Time:

2 periods (about 90 minutes)

Materials:

• Copies of daily newspapers, one edition can be shared by three students.
• Clippings from newspapers. Include a banner (the newspaper’s title), contents list, comics, weather maps, help columns and editorials along with news stories.
• Large envelopes
• Glue sticks, scissors, poster board

Preparation:

This lesson takes some work, but you can save time by using a photocopier.
Cut out a variety of news stories, feature articles, sports stories, photographs, advertisements, comics, banners, even the advice columns. You must have enough cut out so that a group of students can choose articles and advertisements for the front page of a newspaper. Use a photocopier to duplicate the stories, but try to vary the contents of each envelope so that it is unlikely that two front pages will look the same.

The Lesson:

1. As they pick up their copy of the newspaper, ask students to look for an interesting or unusual story.
   
   
2. Have students share their ideas on what’s interesting and what’s newsworthy. On the board or chart paper write out the following question:
   
   What makes information newsworthy?
   
   What You Might Hear:
   
   Students will express a variety of opinion, ranging from the type of information given, the event (a tragedy, such as a car accident or a fire) and who’s involved in the story (a government decision announced by the Prime Minister, or a celebrity in the spotlight). Time and place make a difference too (local stories verses national stories). There are no wrong answers – although some answers may have to be justified by the student
   
   
3. Jot down all suggestions. Leave the answers on the board.
   
   
4. Organize students into groups of two or three.
   
   
5. Distribute envelopes containing the clippings, as well as glue sticks, scissors and poster board.
   
   
6. Tell students this exercise gives them the power to decide what the news of the day will be. They will take on the role of an editor who chooses stories for the front page of their newspaper.
   
   
7. Once students have chosen articles and photographs tell them to glue the clippings on to a poster board so that the stories form the design of a front page.
   
   Some clippings may have to be cut to fit. Before cutting, tell students to read the story over carefully. Students should identify the most important information in the story. Less important information and detail can be cut out. In a news story the facts are arranged in an Inverted Pyramid style. The information at the bottom of the story contains details that are not crucial to the story.
   
   As a reminder of what a front page looks like, tack examples of real front pages to the board. If you have time, visit a news stand where international papers are sold and display front pages from other cities.
   
   
8. Specify a time limit on the front page design.
   
   
9. When the time is up, ask students to explain the decisions their group had to make on what stories and photographs deserved the front page.
   
   
10. Collect the front pages. Take a closer look at the editorial decisions made by each group. Check for understanding of key concepts of What is “Hard” News.

Assessment:

Group marks can be assigned based on knowledge of what a news story is.