Help Gene Weingarten
English, Social Studies, U.S. History
Columnist, feature writer and daily newspaper comic strip writer, Gene Weingarten is calling on readers for help. He pulled a month, a day and a year out of a hat. Now he plans to write a book about that date. He has researched the public records for that day.
Read more about the project. Check your diary. Talk to your parents — if it’s the day you were born, had your tonsils removed or got the long-awaited first kiss or pet — start writing.
Teachers, you could use this concept for your class. Put the 12 months in a box. In another container place the numbers one through 31. You and your class can determine the time span that they wish to research — the years they have lived, the oldest parents’ birth year to present — you get the idea. Pull the three slips from the containers and put on your thinking hats on where to begin the research.
Reflect on the News
Journalism, Media Literacy, U.S. History
Before beginning this activity, teachers should introduce students to the definition of “news” and the “lead” of a story.
Introduce students to a basic concept: News can be personal, community, regional, national and international in scope. People must determine if personal events and actions merit sharing. This is harder to distinguish in the era of tweets, Facebook and other social media. After giving an introduction to this concept, teachers could ask students to share their summer news.
Ask students if any of the personal news that was shared is also community news. Did any students work on community projects, participate in competitive sports or travel to unusual places? Select several pieces of information to write as a news lead.
Give students “What Was This Summer’s News?” This e-Replica activity begins with students’ recollection of important stories of the previous months. If they cannot think of stories that made the news, form teams to review each week’s news during June, July and August. Discuss which are significant news and place them in the categories given.
Which of these might be interesting as feature stories that give the human-interest aspect of the news? That profile individuals and places? That need to be placed in historic and contemporary perspective?
Develop Vocabulary
English, Reading, Media Literacy
This month’s Word Study focuses on the meaning of “magazine.” Give students “What a Collection!” to read.
For more on the invention of magazines for arms, see the Washington Post article, “The history of magazines holding 11 or more rounds: Amicus brief in 9th Circuit.”
Take Inventory
English, Media Literacy, Reading
Knowing where to locate information about the content within a publication is a skill to be honed. “Take Inventory,” a hunt for information and response to design elements, takes students into an issue of the Magazine.
In addition to answering the questions in “Take Inventory,” teachers could ask students to analyze the standing column for audience, purpose and kind of activity (solitary, interactive, both). Brainstorm how one of the columns might be modified for your student media.