Mobile Computing
4 Best News and Current Events Apps for Students
- By
- 01/12/15
Common Sense Media’s service Graphite, which offers independent ratings and reviews of learning apps and websites, has compiled this list of the best news and current events apps for students. For complete reviews, and for each app’s "Learning Rating," visit the Graphite website.
News-o-Matic
Grades: 1 through 4
Price: $9.99
Concepts: Events, perspective-taking, forming arguments
News-O-Matic is a kid-centric daily news app covering topics from religion and politics to scientific discoveries and kid entrepreneurs. Teachers and students can read five current events articles daily, answer questions, chat with classmates about the stories and send questions to the editors. Read the full Graphite review.
News-2-You
Grades: 2 through 6
Price: Free to try, with in-app purchases
Concepts: Understanding symbols, vocabulary, reading
News-2-You is a symbols-based newspaper app for special needs students. The symbols-based and voice-supported articles allow teachers to adjust settings to fit each student's unique learning level and pace. Read the full Graphite review.
NPR News
Grades: 9 through 12
Price: Free
Concepts: Citizenship, cultural understanding, critical thinking
The NPR News app is chock full of new and archived radio shows, articles, videos and images from National Public Radio’s news, politics, science, arts and pop culture programming. Older students benefit the most from the app, which features hourly news updates and the ability to create a playlist of stories and podcasts. Read the full Graphite review.
NYTimes
Grades: 9 through 12
Price: Free to try, more access with paid subscription
Concepts: Text analysis, reading, global awareness
The NYTimes app, along with a paid subscription, offers full online and offline access to the newspaper's daily content. It’s an easy-to-use, comprehensive news resource, and despite only offering access to the front page without a subscription, the quality presentation of content makes the app especially conducive to deep learning. Read the full Graphite review.
About the Author
Common Sense Education helps educators find the best edtech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. Go to Common Sense Education for free resources including full reviews of digital tools, ready-made lesson plans, videos, webinars, and more.