Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strange Winter Weather Affects Nature, People

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about the weather, then read a news article about the affect of unusual winter weather on people and animals. In this meteorology and current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces an article...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Were Rivets to Blame for Titanic Sinking?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students answer questions about the Titanic, then read a news article about possible causes of the disaster. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Food Saves Lives, Could End Hunger

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners locate the country of Niger, then read a news article about a new type of food that is being used to fight childhood hunger in Africa. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japan Writing Activity

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the current tensions in Asia by completing a graphic organizer.  In this Asian politics instructional activity, 7th graders examine a Powerpoint slide and news article which gives them the information needed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clinton's Farewell to the Nation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read the newspaper article, "A Pat and a Nudge from Outgoing Chief," about President Clinton's end of term actions, then discuss it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Fence

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a news article from the New York Times related to the construction of a fence between Mexico and the U.S. and its impact on the lives of the people living on both sides. They read and discuss a variety of scenarios, answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The March Continues

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students explore the Civil Rights Memorial. In this character development and U.S. History lesson, students employ reading comprehension strategies while reading a news article about the Civil Rights Memorial. Students work in groups to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cost of War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video clip about the cost of war. They discover what goes into paying for a war. They examine the need for a budget in the government. They read a news story about this topic as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Zhu Zhu

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students read an article about the toy Zhu Zhu and answer comprehension questions about it. In this toy lesson plan, students also create an ad for a new toy that they invent in groups.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

News From Home

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the feelings of Iranian immigrants in California by reading an online article. They write an article on immigrants' thoughts on current events in their home countries.
Lesson Plan
BBC

Words In The News: Japan Textbook Back In Spotlight

For Teachers 11th - 12th
High-interest articles are a great way to get struggling readers to tackle difficult vocabulary. Here is a lesson that includes such an article. It is focused around a very interesting and controversial article about the teaching of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Words in the News Solar Sail

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Bring current events into your classroom! Middle schoolers complete word work activities before reading and discussing an online article. They complete worksheets and an online quiz. They discuss the Solar Sail as radical new idea and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adopt a Geographic News Story

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars explore geography and the environment by reading the news. They discuss why it is important to follow the news. Students adopt a geographic news story, research the topic, and design posters to illustrate the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a News Article

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
For this writing worksheet, pupils learn the essentials about how to write a newspaper article in journalistic style. Students read about style, headlines, bylines, first, middle and ending paragraphs. After reading this, pupils will be...
Interactive
Curated OER

ESL-Reading Comprehension Activity

For Students 7th - 8th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read excerpts from articles and determine whether statements made are true or false. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Swissair Flight 111 Tragedy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Middle schoolers read two articles about the same event: "Plane from J.F.K Crashes off Canada" from the New York Times and "No Survivors from Crash of Swissair Jetliner Off Nova Scotia" from the Associated Press. They then compare the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

2011 Nobel Prize Winners Announced

For Students 6th - 8th
This assignment has young scientists read four different news articles about the 2011 Nobel Prize winners. Six questions are posed for children to write the answers. It is a relevant activity for getting middle schoolers to meet the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution: The American Revolution

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The contributions of African-Americans to the American Revolution are the focus of this Social Studies and language arts lesson plan. After reading and discussing Linda Crotta Brennan’s The Black Regiment of the American Revolution,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gay '80s, '90s and '00s

For Teachers 6th - 12th
After reading and discussing a news article from the New York Times regarding gay and lesbian issues of the last thirty years, students engage in several activities to explore current events. They create a timeline, either electronically...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Learning Network: Alligators Everywhere Fill-In

For Students 4th - 10th
Meant to be used with the article, "In Florida, the Natives Are Restless" (included here), this is a great source of high-interest, nonfiction reading. A fill in the blank vocabulary activity and an activity focusing on reading...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Islamists Prepare for Egypt's Election

For Students 9th - 12th
Wether your class posts a blog response or simply answers these questions, they'll end up more informed about Egyptian politics and conflict. They read the attached article and then answer seven comprehension questions regarding Hosni...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fire Fight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
While somewhat dated (students write letters to President George W. Bush about the Iraq War), this lesson could be a good way to reinforce rhetorical reading and critical thinking. Students examine information regarding Operation Iraqi...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Propaganda

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How does word choice affect the reading of a text? Compare two headlines that were written about the same event. Is one biased? Discuss how word choice often reveals the author's feelings about a topic. Then look at different techniques...
Unit Plan
American Press Institute

High Five: Media Literacy and Newspapers

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Teach the five different types of media with the first of three in a media literacy unit. Learners create and propose a final newspaper project, which must address information covered throughout the unit.