Newspapers

Grade:

3^rd

 

Materials:

• Newspapers
• Teacher provided picture for demonstration to class 
• Other pictures, one for each group, photocopied and given to each student 
• Journals (or writing paper)
• Pencil

 

Objectives:

1. Students, in groups, will write a paragraph about a picture taken from the newspaper, inferring meaning and writing in an editorial style.
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of pictures to a newspaper, by listing 6 reasons they are included or not included in the newspaper.

 

Introduction:

 

1.       Hold up a picture; ask the students what they think the accompanying newspaper article may be about.  Brainstorm ideas. 

2.       Could we have a newspaper without pictures?  What other reasons are pictures included in a newspaper?  (Get readers attention to buy, create interest in the story, provide drama that words may not, to show product in adds, etc....)  

 

Procedures:

 

1.       Would you rather read a book with or without pictures?  Why?  Discuss their answers.

2.       Does a picture tell you a little bit about what the story is about? 

3.       Can you tell me what the story that accompanied this article is about?  (Allow for responses).   Discuss

4.       Could we have a paper with only pictures, and no words?  Everyone would interpret the pictures differently, and we would never know what truly happened. 

5.       What sections can you name where pictures are nearly always included (front page, cooking, travel, etc...)? 

6.       What are the reasons why pictures are included here?  What sections are pictures seldom included (classifieds, editorials, etc...).  And why are they usually not included in these sections?

7.       Place students into groups.  No more than three per group. 

8.       Pass out various pictures, have students write briefly what they think the story may be about. 

9.       Paragraphs are to be written the editorial style.  In groups, they are to write a story that would accompany the article.  It can be funny or serious but it must be their interpretation of the picture.

 

Closure:      

Explain:  Pictures are often very important to a newspaper.  Sometimes they are crucial to the story, other times they may not be.  In an editorial, they likely are not important, and newspapers seldom have a corresponding picture. 

Ask:  Why do you think pictures are not usually included in editorials?  Can you think of a section where words might not be included (the comics)? 

Show examples, where the picture is itself the comic, and no words are used. 

            If you deicide you want the class to complete their own class newspaper-- for homework, instruct students to begin thinking of a comic strip to create, beginning tomorrow.  It will have to include pictures, but words may not be needed.  It is up to you.  Then you can use these as part of your final paper!

 

Evaluation:

 

            In journals, write reasons pictures are included, or not included in a newspaper.  Review out loud in class.