Curated OER
Towing Cars -- Legally and Not So Legally
Students discuss the issue of having cars towed in a small community when they should not be. After watching a local news story on the issue, they work together to conduct three full days of research. They write an article to be...
Curated OER
Newspaper Unit: Reading Lesson Plan
Work on identifying the different parts of a newspaper with your English learners. After reviewing newspaper terminology, pupils pair up and complete a scavenger hunt, looking for specific things in the newspaper and recording their...
Curated OER
How safe is your school bus?
Students research various aspects of school bus safety about what makes a bus safe or unsafe. They check the Internet (with sites below and others) and see what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has to say.
Curated OER
Don't Flick Your Bic!
Students research the ban on lighters and how it is being enforced and interview community members who smoke, especially travelers who have or might be stopped for carrying lighters. Students then write an opinion piece about the situation.
Curated OER
Finding a Way to Cover a Student Death
Students read articles and discuss how to cover student deaths and consider developing a policy about how to cover deaths of students and/or faculty. Students also interview counselors, especially those who deal with grief counseling,...
Curated OER
Stepping in: Good Samaritan or Fool?
Learners write an opinion piece, including facts of this situation and any other statistics about helping others during a fight. Students offer suggestions about how to break up a fight, or when not to try (based on what national experts...
Curated OER
Vandalism leads to locked bathrooms
Students research bathroom vandalism in other schools like Freedom High after reading an article about Freedom High and their situation. Students then decide if their school has a similar problem and interview administrators and janitors...
Curated OER
What's the Purpose Anyway?
Examine author's purpose in newspaper articles, comic books, cookbooks, encyclopedias and other forms of written materials. Working in groups, middle and high schoolers read teacher-selected articles and write an explanation of the...
Curated OER
Levies don't pass...and schools cut costs
Young scholars collect financial statements from the district and study how money is spent now. They interview the superintendent, school board members and/or the district's financial officer.
Curated OER
What's in a Newspaper
For this what's in a newspaper worksheet, students analyze different aspects of a newspaper. Students give the title and reason why ads, news, features, and editorials are in the paper.
Curated OER
Creating a Newspaper
Get the scoop with a fun, engaging newspaper project. After analyzing the parts of a newspaper, including the headline, subtitles, and pictures or images, young journalists get to work by writing their own stories in a newspaper article...
American Press Institute
In the Newsroom: The Fairness Formula
Reporting the news is easy, right? Think again! Show young scholars the difficult choices journalists make every day through a lesson that includes reading, writing, and discussion elements. Individuals compare the language and sources...
Curated OER
Hurricane Katrina: You Be the Reporter
Students work in a small group to create news stories, feature stories and editorials/letters to the editor and organize them in a podcast, video-based program, or newspaper/magazine focused on Hurricane Katrina.
Curated OER
Teaching Ethical Situations
Learners use journalism ethics standards to learn how to write ethically correct news stories. In this journalism and ethics lesson, students review journalism standards for ethics. Learners use the standards as they analyze example...
Curated OER
Immigration Debate
The 2010 immigration bill passed in Arizona provides class members with an opportunity to examine various perspectives of the immigration debate by watching news videos, reading interview, editorials, and viewing images. Discussion...
PBS
Interviewing: The Art of Asking Questions
Interviewing skills are important, even outside of a news reporter's desk or employer's office. Take your class through the process of interviewing people they don't know with a set of case studies featuring journalists and various...
Social Media Toolbox
Social Media Messages
What are the elements of a good social media post? The 13th activity in the 16-part Social Media Toolbox incorporates all of the typical components found in a Facebook or Twitter post. Scholars work together to create great posts based...
Newseum
Reporting Part I: What Matters to Me
Young reporters have an opportunity to craft a news story about a topic that interests them. Class members brainstorm events and issues that affect them and possible sources of information. Individuals then select a topic, research it,...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: All Eyes on Iowa
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the Iowa caucus and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: When Women Toon In
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons about women by women. Students then respond to 2 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons in the Classroom: Comforting the Afflicted
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons about defending those who cannot defend themselves. Students respond to 4 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: The Many Faces of Uncle Sam
In this historical events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons featuring the different faces of Uncle Sam. Students respond to 5 talking point questions.
Curated OER
News Coverage
Learners compare and contrast methods of media coverage. In this media awareness lesson plan, students keep track of news regarding a world or national issue for the period of 1 week. Learners collaborate to describe the type of coverage...
Curated OER
What is a Family?
Students explore how Canadian families have evolved over time. In this census results lesson plan, students examine the factors that contribute to changing family and household structures. Students also create written and illustrated...