Non-Fiction Media Unit Plan:
Creating a “Breaking News” Website on Cassie Brown’s
Death on the Ice
Lesson 2: Study the Role
of the Media in Breaking News Such as Tragedies
Total Time: 50 minutes
5 minutes – Administration
– Settling class down, taking attendance, checking homework, etc.
10 minutes – Class Discussion
– Select students, or have volunteers share their notes from the homework
assignment from the previous lesson, on how the media handles such breaking
news as tragedies.
– Make a list of key points.
– Update list of groups who hold an interest, or who would play a role
in such
events.
30 minutes – Study Examples
– Use handouts for examples of news clippings from March and April, 1914,
related to the sealing disaster.
– Pick-out examples of key points from both lists.
– Use the Internet to study examples of current media websites.
– discuss similarities and differences between each.
– discuss basic formats / layouts.
– discuss how they handle similar events.
– pick out examples of key points from both lists.
– Update two lists (if necessary).
– Use handouts for examples of media releases from various groups, such
as
police, politicians, and interest groups.
5 minutes – Administration
– Homework assignments, tidy-up classroom, prepare for dismissal, etc. |