Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup Feb. 26 – March. 4
Good afternoon,
March is here, which means it’s time to celebrate Women’s History Month! That also means the HERstory event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History is just around the corner. Next Thursday, March 13, join Lookout, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the MAH in celebrating the women that have shaped, and continue to shape, our community in powerful ways. Enjoy guest speakers, hands-on activities, performances and more—all highlighting the lasting impact of female leadership in Santa Cruz County. Don’t miss it—register here for this free community event!
Current events to use in your classroom
Here’s a roundup of recent articles you could use in your classroom. Explore the linked lesson plans below for simple ways to facilitate reflection on these local events. Interested in more stories? Browse all our recent coverage here.
LOCAL NEWS
Officials from across county working to translate lessons learned from trip to study Netherlands’ bike-first infrastructure
By Tania Ortiz
Elected officials and city employees from all over Santa Cruz County traveled to the Netherlands last summer to learn about the country’s bike-first infrastructure, and potentially apply some ideas locally. The three-day trip was organized by local nonprofit Ecology Action.
From funding to free speech, local non-commercial radio reckons with Trump 2.0
By Wallace Baine
Two prominent non-commercial radio stations in the Monterey Bay area – KAZU and KSQD – are facing the second Trump administration with different concerns, the former with the threat of the withdrawal of federal funding, and the latter with worries about free speech.
Hundreds of UC Santa Cruz employees join systemwide unfair labor practices strike
By Christopher Neely
UC Santa Cruz health care and technical workers walked off the job Wednesday, joining a statewide strike over wages and alleged unfair labor practices. Unions say staffing shortages and cost-of-living pressures across the University of California system demand urgent action.
Cabrillo course spotlights native edible plants with Indigenous feast and film showcase
By Lily Belli
Inspired by recent climate disasters in Santa Cruz County, Edible Landscaping instructor Mimi Schilling decided to focus on edible plants native to the Central Coast when she took over the longstanding Cabrillo College course last fall.
As monarch populations plummet, they need our help now more than ever
By Jonathan Evans
This year, Natural Bridges, Lighthouse Field and Moran Lake saw the largest clusters of monarchs in the state. But the big cluster locally belies a dismaying trend – monarchs are decreasing across the state.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Californians approved $1.5 billion for wildfire prevention. How will the state spend it?
By Sameea Kamal / CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed spending climate bond money dedicated to wildfire mitigation in various ways. Some lawmakers think a focused strategy would be more effective.
California’s fund to build student housing runs dry — leaving community colleges in the lurch
By Adam Echelman / CalMatters
Feather River College is still reeling from the 2021 Dixie fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes in the surrounding community and warped the housing market. The college is one of many California schools that have tried — and failed — to secure state grants to build more student housing.
A California sheriff is planning to break the state’s sanctuary law. Here’s how
By Nigel Duara / CalMatters
California passed a sanctuary state law to protect immigrants during the first Trump administration. Now, Amador County’s sheriff wants to test it at the beginning of the second.
Student Opportunities
Student Stories
Student Stories is a place for students to have their voices heard by the community and the rest of Santa Cruz County. It is designed to showcase stories, events, clubs, and opinions authored by students in Santa Cruz County. Students can either submit ideas or completed stories. Learn more here and reach out if you have any questions.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Current Event Discussion Guide
- Our current event discussion guide is a great activity to engage with local news and can be used for any article. Below is the lesson plan and the bilingual guide.
- Current Event Discussion Guide Lesson Plan (PDF)
- Bilingual Current Event Discussion Guide (PDF)
Educator Page
- You can find more resources on our Educator Page, including a media literacy guide, specific new quizzes and more.
Reminder on student access
- If any of your students are having trouble with their free access, have them sign up for their free student membership with their personal email address at this link.
Thank you for all the hard work you do in the community and for supporting our educational programs, helping the younger generations learn media literacy skills, and become invested community members and democratic citizens. If you’d like to learn more about our school programs, get more involved or have any questions, please reach out.
Best,
Eetai