Through this lesson students learn how AM radios work through basic concepts about waves and magnetic fields. Waves are first introduced by establishing the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves, as well as identifying the amplitude and frequency of a given waveform. Students then learn general concepts about magnetic fields, leading into how radio waves are created and transmitted. Several demonstrations can be performed in order to help students better understand these concepts. The goal of this lesson is for students to understand how the AM radios built during the associated activity function.

This is a radio station out of Lebanon that provides free streaming via their Ôlive audioŐ button. Unlike many other radio station websites operating out of the Middle East, it provides reliable, live audio to their station and is consistently updated. The interface is in English, making it easy to use for novice speakers of Arabic who are looking to listen in on some Arabic radio. Some of their archived shows play English music.

How can you counteract an information war? Hromadske Radio, Public Radio Ukraine, decided to provide accurate and objective information to audiences – free of state and corporate censorship and any kind of manipulation. This book, by Marta Dyczok, brings together a series of English language reports on the Ukraine crisis first broadcast on Hromadske Radio between 3 February 2014 and 7 August 2015. Collected and transcribed here, they offer a kaleidoscopic chronicle of events in Ukraine. Bookending the reports, purpose written introduction and conclusion sections contextualize the independent radio project within the larger picture of Ukraine’s media and political developments – both before the Euromaidan and in its dramatic aftermath.

Students use primary sources related to public reactions to the War of the Worlds broadcast to construct their own projects on media reception. 

The following unit offers multiple entry points into developing an understanding of media literacy. The unit framework and primary sources can be integrated into classrooms of grades 4-12. Each lesson has student objectives that can be accomplished within 40 minute periods over the course of several weeks. A midpoint writing assessment, whole class capstone debate, and final independent writing assessment are included. Support materials are integrated into the lessons, and the primary source document pages can be found at the end of the unit guide.

Students take classes and work all week to produce a Friday radio show that goes live on air. Every student presents their weeks work (reviews, commentary, investigations) on air. Watch as students work with their peer teachers to perfect their work before Friday.