6 Ways to Discuss the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot with Your Students

One year after a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol, the conversation around that day is still a difficult one — especially for teachers attempting to help their students understand and process such a frightening and complex series of events.

“It was a very disturbing and significant moment in American history, so most students will be needing a place to consider it outside their families,” Penn GSE’s Sigal Ben-Porath told Tech & Learning at the time.

Now, one year later, Ben-Porath says it remains vitally important for teachers to help their students focus on and investigate the facts together.

“Trying to reach shared conclusions and negotiating the reliability of the information they are considering is a key practice and skill, especially when talking about difficult and controversial events or topics,” Ben-Porath says. “Getting more eyes on the same sources and assessing them can help improve media literacy and reduce susceptibility to disinformation.”

On the one-year anniversary of the riot at the Capitol, Tech & Learning once again shared Ben-Porath’s six tips for teachers trying to discuss the day with their students.