TED Talk Lesson (Why Gun Violence Can't Be Our New Normal)

This worksheet is intended to be used with the Dan Gross Ted Talk, "Why Gun Violence Can't Be Our New Normal.

From TED: It doesn't matter whether you love or hate guns; it's obvious that the US would be a safer place if there weren't thousands of them sold every day without background checks. Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, makes a passionate, personal appeal for something that more than 90 percent of Americans want: background checks for all gun sales. "For every great movement around the world, there's a moment where you can look back and say, 'That's when things really started to change,'" Gross says. "For the movement to end gun violence in America, that moment is here."

The Ted talk, worksheet, and follow-up discussion can be completed in one class period or the video and worksheet can be assigned as homework with the discussion taking place the following day.

This lesson can be used in most high school Social Studies classes including: Current Events, Social Problems, Social Psychology, Civics, American Government, etc. It would also be suitable for a Public Speaking class.

TED lessons can be used as mini-lessons or to supplement a prepared unit. I often assign TED lessons as make-up work or extra credit. TED Talks also make great lesson plans on "sub days."

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