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Youth media empowers students to use their voice, engage with people outside your school walls, discover new ideas and tell important stories. StoryMaker gives you the tools: lesson plans, projects, explainers and other resources proven to increase critical thinking, curiosity and civic engagement. Begin your storytelling journey with the starter goals listed below, including: Teach Media Literacy Skills, Increase Civic Engagement, Explore Science Journalism and STEM , Experiment with Storytelling Formats, Activate and Amplify Student Voice, Motivate with Culturally Responsive Projects, and Start a Broadcast Program.
Explore the educator directory to connect with mentors and learning partners to solve problems, share best practices and lessons learned.
Teach Media Literacy Skills
Help students learn how to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication. From fact-checking to journalism standards to combating misinformation, empower your students to become savvy media experts.
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Increase Civic Engagement
Create paths for students to interact within their community, learn how important decisions are made and understand the role of journalism in a democracy.
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Build STEM and Science Journalism Skills
Build critical thinking, problem solving and science communication skills through inquiry-based learning and media making, including data analysis and evaluating evidence.
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Experiment with Storytelling Formats
From quick content creation challenges, to video diaries, to podcasting and creating video news stories or mini-docs; your students can experiment with different types of storytelling.
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Activate and Amplify Student Voice
Inspire students with meaningful media making challenges around topics they are passionate about. Students will be heard and contribute to the national conversation.
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Motivate with Culturally Responsive Projects
Engage students in projects designed to meet them where they are. Explore topics front of mind for Gen Z, including social justice, race, equity, climate change, mental health, fairness and opportunity, and more.
START HERELearn about the different types of StoryMaker resources
Projects
ADVANCED SKILL LEVEL: Long-term prompts (6-8 weeks) where students complete a full news package with multiple interviews, b-roll and in-depth storytelling. Students work together to complete multiple revisions.
Challenges
INTERMEDIATE SKILL LEVEL: Medium turnaround prompts (2-4 weeks) where students complete one or more interviews, collect b-roll and edit a final project.
Rapid Responses
ALL SKILL LEVELS: Great for beginners, Rapid Responses are quick turnaround prompts (1-5 days) where students interview their peers on subjects tied to news events.
Lessons
Focused on understanding digital journalism, media making, audio and video production. Our standards-based curriculum resources develop communication skills, critical thinking, teamwork, and other key skills for the future.