Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
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Understand the role and significance of fact-checking in a functioning democracy.
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Distinguish between factual statements, opinions, and misinformation.
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Compare the methodologies and approaches of two major fact-checking platforms:
The Washington Post Fact Checker and FactCheck.org. -
Apply critical analysis skills to independently verify political claims.
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Reflect on the societal consequences of misinformation and the civic responsibility of seeking truth.
Ask FactCheckQ: Is it true that if President Donald Trump hadn’t defunded the National Weather Service, the death toll in the Texas flooding would have been far lower or nonexistent?
A: The Trump administration did not defund the NWS but did reduce the staff by 600 people. Those staffing cuts did not cause the high number of deaths in the flash floods on July 4, experts said. Local forecasting offices were sufficiently staffed and issued timely warnings. But experts raised concerns about key positions being vacant, which could have affected coordination with local communities.
About The Fact Checker In an award-winning journalism career spanning more than four decades, Glenn Kessler has covered foreign policy, economic policy, the White House, Congress, politics, airline safety and Wall Street. He was The Washington Post’s chief State Department reporter for nine years, traveling around the world with three different Secretaries of State. Before that, he covered tax and budget policy for The Washington Post and also served as the newspaper’s national business editor. He has been editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker since 2011.
Lesson Structure
1. Introduction: The Power and Risk of Information
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Begin with a class discussion: “Why is it important to verify political claims?”
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Explore real-world consequences of misinformation (e.g., public health, elections, civil unrest).
Define key terms:
- Fact: A statement that can be objectively verified.
- Opinion: A personal belief or judgment that is not universally verifiable.
- Misinformation: False or misleading information shared regardless of intent.
- Disinformation: Intentionally misleading or false information.
- Fact-checking: The process of verifying factual accuracy in public discourse.
2. Understanding Fact-Checking Institutions
Present an overview of two leading fact-checking organizations:
🔎 Washington Post Fact Checker
- Focuses on statements by political leaders, influencers, and lobbyists.
- Uses the Pinocchio scale: 1 to 4 Pinocchios indicating levels of falsehood.
- Transparent: Links to sources and explains rationale.
- Interactive: Accepts reader submissions.
- Affiliated with The Washington Post, but emphasizes editorial independence.
- A nonpartisan project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
- Checks political statements, ads, speeches, and viral rumors.
- Uses clear verdicts (true/false/misleading) and provides deep sourcing.
- Known for objectivity and public policy focus.
Key discussion points:
- What are the similarities and differences between their methods?
- Why is editorial independence crucial in fact-checking?
- Do fact-checkers ever disagree? What can we learn from those differences?
3. Warm-Up Activity: Fact or Opinion?
- Present students with a mix of statements (e.g., “Weather Modification Played a Role in Texas Floods ” vs. “Weather Modification Played No Role in Texas Floods”).
- Students categorize each as a fact, opinion, or unverifiable.
- Briefly discuss which types of statements are appropriate for fact-checking.
4. Main Activity: Investigate a Political Claim
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In small groups, students are assigned or select a political claim (teachers may pre-select options to ensure accuracy and relevance).
Students investigate the claim using:
On the worksheet, students record:
- The original claim
- What each site reports
- The verdict or rating (Pinocchios, true/false, etc.)
- The reasoning and sources used
- Any discrepancies between the two sources
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Encourage discussion of differences in tone, depth, or framing.
5. Reflection and Whole-Class Discussion
Prompt reflective dialogue with questions such as:
- How can we recognize trustworthy sources in a media-saturated environment?
- What might happen if citizens consistently fail to fact-check claims?
- How do fact-checkers build public trust—or risk losing it?
- How can you apply these skills in your daily consumption of media?
Optionally, students may share group findings and engage in a peer-to-peer analysis.
Extension & Enrichment
- Claim Submission Project: Students gather political or viral claims from social media, then submit them to fact-checking sites (or simulate the process themselves).
- Presentation Option: Students create a visual presentation or short video report of their findings, with source citations and a critical evaluation of both platforms.
- Compare Global Practices: Explore international fact-checking initiatives (e.g., Full Fact UK or Africa Check) to contrast how different democracies approach misinformation.
Essay Questions
Choose one of the following for a formal writing assignment:
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“In an age of information abundance, what civic responsibilities do citizens have when it comes to verifying political claims?”
In your response, analyze how platforms like the Washington Post Fact Checker and FactCheck.org contribute to democratic accountability, and reflect on how individuals can use these tools to make informed decisions. -
“Do fact-checking organizations hold enough power to counter misinformation in politics?”
Consider the influence of social media, political polarization, and public trust. Use examples from both fact-checking platforms and real-world political events to support your argument.
