The Daily Bugle

Lesson 6

Subject(s): Language arts, Social Studies, Technology, Research skills
 
 

Learner Outcomes:

The student will:

1. Learn to work in groups
2. Research facts about the Civil War
3. Learn the who, what, when, where, and why of journalistic writing
4. Write newspaper articles on the Civil War

Technology Tools/Courseware: Computers with Internet access, browser, Desktop Publishing software (Publisher97)
 

Procedures:

1. Read actual Civil War newspaper articles on the Internet. (Listing of American Civil War Articles, The Valley of the Shadow, The Matthew Brady Bunch)
2. Students should take note of how the sections of the newspaper are organized. (Editorials, Letters to the Editor, News, Weather...)
3. Discuss how news is written. (How to Start a Middle School Newspaper)
4. Working in groups, establish the roles for each person. (Editor, newsreporter, cartoonist,  photographer...)
5. Decide if the group is reporting for the Union or the Confederacy.
6. Pick a day in an important battle.  Research the Internet for facts on that battle. Refer to Lesson 4 "Backyard Battles".
7. Research should include:
• News articles about the battle
• A human interest story
• An editorial
• A letter to the editor from someone against the war
• A recipe to share
• Song lyrics or a poem popular at that time
• A battle map
• Political cartoon
• Photographs or portraits from the Civil War era
8. Students should complete an online tutorial on Microsoft Publisher. (In and Out of the Classroom with Microsoft Publisher)
9. Develop and write, and edit the newspaper items
10. Publish the Newspaper using a desktop publishing program

• Handouts on blue paper for visually impaired.
• Cooperative pairing.
• Aides for special needs students

•     Field trip to local newspaper office
•     Guest speakers from the newspaper

Evaluation/Assessment: Student produced newspapers
 
 

IGOs and Other Standards: WV Department of Education

Technology: 6.151, 6.153, 6.154, 6.155, 6.156, 6.157, 6.158, 6.159, 6.160, 6.161, 7.163, 7.164, 7.165, 7.166, 7.167, 7.169, 7.170, 7.172, 7.173, 8.145, 8.146, 8.147, 8.148, 8.150, 8.151, 8.152, 8.153, 8.154, 8.155
History: 6.38, 7.45, 7.50, 8.46, 8.47, 8.48
Study Skills: 6.143, 7.149, 7.150, 7.151, 8.142, 8.143, 8.144
Language Arts: 6.53, 6.54, 7.59, 7.60, 8.49, 8.50, 8.63

National Standards

References:

Listing of American Civil War Articles
The Valley of the Shadow
The Matthew Brady Bunch
How to Start a Middle School Newspaper
In and Out of the Classroom with Microsoft Publisher
WV Department of Education
Civil War Slang
Basic Social Rules for Gentlemen and Ladies
American Civil War Sources

Date Created:  February 18, 1999

Date Modified:  March 24, 1999
 
 

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5