Introduction to Newspaper Articles and Media Studies Bundle

The following products are included in this bundle.

The 5W's of a Newspaper Article: Student Activity, Handout, and Classroom Posters

This product introduces students to the concept of the 5W's, Who, What, Where, When, and Why. They gain valuable skills to apply when reading newspaper articles through both a group and individual activity. Also included are the 5W's in a poster format for classroom display.

Individual Activity: students get handout introducing the 5W’s and then read and underline them in a sample article.

Group Activity: students use newspapers and find an article to analyze and share as a group, filling in the 5W’s summary sheet.

Contents:

-Individual Activity Teaching Suggestions
-5W’s Handout
-Sample Article Student Worksheet
-Sample Article Answer Sheet
-Group Activity Teaching Suggestions
-Group Activity Worksheet
-5W’s Posters
-Color Coding Poster


Media Studies: Word Wall Words and Definitions

This product contains 10 word wall words and their definitions surrounding the topic of media. The words included are: Media, Issue, Paradigm, Facts, Opinion, Bias, Propaganda, Perspective, Doublespeak, and Credible. These words will help students when exploring topics surrounding informational texts, global issues, and daily news.

I have also included these words without definitions for student use (for example: have students brainstorm their own definitions before putting up the class definition).


Introduction- Identifying Bias: 3 Sample Articles + Group Activity

In this activity students read three sample articles that have been written from different perspectives surrounding the construction of a new community landfill (perspective of editorial writer, company, and city council). They fill out an interpretation sheet for each one and see how each author presents a slightly different perspective. They then answer a series of questions about/comparing all three articles.

Contents:
-Teaching Suggestions
-3 Sample articles written with bias
-Article Interpretation Worksheet
-Identifying Bias: Concluding questions/comparison worksheet
-Sample answers for all three article interpretations and identifying bias worksheet.

Writing a Newspaper Article: Brainstorming, Planning, and Rough Draft Worksheets

This product is a series of 5 worksheets walking students through the stages of writing a newspaper article. They start by brainstorming two possible topics they might want to write about, they move on the planning the 5W's of their article as well as the details and other information they will include, they then fill out a rough draft to edit. There is also a blank template for the writing of a good copy and space for a drawing or photo.

Introduction To Bias: Understanding Fact vs. Opinion, Perspective, & Bias

This product contains a variety of exercises to introduce the idea of bias to students. Starting with the definition of the terms bias, perspective, fact, and opinion, students then participate in a class exercise brainstorming facts and opinions before moving onto a Fact vs. Opinion Cut & Paste Activity. They then become bias detectives deciding wether statements are biased or not on the Bias Detective Worksheet.
Activity #1 has students exploring newspaper articles to explore bias, and filling out an Article Analysis Worksheet with their findings.
Activity #2 is a group activity where students or groups are given a character card with a particular perspective on the construction of a new skateboard park in their neighbourhood. Students will brainstorm what the character’s bias might be and present that perspective to City Council (the class), including the character’s bias in their argument. They then answer the question "Why might a person’s personal bias be a bad thing when making big decisions that affect a community?" on the Activity #2 Question Response.


Contents

-Bias: Student Handout
-Class Exercise: Fact vs. Opinion
-Fact vs. Opinion Cut & Paste Activity
-Fact vs. Opinion Cut & Paste Activity- Answer Key
-Bias Detective Worksheet
-Bias Detective Worksheet- Answer Key
-Activity #1 Bias In Newspaper Articles
-Article Analysis Worksheet (part of Activity #1)
-Activity #2 City Council
-Character Cards + Activity #2 Instructions
-Activity #2 Question Response