Journalism Lesson Plans

TITLE: Cat Tracks: Creating a School-Based Newsletter

 AUTHOR: Nancy Dunn

 GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 9-12 Journalism, 2 – 3 weeks

 CURRICULUM STANDARDS/BENCHMARKS: ELA-5-H-4, ELA-5-H3, AND ELA-2-H3. Also addresses ELA-2-H4, ELA-3-H3.

 OVERVIEW: The students will gather information by interviewing students, teachers, and coaches. They will take the information they have collected and write articles to be published in a school newsletter, Cat Tracks. Students will revise and edit all articles. After the final editing process, students will create a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher, a computer program. Students will import decorative writings and clip art to enhance the appearance of their newsletter.

 PURPOSE: This unit will introduce students to the different methods of collecting and publishing information. It will give them an awareness of the many steps necessary in producing a publication, and will introduce students to applications used in the workplace.

 OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:

1. Access information by conducting research, summarizing, interviewing and surveying to
2. produce articles for a school newsletter.
3. Apply steps of the writing process, emphasizing revising and editing final drafts.
4. Use technology to produce, revise and publish a school newsletter.

 RESOURCES AND MATERIALS: Paper for rough drafts, gold legal size paper for final copy, computer

 ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

1. Brainstorm to decide on topics for newsletter articles.

2. Create a survey.

3. Interview teachers, coaches, and students.

4. Write articles from collected materials.

5. Edit and revise all articles.

6. Enter all articles onto the computer using Microsoft Word.

7. Create a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher.

 TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:

The students will gather information by interviewing students, teachers, and coaches. They will use the information they have collected and write articles to be published in a school newsletter, Cat Tracks. Students will revise and edit all articles. After the final editing process, students will create a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher, a computer program. Students will import decorative writings and clip art to enhance the appearance of their newsletter. Students will discuss different methods they used to collect and publish information gathered.

EVALUATION: Completed assignments, effective use of equipment and materials, cooperative work and finished product

Journalism students work on writing and revising articles for the school newsletter.

Students learn the many steps necessary in producing a publication.

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