Mini Curriculum Unit

Theresa Milkowski

CUIN 6320

Creating a Newspaper Book Report

The Project

Walk the WalkTake a tour of a newsroom before you start working with your team on your own newspaper!

Talk the TalkSpeak the “lingo” Peruse the News!

Getting Started

• Examine the Editorial Team Roles Handout

• Choose Roles for your team and sign in!

• Create a Press Pass w/Digital Photo

Editorial Resources

• Every journalist utilizes editorial resources.

• Use the following links to Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia Help as resources.

The AssignmentYou’re hired!

* Your first assignment as an Editorial Team is to write a book report of “Maniac Magee”. Let’s begin with the book summary. Click on the book and use the outline as a guide.

Who?

When?

Where?

What?

Why?

Don’t forget…how?

Front Page

• Name of newspaper, Date, Index

• Feature Article: Book Review Summary

• Feature Article: Article on Character with illustration.

• Feature Article: Author Bio with imported image.

You’re now ready to design and construct the front page! The Front Page should include the following criteria:

Guidelines:

Ads

Weather

Advice Column

The Index: What’s Inside? The inside pages of your newspaper will contain the following criteria. Follow each link and complete the instructions.

The Editorial

SportsComics

Travel Ad

Travel Ad

• Maniac Magee runs away and ends up in a town called Two Mills, located in Pennsylvania.

• What would Maniac Magee find interesting about Pennsylvania? Write an travel ad from Maniac’s perspective on interesting things to do in Pennsylvania. Include a photo or clip art.

• Use the following link as a resource.

Advice

• Everyone needs a little advice now and again. A character in your story writes a letter to “Dear Abby” asking for advice. Include the character’s letter and the response.

Weather • Two Mills is located in Pennsylvania. Create a weather

section that illustrates weather in PA and the United States. Click on the above images for a weather information.

Sports

• Choose an athletic ability mentioned in Maniac Magee.

• Write a sports article incorporating both the character and athletic ability. Use an image.

• Use the following guideline to complete the process.

Advertisements

• A message printed in the newspaper that is paid for by either a person or a business. "Ads" try to catch the eye of the reader and give them a message.

• You will create an advertisement that incorporates a product applicable to the story. Include a photo or clip art.

• Use the following activity to complete the process.

Comics

• Design a four panel comic strip illustrating something funny that happened in Maniac Magee.

• Incorporate one or more characters from the story.

Political Cartoons• Political cartoons express opinions about public issues and officials.

• Design a political cartoon illustrating a public issue in Maniac Magee.

• Use the following activity as a guideline.

The EditorialThe Editorial is an article written to give the opinion of the newspaper's editorial board. As a team, you will use the following resources to write a letter to the Editor addressing the subject of homelessness.

Step 1: Read some facts&

figures on homelessness.

Step 2: Complete the

WebQuest Activity.

You’re Finished!How did you do?

• Print and complete the following assessments to determine if project criteria have been met. Self Assessment Group Assessment

Newspaper Checklist

• Complete? Move on to some...

• Needs Improvement? Go back and review!

News Page Builder

Read about an amazing one-legged athlete

How is paper

made?

Sources