Materials Required: prepared overheads, 3-7 computeres, a printer, software for newspaper layout, clipart, a newspaper
I. IntroductionHow many of your parents get the newspaper and read it?
Have you ever wondered how they make a newspaper and get it all to fit together?
We are going to start an exciting project that will take us a few days to complete…. And the finished projects will be displayed in our classroom window / bulletin board.
II. Transition
* First – we must learn / review a few basic computer skills. Who has used Microsoft Word / Corel Word Perfect?
III. Sequence of Activities
A. Using a computer hooked up to an overhead projector – display the desktop on the overhead to walk the students through computer functions – if not available, use prepared overhead to show students the necessary steps to format the page into columns, change spacing, font, margins, inserting a picture from clip art, etc.
B. Hand out papers with guidelines to the necessary steps to these also.
C. After a short lesson / review – divide the class into groups of 3 – 5 students per group
D. Explain project – Each group needs to develop the front page of a newspaper. These are the necessary items to finish this project:
1. A title
2. At least two columns
3. One headline news article coming from a bible story (if in a public school setting – fairy tale)
4. One advertisement for a product
5. At least one graphic
6. Names of newspaper staff
7. Any additional stories / jokes/ pictures to fill up the front page of your newspaper
E. Allow students to get in groups and start discussing their ideas – work with each group as needed
F. Once students have ideas started – check their ideas and allow them to get started on the computer
IV. Closure:
· Remind the students of the requirements for the project
· Clean up work area and shut down computers
· Turn in papers to the teacher until tomorrow / save on a disk
V. Evaluation of Students:
A. The students can easily follow directions / instructions to use the publisher program
B. The students have mastered the required skills to layout a newspaper
C. The students work effectively in their group – giving each a chance to work on the computer.
D. The students produce a final product – a newspaper page with the required elements.
VI. Analysis of Lesson:
· Students knowledge of computer skills
· The quality of the students’ final product
· The effectiveness of the group time
