Why are Cell Phones Banned in my School? Presentation, Research and Note-catcher

Engage your high school students in critical thinking and argumentative writing with this comprehensive slideshow presentation on the harmful effects of cell phones in schools. This resource includes six carefully curated sources from various media types, each annotated with exemplars to guide students in understanding and analyzing the content effectively.

The slideshow begins with a thought-provoking warm-up question to stimulate discussion and encourage students to consider their own experiences with cell phone use in school. It then introduces six sources which present compelling arguments against the presence of cell phones in educational environments. The sources include reputable news articles, insightful blog posts, informative infographics, and a compelling video presentation.

Each source slide is accompanied by detailed annotations, providing students with clear examples of how to annotate and extract key information from different types of media. This helps students develop critical reading skills and strengthens their ability to evaluate sources.

To deepen understanding and facilitate active learning, a link to a Google Doc note-catcher is included for students to record key points and reflections from each source. This note-catcher promotes organization and supports students in synthesizing information across multiple texts. You'll find the link to the Google Doc Note-catcher on the first and last slides, as well as screenshots on the slides to help you direct your students to the right place on the Google Doc.

The slideshow culminates with an argumentative writing task presented as an Exit Ticket. Students are prompted to craft a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph based on the information presented in the sources.

Whether you're teaching a unit on media literacy, persuasive writing, or responsible technology use, this resource provides a comprehensive and engaging framework to explore the complex issue of cell phones in schools. Equip your students with the tools they need to think critically, communicate effectively, and develop informed opinions on this contemporary topic.