Make the most of your Newseum visit with itineraries and activity guides.
Free learning tools on media literacy and our First Amendment freedoms.
Getting Started
Activities require little to no preparation and are useful for introducing new ideas. Lessons take a full class period and may include homework. Units are made of several lessons and provide a comprehensive study of a topic.
EDTools
Our flexible lesson plans, downloadable primary source documents and unique videos support instruction in history, media literacy and civics.
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ActivityFree Expression & Censorship: Banned Books
Two activities help young students understand what it means to have the freedom to express ideas through books and drawings.
CloseactivityFree Expression & Censorship: Banned Books
Two activities help young students understand what it means to have the freedom to express ideas through books and drawings.
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ActivityFrom Provocative to Productive: Teaching Controversial Topics
Get first steps for creating a respectful yet vibrant environment for students to explore diverse ideas on controversial topics, from politics to profanity, religion to racism.
CloseactivityFrom Provocative to Productive: Teaching Controversial Topics
Get first steps for creating a respectful yet vibrant environment for students to explore diverse ideas on controversial topics, from politics to profanity, religion to racism.
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EDCollectionEDCollectionElection 2016: Stumped!?
Stumped by the media mayhem and roaring rhetoric of this presidential race? Get historical context and tools to demystify election procedures, decode campaign messages and make your voice matter.
ClosecollectionElection 2016: Stumped!?
Stumped by the media mayhem and roaring rhetoric of this presidential race? Get historical context and tools to demystify election procedures, decode campaign messages and make your voice matter.
How to enroll
If you’re ready to request a program, click Book a Visit to complete the reservation form. Our team will respond within two business days.
EDClasses & Training
Our EDClasses & Training workshops use the First Amendment to illuminate the challenges and ideals of our democracy.
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Learning Center/ Documentary Theater On the Campaign Trail: The Battle for Votes
Candidates know that it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. In every election season, the candidates and supporters compete to shape viewers’ opinions and garner their votes. Examine historical and contemporary campaign ads, learn how to navigate conflicting messages and leave empowered to separate fact from fiction.
This class is for:
- Students
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Newseum Learning Center and/or Documentary Theater Loud and Proud
Celebrate freedom of expression in this semi-guided museum experience. This program combines individual exploration, hands-on interaction and customized keepsakes.
This class is for:
- Students
- Educators
- Professionals
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Newseum Learning Center Media Ethics for Educators
Educators learn about the principles of ethical journalism — and how to teach them to your students — in this case-study-based professional development workshop.
This class is for:
- Educators
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Learning Center/ Documentary Theater On the Campaign Trail: The Battle for Votes
Candidates know that it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. In every election season, the candidates and supporters compete to shape viewers’ opinions and garner their votes. Examine historical and contemporary campaign ads, learn how to navigate conflicting messages and leave empowered to separate fact from fiction.
This class is for:
- Students
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Newseum Learning Center and/or Documentary Theater Loud and Proud
Celebrate freedom of expression in this semi-guided museum experience. This program combines individual exploration, hands-on interaction and customized keepsakes.
This class is for:
- Students
- Educators
- Professionals
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Newseum Learning Center and/or Documentary Theater You Can't Say That?!
Students learn about restrictions to freedom of speech in public life, then debate court cases that determined when and why those limits apply.
This class is for:
- Students
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Newseum Learning Center and/or Documentary Theater Loud and Proud
Celebrate freedom of expression in this semi-guided museum experience. This program combines individual exploration, hands-on interaction and customized keepsakes.
This class is for:
- Students
- Educators
- Professionals
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Newseum Learning Center Media Ethics for Educators
Educators learn about the principles of ethical journalism — and how to teach them to your students — in this case-study-based professional development workshop.
This class is for:
- Educators
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Newseum Learning Center Judging Fact, Fiction and Everything in Between: Teaching Media Literacy
Educators gain tools and techniques for deconstructing information in a variety of media, from historic newsreels to histrionic websites.
This class is for:
- Educators
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Newseum Learning Center and/or Documentary Theater Loud and Proud
Celebrate freedom of expression in this semi-guided museum experience. This program combines individual exploration, hands-on interaction and customized keepsakes.
This class is for:
- Students
- Educators
- Professionals
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Newseum Learning Center, Documentary Theater, and/or Knight TV Studio NewsMania™
Test your news IQ by playing the Newseum’s popular current-events game show that’s as fresh as today’s headlines!
This class is for:
- Professionals
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Newseum Learning Center Media Ethics Team Building
This one-hour enrichment program introduces principles of ethical journalism to your team and gets them debating how media cover today’s stories.
This class is for:
- Professionals
What are EDCollections?
EDCollections are curated sets of primary sources, lesson plans and interactives that illustrate the role of the First Amendment in U.S. history.
EDCollections
Our EDCollections provide in-depth explorations of key topics built on primary sources from the Newseum collection and interactive learning tools.
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EDCollectionEDCollection
Election 2016: Stumped!?
Stumped by the media mayhem and roaring rhetoric of this presidential race? Get historical context and tools to demystify election procedures, decode campaign messages and make your voice matter.
ClosecollectionElection 2016: Stumped!?
Stumped by the media mayhem and roaring rhetoric of this presidential race? Get historical context and tools to demystify election procedures, decode campaign messages and make your voice matter.
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EDCollectionEDCollectionFreedom in the Balance
The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, forced us to reconsider the balance between protecting public safety and protecting First Amendment freedoms – our cornerstone rights of religious liberty, free expression and political action. Twenty-two case studies explore how this debate has evolved from friction among Founding Fathers to cybersecurity standoffs.
ClosecollectionFreedom in the Balance
The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, forced us to reconsider the balance between protecting public safety and protecting First Amendment freedoms – our cornerstone rights of religious liberty, free expression and political action. Twenty-two case studies explore how this debate has evolved from friction among Founding Fathers to cybersecurity standoffs.
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EDCollectionEDCollectionWomen, Their Rights and Nothing Less: The First Amendment and the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Explore how the suffragists embraced the First Amendment as a tool to help achieve passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.
ClosecollectionWomen, Their Rights and Nothing Less: The First Amendment and the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Explore how the suffragists embraced the First Amendment as a tool to help achieve passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.
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EDCollectionEDCollectionMaking a Change: The First Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement
See how advocates for - and against - change in the civil rights movement leveraged the five freedoms of the First Amendment to make their voices heard and achieve their goals.
ClosecollectionMaking a Change: The First Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement
See how advocates for - and against - change in the civil rights movement leveraged the five freedoms of the First Amendment to make their voices heard and achieve their goals.
What are EDIdeas
EDIdeas
Find tips, collection highlights and breaking news connections from the NewseumED staff.
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Civics & Citizenship Book Bans Bump Up Against First Amendment
September 13, 2016Students may be surprised to learn that some popular books have been the target of banning efforts. Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are and J.K. Rowlings's Harry Potter series are but two of hundreds of books that some school boards, community members, or parents have tried to keep children from reading.
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Historical Connections Experience the Call for Independence on NewseumED
August 23, 2016Videos and artifacts from the Newseum's exhibit "1776 - Breaking News: Independence" are accessible free on NewseumED.
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Historical Connections Teach Your Students to Analyze Primary Sources
July 15, 2016Open your students to different points of view and historical connections with hundreds of free downloadable primary source artifacts. Sign up to view the full collection.
The primary and secondary resources are totally awesome!”
Hassan Mims Social Studies, Grades 9-12
The Newseum is a unique experience. It connects real world events to the heart of each individual.”
Jane Peterson English, Grade 8
All the content from NewseumED is high quality and fully accessible for my students. That makes it invaluable!”
Shay Taylor Education Technology Specialist, Grades 9-12 and college