Mother and Child Have Candid Conversation About Vaccine Hesitancy
Ask Students: What are some of the conspiracy theories that Mary Smith believed? Why did Mary Smith come to believe the conspiracy theories?
Summary
At a time when misinformation is rampant, the NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs is producing a series of conversations called “Moments of Truth” that explore why people believe false information and what causes them to change their minds. This is a story about a mother who hesitated to give her child a common childhood vaccine that fights against measles, mumps and rubella. For a transcript of this story, click here.
Discussion Questions
- Who is profiled in this story, and what are their backgrounds?
- What are some of the conspiracy theories that Mary Smith believed?
- Why did Mary Smith come to believe the conspiracy theories?
- How did Marley talk to Mary about vaccine hesitancy?
- When did Mary Smith come to doubt the conspiracy theories she had believed in?
Focus Questions
What do you think was the most effective thing that helped Mary Smith get beyond conspiracies about vaccines?
Media literacy: Why do you think this mother was profiled along with her child?
Additional Resources
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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