Current events rubric: grades K–2, 3–5 and 6–8
This current events rubric scores a weekly news summary: choosing a suitable article, summarizing the who, what, when, where and why, connecting it to the student or the class, and naming the source. Grades 3–5 and 6–8 use four levels with points, with the summary counting twice; K–2 uses three levels for a news story read aloud and drawn, with no points. Print it, or open it in the rubric maker to change any cell.
Current events rubric, grades K–2
3 levels, 3 criteria, no points (a switch in the maker adds them).
| Criteria | Wow! | Yes | Not yet |
|---|---|---|---|
| The news | I tell who, what and where. | I tell what happened. | I am not sure what happened yet. |
| My picture | My picture shows what happened, with a label or two. | My picture shows part of what happened. | My picture does not match the news yet. |
| My thinking | I tell how I feel and why. | I tell how I feel. | I do not share my thinking yet. |
- I can tell what happened in the news story.
- I can draw what happened.
- I can tell how the news makes me think or feel.
Current events rubric, grades 3–5
4 levels, 4 criteria, 20 points in all.
| Criteria | Exceeds4 points | Meets3 points | Approaching2 points | Beginning1 point | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article choice | A recent article from a news source for young readers, on a topic with real-world importance. | A recent, suitable news article. | The article is old, unsuitable, or not news. | No article was chosen. | / 4 |
| Summarycounts ×2 | All five Ws answered accurately in the student's own words, with the most important fact first. | All five Ws answered in the student's own words. | Some Ws missing, or parts are copied. | Summary is missing, wrong or copied. | / 8 |
| Connection | Explains why the story matters with a specific reason, and asks a question it raises. | Explains why the story matters. | States an opinion without a reason. | No connection. | / 4 |
| Source | Source name, article title, author and date given. | Source name and date given. | Source given without a date, or a date with no source. | No source is named. | / 4 |
- I can choose a recent news article that fits for kids.
- I can summarize the who, what, when, where and why in my own words.
- I can explain why the story matters to me or my community.
- I can name the source and the date of my article.
Current events rubric, grades 6–8
4 levels, 5 criteria, 24 points in all.
| Criteria | Exceeds4 points | Meets3 points | Approaching2 points | Beginning1 point | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article choice | A credible, recent news report (not an opinion piece) on an issue with clear public importance. | A credible, recent news report. | The article is old, an opinion piece, or from a doubtful source. | No article, or not news. | / 4 |
| Summarycounts ×2 | An objective summary of the central event and key facts, with no personal opinion mixed in. | An accurate summary of the main facts. | Summary mixes in opinion or misses key facts. | Summary is missing, inaccurate or copied. | / 8 |
| Analysis | Explains causes and likely effects and describes two viewpoints fairly, with evidence from the article. | Explains a cause or effect and names more than one viewpoint. | Mentions effects or viewpoints without explaining them. | No analysis. | / 4 |
| Connection | Makes a specific connection to class learning or the community and poses a question for further research. | Makes a clear connection with a reason. | Connection is vague. | No connection. | / 4 |
| Source check | Full citation, plus a note on why the source is credible and whether another source confirms it. | Full citation with title, source and date. | Partial citation. | No source is named. | / 4 |
- I can choose a credible, recent article on an issue that matters.
- I can write an objective summary of the main facts.
- I can explain causes, effects or different viewpoints in the story.
- I can connect the story to my community, our studies or the wider world.
- I can cite my source and check that it is credible.
When to use it
- A weekly current events assignment, written or shared aloud in a few minutes.
- A news share at morning meeting, scored by the listener as well as the speaker.
- As the sheet stapled to the article, so students know what to look for before they read.
What to say to students
- Pick a news story from a site or paper made for kids, or ask a grown-up to help you choose.
- Answer who, what, when, where and why in your own words.
- Tell us why this story matters to you or to people your age.
- Write down the name of the source and the date.
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The criteria are generic and written for this site, with no standards codes, so they fit any curriculum. Open one in the maker to change a word, add a row or switch to a single-point rubric; what you change stays in your browser.