the five freedoms.
Grades: 9 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
You Can't Say That in School?!
Using real-life Supreme Court case studies, discover the limits placed on the First Amendment in schools and why they exist. Debate the benefits and dangers involved in government regulation of the five freedoms in public schools.
Grades: 7 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
Headlines of History
Examining what Phillip Graham famously called "the first rough draft of history," this program — based on the Newseum's primary source collection of 35,000 historic newspapers, newsreels and 600 artifacts — brings to life the world's monumental events, movements, triumphs and tragedies, allowing students to experience history as it unfolded.
Making a Change: The Civil Rights Movement and the First Amendment
Learn about the key issues and pivotal moments in the civil rights struggle through a documentary film, primary sources and guided discussion. Students see how all five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment were used as a vehicle for social change in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Grades: 8 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
Berlin Wall to Firewall: The Importance of the Free Flow of Information
Through a documentary film, guided discussion and exploration of the largest segment of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany, students learn about obstacles to the free flow of information in the world after WWII and in the 21st century. Students focus on the importance of a free press in a democratic society then and now.
Grades: 5 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
The Press and the Presidency
The relationship between the press and America's presidents has evolved over time with each new leader. Using discussion, historical images and group work, participants experience the power of the free press in our democracy.
Grades: 6 - 12
Capacity: 30 Students
Learning Center University Class Descriptions
Journalism
Media Ethics
What are the guiding principles of journalism? How are these principles put into practice? Examine real-world media ethics cases and learn how journalists make the tough calls while on deadline.
Photo Ethics
Learn how photojournalists and editors make hard decisions about what images to capture and what images to distribute. Students debate the pros and cons of digitally manipulating images. Students explore real-world photojournalism ethics cases and witness how digital technology is used in various ways in photojournalism today.
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
You Can't Say That?!
What are the limits placed on the First Amendment? Why do they exist? Do you agree with them? Using case studies, debate the benefits and dangers involved in government regulation of the five freedoms.
You Can't Say That in School?!
Using real-life Supreme Court case studies, discover the limits placed on the First Amendment in public schools and why they exist. Do you agree with them? Using case studies, debate the benefits and dangers involved in government regulation of the five freedoms in public schools.
Headlines of History
Making a Change: The Civil Rights Movement and the First Amendment
Learn about key issues and pivotal moments in the civil rights struggle using a documentary film, including primary sources and guided discussion. Explore how all five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment were used as a vehicle for social change in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Berlin Wall to Firewall: The Importance of the Free Flow of Information
Through a documentary film, guided discussion and exploration of the largest segment of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany, students learn about obstacles to the free flow of information in the world after WWII and in the 21st century. Students focus on the importance of a free press in a democratic society then and now.