7th Grade
Project
4 weeks
"Press Express: School News Unleashed!"
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Purpose
Students will collaboratively create a school newspaper to effectively communicate important events and issues to their peers. This project will engage students in the roles of journalists, editors, and designers, allowing them to explore the entire process of newspaper production. Through hands-on activities, students will develop skills in researching, writing, editing, and layout design while fostering teamwork and critical thinking. The final product will be a published newspaper that reflects their collective efforts and insights into school life.
Learning goals
Students will develop skills in journalism, including researching, interviewing, and writing articles. They will learn to edit and collaborate with peers to refine their work. Students will also gain experience in layout design, using digital tools to create visually appealing newspaper pages. Additionally, they will enhance their ability to communicate effectively and responsibly about school events and issues to their peers.
Standards
- Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
- Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Products
Throughout the project, students will create a series of articles covering school events and topics of interest, which will be compiled into a weekly newspaper edition. Each student will contribute by writing, editing, and designing layouts for their assigned articles. By the end of the four weeks, students will have produced four complete newspaper editions, showcasing their collaborative efforts and journalistic skills. These editions will be distributed to peers and displayed in common areas to effectively communicate school events and issues.
Launch
Kick off the project by inviting a local journalist to speak with the class about their experiences in the field, sharing insights into the process of creating impactful stories. Follow this with a brainstorming session where students identify key school events and issues they are passionate about covering. This initial engagement will set the stage for students to form editorial teams, each responsible for different sections of the newspaper, fostering collaboration and diverse perspectives.
Exhibition
Students will host a launch event for the school newspaper, inviting peers, teachers, and parents to explore the articles and engage with the journalists. The event will feature interactive booths where students can discuss their writing process, showcase their layout designs, and share insights on the topics covered. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback and suggest future story ideas, fostering a collaborative and dynamic environment. This exhibition will not only celebrate the students' hard work but also encourage ongoing dialogue and community involvement in school events and issues.
Plan
| Week 1 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
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| Activities |
Kick off the week with the 'Newsroom Bootcamp,' where students rotate through stations to practice interviewing, headline writing, and photography skills, simulating a real-world journalism environment.
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Introduce students to journalistic writing techniques through a hands-on workshop focused on crafting compelling leads and maintaining objectivity. Students will practice writing leads based on sample news stories.
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Facilitate a brainstorming session where students generate a list of potential school events and topics of interest they could cover in their articles.
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Conduct a research skills session, teaching students how to gather information effectively using interviews, surveys, and online resources. Students will begin researching their chosen topics.
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Guide students in creating an outline for their first article, incorporating their research and focusing on a clear structure that includes an engaging lead, body, and conclusion.
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| Deliverables |
1. Each student submits an outline for their first article, including a draft of their lead and a plan for the body and conclusion of their article.
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| Preparation |
1. Set up interactive stations for the 'Newsroom Bootcamp' with materials for interviewing, headline writing, and photography practice.
2. Prepare examples of news articles for the journalistic writing techniques workshop, highlighting different types of leads and article structures. 3. Compile a list of recent school events and potential topics to inspire students during the brainstorming session. 4. Provide access to research resources, such as library databases and online tools, to support students in gathering information for their articles. 5. Create a template or guide for students to use when outlining their articles, ensuring they include all necessary components. |
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| Week 2 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Conduct a peer review session where students exchange outlines and draft leads, providing feedback focused on clarity, engagement, and adherence to journalistic standards.
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Facilitate a workshop on structuring articles, emphasizing the importance of the inverted pyramid format and the role of subheadings and transitions.
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Guide students in revising their article drafts based on peer feedback, focusing on enhancing their leads, ensuring objectivity, and refining their article structures.
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Introduce multimedia elements by teaching basic video interview techniques and photojournalism skills, encouraging students to plan multimedia components for their articles.
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Begin working on the multimedia aspect of their feature articles, with students planning interviews and capturing photographs relevant to their chosen topics.
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| Deliverables |
1. Each student submits a revised article draft incorporating peer feedback, with an improved lead and structured body.
2. Students submit a multimedia plan outlining video and photo elements to accompany their written article. |
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| Preparation |
1. Prepare materials for the peer review session, including feedback guidelines and checklists to help students provide constructive critiques.
2. Design a workshop presentation detailing the structure of an article, focusing on the inverted pyramid and the use of subheadings. 3. Gather examples of multimedia journalism to show students how video interviews and photojournalism can enhance storytelling. 4. Arrange for basic video and photography equipment to be available for student use during the multimedia planning phase. 5. Coordinate with a local journalist or media professional to visit the class and offer insights on integrating multimedia into journalistic work. |
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| Week 3 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Organize peer review sessions where students exchange their revised article drafts and multimedia plans, focusing on providing feedback on the integration of written and multimedia elements.
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Conduct a workshop on effective video editing techniques, teaching students how to create cohesive narratives by combining video interviews with their written articles.
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Facilitate a photojournalism session where students select and edit photographs that will complement their articles, emphasizing visual storytelling and appropriate image placement.
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Guide students in incorporating peer feedback to finalize their written articles and multimedia components, ensuring coherence and journalistic quality.
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Coordinate a mid-project reflection workshop where students create mind maps to represent their growth in journalistic skills and share these with peers for additional insights.
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| Deliverables |
1. Each student submits a final draft of their written article, incorporating changes based on peer feedback and multimedia integration.
2. Students submit an edited video interview and a selection of photographs to accompany their final article. |
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| Preparation |
1. Prepare guidelines and tools for the peer review sessions, ensuring students have clear criteria to evaluate multimedia integration.
2. Compile video editing resources and tutorials to support students in creating polished video interviews. 3. Gather examples of effective photojournalism to inspire students during their photo selection and editing process. 4. Ensure access to video editing software and equipment for student use during the multimedia finalization phase. 5. Create materials for the mid-project reflection workshop, including templates for mind maps and prompts for peer sharing. |
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| Week 4 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Facilitate final peer review sessions where students present their multimedia feature articles to small groups, receiving feedback on coherence, storytelling, and presentation skills.
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Guide students in making final revisions to their multimedia articles, incorporating peer and teacher feedback to enhance clarity and engagement.
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Assist students in preparing their articles for publication, ensuring all multimedia components are properly integrated and formatted for the school's website.
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Host a rehearsal session for the 'Press Gala,' where students practice presenting their work, focusing on public speaking skills and effective communication.
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Conduct a reflection activity where students create a visual or written reflection on their learning journey, highlighting skills developed and personal growth throughout the project.
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| Deliverables |
1. Each student submits their final multimedia feature article, ready for publication on the school's website.
2. Students present their multimedia feature articles at the 'Press Gala,' showcasing their work to an audience. |
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| Preparation |
1. Prepare guidelines and feedback rubrics for the final peer review sessions, ensuring constructive and supportive feedback.
2. Ensure all technological resources are available and functioning for the integration and publication of multimedia articles on the school's website. 3. Organize venue and logistics for the 'Press Gala,' including invitations for guests and arranging necessary audio-visual equipment. 4. Provide materials and prompts for the reflection activity, encouraging students to thoughtfully articulate their learning experiences. |
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