Las Vegas Newspapers in Education

Weekly Mini Pages
Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page's content and offer activities that will help your students reach them.

Troops Helping Afghanistan -- Issue 22 -- May 29-June 5, 2010

This week's standard:

Students understand how culture and experience influence people*s perceptions of places and regions. (Geography)

Activities:

1. Make a poster with newspaper words and pictures that show how U.S. troops help people in Afghanistan.

2. Circle 10 things in the newspaper that you would send to Afghan children for their schools.

3. Find five civilians in the newspaper who could help the Afghan people improve their country. Explain why you selected each person.

4. What do U.S. troops do to help the Afghan people with (a) roads, (b) health, (c) growing crops, and (d) new businesses?

5. What is the most important thing you think U.S. troops do to help in Afghanistan? Write a paragraph explaining in detail why you selected that activity.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

World Cup Fires Up Fans -- Issue 23 -- June 5-11, 2010

This week's standards:

Students understand that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction. (Physical Education)

Students understand how culture and experience influence people*s perceptions of places and regions. (Geography: Places and Regions)

Activities:

1. Make soccer trading cards. Draw a soccer ball on one side of a card. On the other, write a World Cup fact.

2. With a friend, circle newspaper stories that take place in the countries that will play in the World Cup.

3. Make a list of the local and international soccer teams and mascots that you can find in the newspaper.

4. Find places in the newspaper where you could learn soccer, places to buy soccer equipment, and a team you could play on.

5. Write a paragraph explaining why South Africa is a good place for the World Cup.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

U.S. Capitol Welcomes Us -- Issue 24 -- June 12-18, 2010

This week's standard:

Students recognize national and state symbols and traditions. (Social Studies, Civics)

Activities:

1. Draw the U.S. Capitol dome on a piece of paper. Paste newspaper words and pictures about government around the dome.

2. In your newspaper, circle three special places in your community. Write a sentence telling why each place is special.

3. Choose three things you'd like to see in the U.S. Capitol. Explain your choices.

4. Why do you think these things are important to the Capitol: (a) Emancipation Hall, (b) six themes, (c) 1814, and (d) the Visitor Center?

5. Select one of the six themes from the Exhibition Hall. Create a notebook of newspaper stories related to your theme. Write a brief paragraph about each of your examples.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

Building With Sand -- Issue 25 -- June 19-25

This week's standard:

Students understand that the visual arts have specific relationships to various cultures. (Art)

Activities:

1. Divide a piece of paper into four sections. With a friend, design a sand sculpture for each section: a birthday, July 4th, Thanksgiving and St. Patrick's Day.

2. Circle five pictures in the newspaper that would make good sand sculpture ideas.

3. Find five tools in the newspaper that you could use to make a sand sculpture.

4. How are these important for sand sculptures: (a) shovels, (b) water, (c) brushes, and (d) river banks?

5. Use the Internet to learn about other sculpturing materials, such as wood or marble. Write a paragraph comparing another material to sand sculpture. (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

The Beat Marches On! -- Issue 26 -- June 26-July 2

This week's standard:

Students identify and describe the roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures. (Fine Arts: Music)

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of yourself playing an instrument in a marching band. Tell why you like being in the band.

2. Look through the newspaper and circle words and pictures for marching band instruments. Don't forget the classified section.

3. Identify three musical events in the newspaper that you would like to see. Look for events that will include bands.

4. Why are these associated with marching bands: (a) football games, (b) color guards, (c) drum majors, and (d) sousaphones?

5. Select four songs that have the same theme. Design a marching band formation to go with each song.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)