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Investigative Journalism

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students choose newsworthy topics to research and investigate, narrow focus of investigation, get information from the source through interviews, write stories, and submit to media outlets.
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Views of 9/11

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine through research ways people around the world viewed events of September 11, 2001, analyze how United States foreign policies have caused conflict with other regions and countries, research and read first person...
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Stately Statements

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students closely read President Bush's State of the Union address, then develop interviews and write articles to assess a variety of points of view about The proposals offered in the speech.
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Walter Cronkite: Witness to History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students brainstorm a list of news sources. They interview people about today's media and discuss their results. After watching segments of a film about Walter Cronkite, they role play as reporters and subjects from an historic period...
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What's in a Name? The Use of Native American Images in Sports

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss and analyze the pros and cons of using Native American names and images to represent sports teams. Using primary sources, including position statements from Native American tribes, interviews with school alumni and...
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Meet the Reformers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American reformers activity, 7th graders research the accomplishments of selected reformers. Students then use the information they...
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Ben Franklin

For Teachers K - 8th
Students meet Ben Franklin and research his life accomplishments. In this lesson about the history of Benjamin Franklin, students will visit several websites in order to learn about this Founding Father. Students follow a worksheet with...
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Lessons to be Learned: The Importance of Attribution, Accuracy, and Honesty

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students investigate real world examples of media law issues. In this media law instructional activity, students read Janet Cooke’s feature and respond to the writing. Students read articles by Stephen Glass to highlight facts...
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Understanding the Price Paid: America's Conflicts

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders interview war veterans about their combat experiences and write newspaper stories about their interviews. They share their interviews with classmates. they discuss the impact of war on the veteran and the United States.
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Local Heroes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate heroes in their community by presenting a story of a true hero to their class.  In this storytelling lesson, students interview a local person who has performed a heroic deed and create a presentation with...
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Transmission of Family Histories

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students examine how different artifacts represent family history, stories, and experiences. They act as reporters for their own family artifacts sharing them with the class.
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American Indian Civil Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine social justice issues regarding American Indians. In this civil rights instructional activity, students investigate the Red Power Movement of the 1960's and 1970's. Students then roleplay interviewing Native...
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Journalism in the Halls

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the Lane Tech murals on the Web or at the school. They conduct interviews with students and professionals as a method of researching the subjects of these murals. They write an article for a special "mural" edition of...
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The Last Spin

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders watch a video about gangs and how they solve their problems. They role play the role of reporters and in groups they try to figure out why a teenager committed suicide.
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Al Qaeda & the Taliban: What threat to the U.S.?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the War on Terror. In this national security lesson plan, students read articles about the War on Terror and President Obama's foreign policy. Students respond to discussion questions and debate the presence of...
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Indian Heroes And Role Models

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the concept of heroes and role models within the Native American community. They use primary and secondary resources to answer specific questions intended to bring the students to a definition of Native...
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Vanishing Verbs

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Young scholars analyze recent media trends, and develop critical thinking skills by summarizing main ideas, extracting details, formulating opinions, drawing inferences, and comparing and contrasting attitudes. They also practice...
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Meet the Press II

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work with a partner to research a historical figure. Using the Internet, they also research the history of the country the important figure came from. They role-play the role of the figure and a reporter. They must ask...
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Getting to Know You

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a women's history trail. They interview residents of their local community. They create information brochures on different women as well.
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My Favourite Place

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders reflect back on a favorite place they knew as a child. Using Inspiration software, 9th graders write phrases that remind them of their favorite place. Students simulate being a reporter and interview other classmates...
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Using Oral History to Understand Immigrant History

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use oral history to comprehend how life chaned for men, women, and childern when they immigrated to the United States. Students conduct interviews with immigrants in an attempt to interpret hardships, lifestyles, careers, and...
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage: Grades 6-8

For Teachers 6th - 8th
To gain a better understanding of Hispanic heritage and culture, as well as to build informational comprehension skill, learners explore facets of Hispanic American History. They engage in a class discussion, research three facts, and...
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Becoming A Career Detective (Part 1)

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are reminded of the "investigation" of the world of work that they have been conducting since kindergarten. They are asked: "Where have you gathered information about careers?" and Where else might you obtain information?...
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Bears' House Vandalized, Witnesses Say Blonde Girl Spotted Fleeing from the Scene

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore journalism. In this expository writing lesson, students read several newspaper articles and note common features. After reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett, students work with a partner to write a news...