Dr. David Childs, D.D., Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
With so much misinformation online and in the media about COVID-19 it can be challenging to know what information is accurate and useful. Teachers can combat this by educating students and the public about the pandemic. Indeed educators can offer reliable information about the coronavirus. For example, they can teach students the science behind the virus, the effectiveness of vaccines and social distancing, and the usefulness of wearing masks. Classroom teachers can combat the conspiracy theories and false information that has inundated social media and the Internet.
(Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock)
There are some online resources and lesson plans that can help teachers provide reliable information about COVID-19. An effective way to stop the spread of the virus is to win the information war, and eradicate the false information that is widespread about the pandemic. K-12 classrooms can be the optimal environment to do this. Check out the creative lesson plans and resources below that can assist in this effort. 
The success of Hong Kong and Singapore in stemming the spread of the coronavirus holds many lessons for how to contain it in the United States.Photograph by Tsuji Keith / Abaca / ZUMA
BrainPOP Coronavirus Lesson Plans
The BrainPOP Coronavirus Lesson Plan is designed for grades 3-8. In describing the lesson and details of the material the website states:
“This lesson plan accompanies the BrainPOP topic, Coronavirus, and can be completed over several class periods. In this lesson students will:
- Activate prior knowledge about viruses, and specifically about the coronavirus.
- Use critical thinking skills to identify and connect facts about the coronavirus.
- Demonstrate understanding through creative projects, such as producing a public service announcement and coding an interview with a doctor.
- Present projects and reflect on new understandings.”
Other Resources and Lesson Plans on COVID-19
American Federation of Teacher- Lesson Plan
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences- Lesson Plan
National Geographic Learning Teaching Materials on COVID-19
Teach Your Students about Covid-19 with Lifeliqe Lessons
Florida Literacy Classroom Lesson – Coronovirus (COVID-19)
Lysol- Prevent the Spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lesson Plan
Crisis Collaboration: COVID-19 Mini Lesson
Free Coronavirus Science Lesson Plans
NEA News- How Teachers Are Integrating COVID-19 Crisis Into Their Lessons
Informing students on Covid-19 is a great idea to help stop misinformation from being spread. I personally have seen so many claims on social media about how the virus is fake or how the vaccines are dangerous. All being said without any informed knowledge to explain why. Teachers educating students on what the virus is and how to stop the spread can be one of the big changes to if the pandemic slows or grows larger. Keeping the public safe and informed is essential for returning to a Covid free existence.
To be honest, it never crossed my mind for educators to teach about the Coronavirus, as it has seemed like such a controversial virus, especially in the media, however, after I saw this article and read it, I realize that that is the reason why it is so important for educators to teach about the virus and educate students about exactly what it is. The article was insightful in that it showed me, as a P-12 educator, that it’s important to teach students information in a controlled environment that they may be misinformed about outside of school. Childs presented a detailed lesson plan that can be used across subject areas, which communicates that teachers who specialize in different content areas can teach about the virus and that provides opportunities for teachers to come together and teach together in order to reach all of their students in educating them about something that has affected so many.
Considering COVID is an inescapable talking point in modern media and life in total, this article was one that stuck out like a sore thumb, as was the intention I am sure. I definitely think this article does a great job of pointing out something I firmly agree with, in that there is far more misinformation being spread about things than necessary, and we need to, as a society, step back and think more about what is a fact and what is fiction. Instead of making things political, or simply letting kids go un-taught about these important life-altering times and situations, teaching these kids WHY we do things like wear masks or WHY the virus can be/is harmful can be very effective versus just saying “you have to wear this”. Knowing why we do something, especially at a very young age, can help people be more mindful or at the very least more educated and thoughtful about their responses and ways of life, respectively. The BrainPop activities linked below were very helpful and interesting things that could be used within the classroom, as well.
While working in a child care center, I have been able to see how affected children have been by the pandemic. They understand many of the changes that have occurred in their life due to the pandemic. Such as wearing masks, social distancing, and quarantining. Due to these changes, it can be helpful to inform students on the time of history they are living in. The article includes a link to a lesson plan for students grades 3-8.
This article caught my eye as this is currently such a hot topic. I do agree and believe that using our position as teachers could limit the amount of misinformation spread. Unfortunately, with it being such a controversial topic, I do wonder how parents would react, but ultimately wish that it could be addressed without potential barriers. However, I do believe that combating misinformation can also make students feel better about the restrictions and mandates being placed on them. When you understand something, you are more likely to not feel as overwhelmed by it.
Teaching students about COVID also helps them understand why they have to follow certain guidelines in schools. Wearing masks and social distancing has been hard for students, especially the little ones since they may not understand the full purpose. Having a discussion about it in the class will better help students understand what the guidelines are for and why we must follow them.
I think it would be a great idea to educate students about the valse information about covid. I think a issue would arise though as far as getting actual evidence since the virus is new and also changing. I also think some schools have interesting policies as far as keeping students safe, for example teammates having the bench spread out and being required to wear mask at games is not very helpful especially when they are around each other all the time and the restrictions are gone on the court, having rules off the court on the bench seems strange.
I agree that teaching students about Covid-19 would be a great way to correct misinformation that’s spread so easily, especially through the media. One issue I do see arising from this is students trying to defend their own opinions or beliefs in the classroom, which could potentially start fights or arguments in the classroom.
The hardest part about informing students about the virus and providing supporting evidence is a student refusal to believe proven evidence. A student who often refuses to believe what research they are given is because they place more value on their own opinion then facts.
This article was fantastic and I believe it is greatly important for teachers to give their students the knowledge about what is actually going on in the world with the pandemic. You mentioned that there is a lot of false information being spread which is something that some kids are unable to decipher for themselves. I found it comforting to know that lessons plans are including BrainPOP topics about the virus because when I was in school I remember loving those videos and I was able to pay attention to them because they are geared towards children. They aren’t a clip from the news which can be boring and uninspiring to a range of age groups.