Reporter For a Day - Lesson

Lesson Plan

Level: Grades 4 to 6

Author: This lesson was created by elementary educator Ginie Waller. Parts of this lesson have been adapted from News and Stuff, by Don Hale (1996), produced by the Ontario Newspaper in Education Association.

Overview

This lesson focuses on how to write a newspaper story, and what may influence the information selected. The lesson begins with a review of the "5 Ws," and how journalists use these elements to craft topical, interesting and relevant news stories. In addition, students also learn about other elements that journalists must consider when they write news stories. Once students understand these elements, they will apply their knowledge to stories from newspapers, and to stories of their own. In addition, students learn about impartiality in news reporting by studying the differences between hard news, soft news, and opinion pieces.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate:

• an ability to write a short newspaper story
• an ability to dissect and understand the "news" stories in newspapers
• a knowledge of the different kinds of newspaper stories (hard and soft news, and opinion pieces)
• an awareness of how journalists and editors can "slant" a story

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit:

Lesson_Reporter_For_Day.pdf