The TV presenter Gary Lineker is coming back to his job on television after settling an argument with the BBC. He was taken off Match of the Day after disagreeing with the BBC’s bosses about what he is and isn’t allowed to say on social media. This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior magazine, along with a sheet of activities designed to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Oracy
The BBC is a public service broadcaster and has a duty to be impartial (not take sides). Shouldn’t we expect it to present both sides of any story in a completely balanced way? Or are some issues so one-sided that it is not reasonable to give equal weight to opposing views? Wouldn’t it be wrong to give the same amount of attention to alternative perspectives when the evidence is so strongly in favour of the established view, such as with climate change? What do you think?
Writing skills
Just for fun, think of an issue about which there really shouldn’t be any argument, such as the need to stop polluting the seas with plastic bottles, but give the opposing view anyway. Even though it might feel weird or uncomfortable, try to make reasonable points using persuasive language.
Or
Write a dialogue between you and another person, perhaps one of your friends or parents. Make the conversation about something that happened during a school day, like solving a maths problem or carrying out a science investigation, but write it in the style of a conversation between two sports presenters. Try to include as many sporting cliches and idioms, such as ‘at the end of the day’ and ‘game of two halves’ as you can.
Investigate
Write a brief biography of either Gary Lineker or Suella Braverman.
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download in our Topical Tuesdays collection.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to The Week Junior website.