Grade 8 World History

Mini Unit: Mesopotamia Newspapers

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LESSON PLAN #1ELA GLO # 4 Enhance clarity and artistry of communication

Title of lesson: Introduction to Newspapers Audience: Grade 8

Purpose: Introduce students to newspapers and allow them to familiarize themselves with specific forms of writing used in newspapers. Students will learn how to read a newspaper by identifying where certain information can be found throughout the different sections of a newspaper.

Learning outcome(s) :

Respond personally and critically to oral, literary, and media texts Make connections between previous experiences, prior knowledge and apply them to

new contexts Locate information within a newspaper

Materials

Free Press Lesson 1 Self- check

Bridge-in

Introduce the newspaper lesson to students. As a class complete mind mapping on “newspapers” to activate any prior knowledge the students may have about newspapers. Handout a sheet of paper to students and as a class, brainstorm on the board, what types of things you might find in the paper, the forms of writing (editorial, column), the sections of the newspaper, what might be found in each of those sections, etc. As students share ideas, draw the mind map on the board for students to copy down. (5 minutes)

Input from you

Once the concept map is complete, add additional information to the map that students may have missed. (example: Classifieds section includes, job ads, sale ads, greetings, memorials, etc) (5 minutes)

As a class, discuss why it might be important to know how to read a newspaper. How might this help them when they are older? Why might it be important for them now? (5 minutes)

Guided practice (application of knowledge:)

Handout out The Free Press or Opasquia Times to students. Have students spend 10 minutes looking through the newspaper to get a better sense of what it contains.

Students complete Word search and crossword activity

Closure

Have students complete Lesson 1 Self-Check Handout (5 minutes)

Check for understanding

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Does everyone understand the assignment?

Assessment

Students will be graded on their participation and on the self check. This lesson will tie into the next writing assignment about writing a newspaper article.

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LESSON PLAN #2GLO # 8.2.4 Communication and Art in an early society

Title of lesson: Writing a Newspaper article on MesopotamiaAudience: Grade 8

Purpose: Allow students to use language to develop ideas and focus thinking.

Learning outcome(s)

Generate and focus ideas Compose using specific forms (newspaper article) Understand the structure of news articles

Materials

Newspaper article News story planner handout

Bridge-in

Handout newspaper article to students. Have students spend a few minutes reviewing the article to find out what it is about. As a class, discuss the following: what is the headline, what is the main idea, 5W’s.

Input from you

On the board, write down the main components of a news story as outlined in the news story planner handout. Provide students with an example of each of these things according to the news article they just read.

Next, explain to students that they will be creating a classroom newspaper. The newspaper will consist of 5 sections. The article that they will create will be a part of the finished newspaper.

Guided practice (application of knowledge:)

Handout the news story planner handout. Have students write a short article, no more than 3 paragraphs long. Have students use the handout as a guideline for making their article. Students are free to choose what they want to write about with the exception of inappropriate or explicit material.

Closure

Share one of the student’s stories with the class.

Check for understanding

Does everyone understand the assignment?

Assessment

Students will be graded on their effort, spelling, grammar, and creativity.

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LESSON PLAN #3GLO # 8.2.4 Communication and Art in an Early Society

Title of lesson: Newspaper Development Audience: Grade 8

Purpose: Allow students to work cooperatively with peers in producing a class newspaper. Students will have the opportunity to work in groups to develop a section of interest to them.

Learning outcome(s)

Organize own ideas in written texts Present and share ideas and information Identify and use various organizational patterns Share own work in a variety of ways History- KI-014 History - KH-030 History- VH-010

Materials

Free Press Newspaper Section Criteria Paper

Bridge-in

Go through the Free Press with students and identify and record the main sections of the newspaper on the board. Next, have students think about other areas that interest them (music, technology, fashion, entertainment, comics). Using a web map, brainstorm as a class the types of things that could be included in these other sections that interest them. (5 minutes)

Input from you

As mentioned in the previous lesson, students will work on 5 sections of their classroom newspaper. Break students into groups based on the section they are interested in working on. If a 6th section needs to be added due to differences in interests that is fine but there should be at least 2 per group.

Guided practice (application of knowledge)

Handout the Newspaper Section Criteria sheet to each student and quickly review guidelines with class. ( 5 minutes)

Have students work get into groups and begin to develop their section of the newspaper. Students will spend this class working on the rough drafts for articles, pictures (for comic section, rough drafts for ads, classifieds, horoscopes, etc. (45 minutes)

Closure

Students will continue next class.

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Check for understanding

Does everyone understand the assignment?

Assessment

Students will be graded on both their individual and group efforts.

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LESSON PLAN #4GLO # 8.2.4 Communication and Art in an Early Society

Title of lesson: Newspaper Development Cont’d Audience: Grade 8

Purpose: Allow students to work cooperatively with peers in producing a class newspaper. Students will have the opportunity to work in groups to develop a section of interest to them. Students will begin to become familiar with the process for writing and development articles and information for a newspaper.

Learning outcome(s)

Express thoughts and experiences in the form of writing Brainstorm ideas and thoughts Organize ideas and information into different text formats Appraise own and other’s work History- KI-014 History- KH-030 History- VH-010

Materials

Lesson 4 Self- Check

Bridge-in

Check for clarification and understanding of what student’s are to be doing in their assigned groups. Review the expectations and guidelines for students to follow in developing their newspaper section.

Input from you

Handout all the work for the newspaper sections to the students.

Guided practice (application of knowledge)

Have students continue to work on their sections in groups. (40 minutes)

Closure

Have students complete Lesson 4 Self-Check (5 minutes)

Check for understanding

Does everyone understand the assignment?

Assessment

Students will be evaluated on Self- Check and group participation.

LESSON PLAN

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GLO # 8.2.4 Communication and Art in an Early Society

Title of lesson: Newspaper Development Cont’d Audience: Grade 8

Purpose: Have students revise content and go through the process of peer editing and review.

Learning outcome(s)

ELA- Revise to enhance meaning and effect according to audience and purpose ELA- Format for legibility and emphasis when composing and revising Appraise own and other’s work History- KI-014 History- KH-030 History- VH-010

Materials

Grade 8 Revision Checklist

Bridge-in

Peer Revision and editing- discuss with students the importance of editing their work to check for spelling and grammar errors. As students complete pieces of their writing, have students peer review another’s work to check for clarity of writing, punctuation, grammar, spelling and provide any other feedback necessary. (5 minutes)

Input from you

Handout the Revision Checklist to students. Have students use this as a guideline for revising their work as necessary.

Guided practice (application of knowledge)

Have students continue to work on their good copy of an articles and finish up other section pieces such as graphics, ads, comics, etc. ( 40 minutes)

Closure

Students continue working on newspaper section

Check for understanding

Does everyone understand the assignment?

Assessment

Students will be graded on their effort. This lesson will tie into the next writing assignment about returning to school. It is not related to any reading assignments.

LESSON PLAN #6

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ELA GLO # 4-5 Enhance clarity and artistry of communicationCelebrate and to build community

Title of lesson: Putting it all Together Audience: Grade 8

Purpose: Have student’s complete sections and compile the sections to create a classroom newspaper.

Learning outcome(s)

Organize and complete tasks cooperatively and collaboratively; evaluate group productivity and efficiency

Share ideas and information Plan and facilitate small group activities and short, whole-class sessions to share

information on a topic History- KI-014 History- KH-030 History -VH-010

Materials

Lesson 6 Self- Check

Bridge-in

This will be the final class for students to complete their newspaper.

Input from you

Once students finish their sections, they will be compiled together to form a class newspaper.

Guided practice (application of knowledge)

Allow students the first 30 minutes of class to finish their sections.

Class presentation- have each group briefly present their section to the others (appox. 2 minutes per group).

Closure

Have students complete Lesson 6 self-check.

Check for understanding

Does everyone understand the assignment?

Assessment Each section will be evaluated on neatness, creativity, proper use of grammar, spelling and punctuation and originality.

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