Learning Network: Our Review Contest and 2020 News Quiz

Plus, cheerleaders, sneakers and comets.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 11, 2020 Dear Reader, Students: Do you like sharing your opinion with others? Do you have strong critiques of and reactions to books, movies, restaurants or fashion? Are you a foodie or a gamer? If so, our 6th Annual Review Contest is for you. We’re inviting middle and high school students to play critic and write an original review about anything that fits into a category of creative expression that The New York Times covers. Past winners reviewed a Lizzo concert, Doc Marten boots, “The Great British Baking Show” and the “Happy Hacking” computer keyboard. The deadline is Jan. 26, 2021, and we have dozens of resources if you’re not sure how to get started. On another note … how closely have you paid attention to current events during this extraordinary year? See what you remember by taking our Special End of Year 2020 News Quiz. Can you get all or most of these 40-plus questions right? Scroll down below to see what else we’re offering on The Learning Network — about cheerleaders, sneakers, comets, immigrants, the holidays and much more. Best, Michael Gonchar, Editor P.S.: Our 15-Second Vocabulary Video Challenge closes on Tuesday, Dec. 15. ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS Contests Our 6th Annual Student Review Contest We invite middle school and high school students to play critic and submit an original review about any kind of creative expression covered in The Times. Contest open from Dec. 8, 2020 to Jan. 26, 2021. By The Learning Network Weekly News Quiz for Students Special End of Year 2020 News Quiz See what you remember about this extraordinary year by taking our special 2020 news quiz. Compiled by Jeremy Engle and John Otis student opinion Do You Think People Have Gotten Too Relaxed About Covid? Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are at record numbers across the nation. Do we need stronger public messaging to “scare” Americans? By Jeremy Engle Film Club: ‘$30,000 Sneakers? As Demand Grows for Coveted Shoes, So Do Prices’ Are you a “sneakerhead”? How much would you pay for a pair of sneakers? By The Learning Network student opinion What Works of Art, Culture and Technology Flopped in 2020? With so much content moving online because of the pandemic, there were bound to be some duds. What performances, movies, music, food and tech did you find boring, awkward or just plain bad this year? By Nicole Daniels and Natalie Proulx PICTURE PROMPTS Soul of the Community What are your neighborhood or town’s most important places? By The Learning Network student opinion Does Reality TV Deserve Its Bad Rap? Is reality television valuable or a waste of time? What messages have you gotten from these kinds of shows? By Callie Holtermann Country of the Week How Much Do You Know About Eritrea? Can you find Eritrea on a map? What else do you know about this African country with about five million people. Compiled by John Otis Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS What’s Going On in This Graph? | Dec. 16, 2020 Which of these six skills would you choose to instantly master? How does your answer compare to what these Times subscribers said? By The Learning Network current events conversation What Students Are Saying About Decriminalizing Drugs, Conversation Skills and Favorite Cookies Teenage comments in response to our recent writing prompts, and an invitation to join the ongoing conversation. By The Learning Network current events Lesson of the Day: ‘No Papers, No Jobs: The New Street Vendors of Queens’ In this lesson, students will learn about the struggles that street vendors face in New York. Then they will make connections to history. By Nicole Daniels current events Lesson of the Day: ‘Hollywood’s Obituary, the Sequel. Now Streaming.’ In this lesson, students will learn about the challenges facing the movie industry and consider the future of Hollywood. By Jeremy Engle current events Lesson of the Day: ‘The College Athletes Who Are Allowed to Make Big Bucks: Cheerleaders’ In this lesson, students will read about the lucrative opportunities enjoyed by some college “cheerlebrities,” then debate whether all college athletes should be allowed to do the same. By Natalie Proulx current events Lesson of the Day: ‘A “Front-Row Seat” to the Birth of a Comet’ In this lesson, students will learn about the discovery of a new comet. Then they will participate in a citizen science project to identify new distant, icy worlds. By Nicole Daniels What’s Going On in This Picture? | Dec. 7, 2020 Look closely at this image, stripped of its caption, and join the moderated conversation about what you and other students see. By The Learning Network Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. ELSEWHERE IN THE TIMES Remote School as the Gateway Drug to Social Media For parents who did not expect their children to have devices or use social media so young, virtual learning was an unexpected push into the digital deep end. By Connie Chang Reopening Schools Before a Children’s Vaccine Experts say we may not need to wait. By Amelia Nierenberg and Adam Pasick How to Help Kids Create an ‘Our Street Herald’ Start the presses: Winter at home is a great time for children to publish their own newspaper from the kitchen table. By Danielle Pergament How are we doing? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to LNfeedback@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Learning Network from The New York Times. 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