Facing History and Ourselves
Verifying Breaking News
The attempts of journalists to verify the events surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown take center stage as individuals analyze three of the initial newspaper accounts of the story. The whole class discussion then focuses...
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Tea Overboard
While less well known than the event in Boston, the Yorktown Tea Party was equally decisive in turning community sentiment against Great Britain. To gain an understanding of why the colonists objected to the Tea Act, young historians...
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Be the Press: Local Interviews, National News
Students examine two formats for newspaper articles, the "straight news" article and the "in depth" news article. formats for newspaper articles, the "straight news" article and the "in depth" news article. They write a newspaper article.
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The Bill of Rights Is in the News!
High schoolers determine currency of the Bill of Rights by locating current newspaper articles or editorials that support or refute each of the 1st Ten Amendments.
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Are Gay Rights "Special"?
Inspire critical thinking with this activity, which prompts students to compare lesbian, gat, bisexual, and transgender rights with the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. By collecting topical articles about...
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Meaning of Philanthropy
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students discover what philanthropy is and identify people who benefit from philanthropy. Students read selected newspaper articles regarding philanthropy and...
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Fact Versus Opinion
Students differentiate between fact and opinion. They define fact and opinion, then listen to and identify examples of each. Students identify different books where facts and opinions can be found, and cut out newspaper and magazine...
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What's The Idea
Pupils discuss the importance of identifying the main idea in reading selections. After reading newspaper articles related to nutrition, students identify the main idea of the selection and three supporting details. A reading log...
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What's in a Main Idea?
Second graders read newspaper articles. In this language arts lesson, 2nd graders identify the main ideas found in the articles by highlighting them. The entire class selects one interesting article from the sports section to discuss.
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The Five Ws of Journalism
Students write a mock article. In this journalism instructional activity, students define the word "article" and learn the five W's of article writing. Students complete a worksheet and write a paragraph using what they have learned.
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Shake, Rattle And Roll: Studying the Effects of an Earthquake
Students gauge earthquake intensity by reviewing firsthand accounts. They use the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale and newspaper articles to estimate the strength and effects of a past earthquake.
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Social Activism In The United States
Students explore justice issues. In this social activism lesson plan, students watch "Social Activism in the United States," and then locate newspaper articles from the 1960's and 1970's about events during the era.
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Third graders discuss the weather and how it changes during the different seasons. They listen to a read aloud of Judy Barrett's, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. They write and illustrate a news article about the weather that is found...
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Persuasive/Argumentative Essay vs. Opinion writing
Reinforce persuasive and argumentative writing skills with this lesson, which utilizes SchoolNet News Network's website/SNN Monthly magazine. Young writers review journalism writing styles that help them explain that writing a persuasive...
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The News Behind the Story
What a fun way to analyze plot, setting, and character. Learners review story elements, read a short fictional story, then turn the events of that story into a headlining news paper article. Not only does this lesson engage critical...
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Newspaper Time
Eighth graders complete a newspaper article as a part of their exam review for the Revolutionary War. Using information gathered over the course of the unit, 8th graders create their own newspaper reflecting the facts and ideas of the...
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Using the News
Students give oral predictions to news articles. They discuss and revise their interpretations of the content material.
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Race to the Eating Line
Seventh graders investigate the steps in writing a newspaper sports article and utilizd the information to report their class car race results. The racing cars are built out of vegetables and fruit and entered into the class competition,...
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Mixed Plate
Students locate a sample restaurant review in a newspaper or magazine. They examine the review to find the opinion of the reviewer and discuss reviews that convey mixed opinions. They compose an original review in a similar style to...
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Journalistic Scenarios
Students role play as the editor of the student newspaper and make decisions about printing stories. In this newspaper editor instructional activity, students read the given journalism scenarios and determine if they, as editor, would...
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Super Dollar Special
Students read the Super Dollar Special. In this advertisement lesson, students read an article consider placing an advertisement in the newspaper. They work on summarizing what they've read and using context clues.
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Personal and Global Conflict
Students review vocabulary of conflict. In this citizenship lesson, students practice conflict resolution skills by participating in a role play involving national representatives working with a UN Mediator. Students reflect on the...
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Are You For Real?
Students try to find newspaper and magazine articles that are informative or persuasive. They practice determining the differences between the two types of articles. They identify the devices authors use to persuade the audience.
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Fact Versus Opinion
Young learners distinguish statements as fact or fiction. After exploring a newspaper, they determine the type of information it contains. They read editorial articles and discuss the differences between the editorial page and the front...