Topical Talk

Topical Talk: headline discussions

Connecting the news and asking big questions.

Collage of pages from the “Topical Talk: headline discussions” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson plan

Published 05 June 2026

About this lesson

Conflict, climate, media literacy, technology, politics – Topical Talk Headlines cover some of the biggest issues shaping the world today. But how do these topics connect?

Use this lesson to help students:

  • Make connections between different news stories and issues
  • Draw on prior knowledge from Topical Talk lessons
  • Discuss ethical questions from a range of perspectives

This resource is a summary of topics and is most effective if you have run Topical Talk lessons previously in your classroom.

Skills and knowledge

  • Speaking

    Step 8: Using facts
     I use facts and examples to support my communication
    Did you use facts and examples in your discussions?

  • Listening

    Step 7: Active listening
    I show I am paying attention
    Did you pay attention to others and decide when to give them a talk token?

  • Knowledge

    I know that conflict, climate, media literacy, technology and politics are overlapping news topics.
    Which news stories might come under each category?

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