English, Language Arts and Reading

Introduction

The newspaper provides students with a wonderful resource and it provides teachers with an effective vehicle for enhancing the learning process. With it, students can be informed about the world while learning basic skills. This teacher's guide details lessons across many content areas. The guide makes it easy for teachers to plan because each learning activity focuses on a specific skill from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Although the skill for each activity is noted, these activities are appropriate for various grade levels and also address additional skill areas.

Express Yourself

Skill: English I - a,1
Have the students select an article in the news about people who are expressing themselves. They can write a summary of the article detailing the methods used to get their message across. Then they can explain the most effective way to express their opinion.

It's For Sale

Skill: English I - b,1,A
Products and services are for sale throughout the newspaper. Is there something particular in the newspaper that your students would like to sell? Direct them to write a sales pitch to sell the goods or services to a perspective buyer. They should include a description of the product or service, the benefits and why it fits customers' needs.

Pulitzer Prize

Skill: English - b,5,A
The Pulitzer Prize is awarded each year for accomplishment in the field of journalism. Have the students select an article in the newspaper that they think is an award winner. What makes it a great story? Is it the style, the subject matter or the investigative technique? The students can write why they would award a prize for their choice.

Negotiating Contracts

Skill: English I - b,11,D
The newspaper often includes stories about conflict. Talk to students about how challenging it can be to resolve a dispute. Then have them find a story in the news where two sides cannot agree. They can write a fair contract to resolve the disagreement.

Fact vs. Opinion

Skill: English I - b,17,A
Editorials contain facts and opinions. The students should select an editorial from today's paper and find three words or phrases that denote facts and three that show opinions. They should prepare an oral argument defending their opinion on the subject.

Critical Reading

Skill: English II - b,1,C
The students can choose one story from the front page of today's newspaper. Have them underline the main idea and then identify several details about that idea. Is the main idea included in the headline? Have them write three other possible headlines that could also be used.

Point of View

Skill: English II - b,4,A
Have the students study the letters to the editor in today's paper. They can find one they agree with and one with which they disagree. They can write a "Point of View" column giving their opinion about each letter. Be sure the students support their side with details about why they feel the way they do.

Journal Writing

Skill: English II - b,8,B
Learning to keep a journal helps students to be more comfortable expressing thoughts and opinions in writing. Sometimes people have trouble thinking of things to write about in a journal. The students can use the newspaper for a source of "journal prompts." They should look for an article that evokes some feeling. Have them read the article and then react to it in writing in a journal entry, describing the issue in the article and how they feel about it. They may choose to share the journal with others or may prefer privacy.

Follow My Lead

Skill: English III - b,3 A
The first one or two paragraphs of a news story are called the "lead." The lead often has the answers to the questions of who, what, when, where and why. A good lead should also grab the reader and encourage the reading of the rest of the article. Have the class read all of the leads for stories on the front page of today's paper. Of all the leads, which is the most interesting and would make the reader want to finish the rest of the story? Which lead is least interesting? The students can rewrite the least interesting lead to improve it. They should look at the best lead for some clues on how to do this.

Time Savers

Skill: English III - b,6,A
Abbreviations are great because they save time in writing. When you are paying for space they can save money, too. Explain to your class that when you buy a classified ad you pay for the space, so the shorter your ad, the more money you save. The students should read some of the classified ads of items for sale. Then they can write an ad to sell something they are wearing today. The goal is to be concise but descriptive and to use abbreviations so the ad won't cost too much.

Personalities

Skill: English III - b,11,A
The students can select one of the stories on the front page and determine who the main characters are. Their words and actions can give insight into their personalities. Then they can compare and contrast the personality traits of the leading characters in the story.

Read Aloud

Skill: English III - b,15,B
People don't often read newspaper stories aloud. Ask your students why they think this is so. Have them find a story in today's newspaper that would be good to read aloud. They should practice reading it with great expression and then take turns reading parts of their story to the class.

Detailed Descriptions

Skill: English IV - a,1
The class can read some of the house for sale ads to see how they are written. Then they should write an ad to sell or rent a home or apartment. The students will need to describe it in detail. They will need to use vivid description. They may want to write an ad selling their classroom if they don't want to write about their home.

Figurative Language

Skill: English IV - b,2,C
One form of word usage is called figurative language. That is when words are used imaginatively to create word pictures. Have the class check the Sports section to find some examples of figurative language. List them on the board and discuss how each paints a vivid picture. Have the class write their own sports article using figurative language.

Role Models

Skill: English IV - b,4,A
Who are the best examples of positive role models? Have the class review some of the sports stars in the newspaper and categorize each as to whether they belong in the Sports Hall of Fame or the Sports Hall of Shame. Why do they think some athletes deserve fame and some do not?

News Stories Come In All Shapes and Sizes

Skill: English IV - b,6,B
There are many different types of stories in a newspaper. One type is a straight or hard news story while another type is called a feature story. Hard news stories are those that report factual accounts of current events with no opinions. Feature stories are those that may include facts and more description or detail than hard news stories. They may be interesting stories but are not necessarily about breaking news. The students should find a hard news story on today's front page. Then find an interesting feature story. Have them read the first two paragraphs of each and write a comparison of how these paragraphs are alike and different. Which story answers the questions to the 5 W's -- who, what, when, where and why -- in the first two paragraphs?

Political Cartoons

Skill: English IV - b,20,A
Have the students find a political cartoon in the paper. They can list all the observations they can make from the cartoon. Then they can reread the observations and write down the message the cartoonist is trying to make. Have the students create their own cartoon about a story in the newspaper.

Sports Fantasies

Skill: Independent Study in English - b,1,B
The top sports fantasies include hitting a home run in the World Series, throwing a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl and sinking the winning shot in an NBA title game. Today's Sports section may not include these sports fantasies but it does have lots of amazing sports accomplishments. Have your students find 5 sports feats and rank them with the best accomplishment being number one. Then they can explain how they arrived at their first choice.

Sequencing the Game

Skill: Independent Study in English - b,2,E
Have the students look for an article in the Sports section that describes the action in a game. They should read the article and record the highlights of the game, looking for any outstanding plays or turning points that had the most impact on the game. Then they can write a paragraph about each specific event in sequential order. When the class reads the story do they have a good indication of what happened in the game? Could they use their paragraph for a sports broadcast on television or radio?

Agree or Disagree

Skill: Reading I,II,III - b,3,A
Do your students usually agree or disagree with their parents? Here's one interesting way to explore their views and that of their parents. The students can choose an editorial they think is interesting. Have them read it and decide if they agree or disagree with the writer's point of view. Then the students can write a paragraph telling how they feel. They can share their editorial with their parents and compare the different points of view.

Ain't Misbehavin'

Skill: Reading I,II,III - b,7,D
Most students behave in the right ways but some students copy homework from others, come late to class, and talk back to teachers. It's no surprise that schools without strict codes of behavior have more discipline problems and poor academic achievement. Instruct the class to find someone in today's newspaper who is showing unacceptable behavior. Whose behavior is appropriate? They can draw a Venn Diagram comparing the behaviors of both individuals.

IMAX

Skill: Reading Application and Study Skills - b,7,D
IMAX, those huge movie screens that make you feel like you're really there, make going to the movies even more fun. There are more than 170 giant screens in the world and 80 more are in the planning stages. Have students check the movie listings and movie reviews for a film that would be incredible on these big screens. They can write an explanation telling why that movie would be better on the bigger screen.

Resume

Skill: Reading Application and Study Skills - a,1
A resume is a summary of a person's experience that is written as part of a job application. The students can select an article from the paper that provides a great deal of information about a specific person. Then they can rewrite the information so that person could use it if applying for a job. What job is he/she most qualified for? What experiences do your students have that make them attractive candidates for a job? They can write their own resume.

TV and Teen Drinking

Skill: Analysis of Visual Media - b,1,B
Researchers have found that the more television high school students watch, the more likely they are to start drinking. Teens are influenced by the characters on TV who drink alcohol and are often portrayed as influential and glamorous. Have the students study the television listings for information about the content of the programs. Based on their research and prior knowledge of the shows, they should make a list of programs that might encourage high school students to drink. The students can write a letter to that show's sponsors telling them how they feel about the message of the show.

Ad Campaign

Skill: Media Literacy-Speech - b,5,D
The Nike logo is one of the most recognizable symbols in advertising. Have students imagine that they are working for an advertising agency and their job is to create another successful symbol and ad campaign for a company in the newspaper. They should also write a script for a television commercial.

Power Words

Skill: Literary Genres - b,1,A
Powerful storms and plunging temperatures are often a part of winter in the United States. The students should scan a section of the newspaper to find some words that describe, relate to or are synonyms of the word "power." The students should create a personal list of the words and discuss them with the class. Then they can write headlines about the weather, using their "power" words.

Valuable Values

Skill: Literary Genres - b,4,B
Direct the class to look through the newspaper for examples of different values. Advice columns, editorials and letters to the editor all show certain values. Being honest, or polite or loyal may be values that are taught in your home or school. The students should make a list of the different values that are found in today's newspaper and rank them in order of their importance. As a class, they can discuss which of these values is the most important.

Predict the Future

Skill: Creative and Imaginative Writing - b,1,A
What do your students think about people who say they can tell their fortune? Have the class read their horoscopes for tomorrow. What does it say about the kind of day they are going to have? The students can write a paragraph telling whether they believe their horoscope and why. Then, tomorrow, they can write another paragraph describing the kind of day they had. Was their horoscope correct?

Persuasive Writing

Skill: Research and Technical Writing - b,1,A
The players and owners of the professional sports teams often cannot agree on a contract. Because of that, on several occasions labor disputes have interrupted the sports seasons. The class should find an example of two parties in today's paper who are not in agreement. Have them take a side and write a persuasive argument to convince the other side to agree with them.

News-Worthy Comics

Skill: Practical Writing Skills - b,2,B
Have the students select one of their favorite comic strips from today's newspaper. They should erase the words from inside the balloons or cut them from the strip. Then write the new dialogue in the balloons that show the characters talking about an important issue that is in the news. The students should include proper punctuation in the dialogue.

Feature Writing

Skill: Humanities - b,4,B,iv
Direct the students to locate a news story about breaking news and a feature story that takes an interesting look at an issue. They can skim the news story and underline all of the facts given. Then underline the facts in the feature story. Which has more facts? The students can read the stories and write a comparison of the writing styles in each. What do they have in common and how are they different? Discuss with your class how feature writing is different from news writing.

A Family Affair

Skill: Speech Communication - b,3,A
How important is the family unit in America? Discuss with your students whether or not troubled family relationships cause many problems in our society. Have the class plan some activities that families can do together. Have them use the information and listings in the newspaper to find events that are perfect for families to do together.

Speeches

Skill: Public Speaking I,II,III - B,2,E
Political leaders and heads of organizations deliver speeches to express their ideas. The students should find a leader in the news and identify an issue that he or she supports. Then have them prepare a speech and deliver it in front of the class.

Look Who's Talking

Skill: Communication Applications - b,2,G
Late night talk shows on television are very popular. Have your students select someone mentioned in the newspaper who they believe would be a good guest on one of the shows. Then have them write 5 questions they would like to ask their guest.

Similes

Skill: Oral Interpretation I,II,III - b,4,G
The expression "March goes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" compares the blustery weather at the beginning of the month to a wild lion and the mild weather at the end of March to a gentle lamb. Have the students look through the newspaper to find some examples of similes -- the comparison of two things that are not alike. Many similes use the word "like" or "as" as an introductory word. Have them create a list of the similes that they find and write a brief explanation of why each is used.

Ethnic Insult

Skill: Debate I,II,III - a,1
Some people think that sports teams should not be named for different ethnic groups. American Indians might feel that it's insulting to their ethnic heritage to have a team called, "The Redskins." What do your students think of this controversial issue? Skim today's Sports section to find team names that may be considered objectionable. Have the class conduct a debate about whether or not this is insulting. How would they feel about a team named after their ethnic group?

Information Please

Skill: Independent Study in Speech - b,3,D
The newspaper is a great source of information. Have students list all the types of information they believe they might be able to find in a typical day's newspaper. Then have the students skim the newspaper to see what they missed. They should write a complete outline of the information available in the newspaper.

Bad Press

Skill: Journalism - b,1,C
Some people believe that news media is immoral and unprofessional. Have the students find one article in the newspaper that they believe to be immoral and unprofessional reporting, and one that is not. They should write a comparison of the two stories. Do your students believe there are topics that should not be covered by the news media?

Classifying Advertisements

Skill: Journalism - b,3,F
Students can look through the business section of the newspaper and make a list of the ads they find. They should do the same thing for the sports, entertainment, or local news sections of the paper. How do the lists compare with each other? Are the ads in each section trying to appeal to certain types of people or are they randomly placed? What sections have the most advertising? The students can explain their answers. Then they can design an ad for a product of their choice. If they were placing an ad in the newspaper, which section of the paper do they think would give their product the most exposure?

Cause and Effect

Skill: Independent Study in Journalism - b,1,D
Have the class locate a high interest article in the newspaper. They can read the story and figure out what was the condition responsible for the action. As a result of the action, what happened? The students should first determine the cause and then the effect. They can read several other articles to find the cause and effect in those stories as well. They can create a flow chart to show their results.

Broadcast News

Skill: Advanced Broadcast Journalism I,II,III - b,1,D
Have the students examine the television listings and write down all the news shows listed for the day. Have them differentiate between hard news and entertainment news programs. Based on the information in the listings what impact do the students believe the news has on the viewing public?

Radio Show

Skill: Advanced Broadcast Journalism I,II,III - b,1,F
The way newspapers cover the news often helps other media like TV or radio decide what to cover. Using today's newspaper, the students can set up a radio talk show for their class. They should program the show for kids their age, using the newspaper as a source of subjects the show will discuss. Have them write an outline for the program.

Photojournalism

Skill: Photojournalism - b,3,B
Have the students select a story from the newspaper that is not accompanied by a photograph. They should write a detailed description of a photo they believe would enhance the story. The students can write a caption or "cut line" for their picture.

News Magazine

Skill: Advanced Journalism - b,1,B
Each of your students has been selected to be the editor of a magazine. The students should decide what topic is the focus of their publication. Have them skim the newspaper to select the top five articles in the newspaper that they would like to include in their magazine. They can write the table of contents for their periodical.