Lesson Overview
Featured Article: “Why More American Children Are Dying by Gunfire” by Jack Healy
The number of children and teenagers killed by gunfire has sharply risen during the coronavirus pandemic. From the end of 2019 to the end of 2020, gun-related deaths of children 14 and younger rose by roughly 50 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In this lesson, you will learn what statistics reveal about the rise in gun violence and what local governments, anti-violence activists and parents think should be done. Then, you will share you reactions and what you think should happen in your community, and across the country, to address gun violence.
Note to teachers: This lesson deals with gun violence and death. Please read the entire lesson and featured article to make sure it is appropriate for your students.
Warm-Up
Part 1: Journal
What thoughts, feelings or memories come up when you think about gun violence?
Do you think about active shooter drills and the danger of school shootings? Do you think about gun violence in your community? Have you had any experience with gun violence?
Spend several minutes responding to these questions in your journal.
Part 2: Graph Analysis
Next, take a look at this interactive graph from the C.D.C. On the left side, find the “Options” box. Under “Cause of Death,” select “Firearm-related injury” and under “Indicator,” select “Age” and choose all ages.
Once you have set up your graph, respond to the following questions:
What do you notice about the rates of firearm-related deaths from 2019 to 2021?
What questions do you have?
How does this graph relate to you and your community?
Questions for Writing and Discussion
Read the article, then answer the following questions:
1. The article begins with Kendall Munson’s experience with gun violence. What is your reaction to her story? Why do you think Jack Healy, the writer, chose to start the article that way?
2. In what ways do researchers believe the rise in the number of children and teenagers killed by gunfire is connected to the coronavirus pandemic?
3. The article includes statistics about gun-related violence from the C.D.C. and the Gun Violence Archive. How do you feel reading those statistics? Are you surprised? Concerned? What more do you want to know about those numbers?
4. According to the article, what are some of the ways that children and teenagers are coming into contact with guns?
5. How do some people feel about race and class affecting whose stories about gun violence are covered and cared about? What do you think? Have you observed this discrepancy in your own community or in what you see covered in the news or social media?
6. Why do anti-violence activists believe a sense of helplessness and anger has taken root as gun violence continues to increase during the pandemic? Have you ever felt these emotions when considering violence in your community or country? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about the actions being taken by different city governments, police departments and activists to stop gun-related deaths? Do you think any of the actions cited in the article have a chance at making significant change? Why or why not?
Going Further
Option 1: Respond to the article and share your opinions.
Return to your journal and write about the following questions:
What is your reaction to the article? How did you feel hearing the stories of families and communities that have been affected by gun-related deaths? Does the article remind you of anything in your own life? Or in something that you have seen or read?
What changes would you like to see to address the gun-related deaths of children and teenagers? What changes could be made in your community? What would you like to see done on a federal level?
What questions do you have about the rise of gun-related deaths among children and teenagers in the United States?
Next, if you are in a classroom context, discuss your thoughts with classmates using a Big Paper discussion. (If you’re learning remotely, here is a guide for having a virtual Big Paper conversation.) On a large piece of paper, write down some of your reactions to the article, as well as your thoughts about what should be done to address gun violence. You can connect to other students’ comments and questions by drawing lines or including “@” tags.
When you have finished, debrief the activity by engaging in a small group or class discussion about what you have learned from your silent conversations.
Option 2: Consider school shootings and the wider context of gun violence.
Read “It Took a Global Pandemic to Stop School Shootings,” a winning essay for our 2021 Student Editorial Contest written by Lauren Koong, age 17.
What is your reaction to this student’s editorial essay? How do you feel knowing that, while school shootings have decreased during the pandemic, American children are dying by gunfire more than ever before? What thoughts or questions does this discrepancy raise for you?
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