Las Vegas Newspapers in Education

Mini Page Archive - December 2010: Issues 49 - 52

A Singing Family -- Issue 49 -- Dec. 4-10, 2010

This week's standard:

Students identify and describe roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures. (Music: History and Culture)

Activities:

1. Design a poster that announces a von Trapp family appearance in your town.

2. Find five items in the newspaper that a modern musical family could use.

3. Find a newspaper story about a family working together on a project. Write about their work.

4. How were these important to the von Trapp family: (a) the Salzburg Music Festival, (b) World War II, and (c) the movie "The Sound of Music"?

5. Pretend you have a musical group. Make up a name. Design costumes. Choose a type of music. Then make a brochure with pictures and information about your group.

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

Play in a Winter Wonderland -- Issue 50 -- Dec. 11-17, 2010

This week's standards:

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

Students understand that security is a basic need of humans, including following safety rules, avoiding injury and knowing where to go for help. (Science: Personal Health)

Activities:

1. Draw pictures on index cards of yourself and friends doing winter activities. On the back of each card, write a safety tip for the activity on the front.

2. Divide a piece of paper into two columns. In one column, paste newspaper words/pictures of winter clothes you should wear outdoors. In the second, paste words/pictures of equipment you use in winter activities.

3. In the newspaper, circle sports teams, foods or toys that have wintry names.

4. How can each of these help you stay safe: (a) a chair, (b) a pole, (c) a helmet, and (d) mittens?

5. Write a short story about your favorite winter activity.

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

Living Near the North Pole -- Issue 51 -- Dec. 18-24, 2010

This week's standards:

Students understand the characteristics and life cycles of organisms. (Science: Life Science)

Activities:

1. Make a poster of newspaper pictures of animals wearing winter or holiday clothes.

2. Make a list of newspaper names/pictures of animals related to winter animals.

3. Divide a piece of paper into two columns. In one column, draw a picture of (a) where winter animals live, (b) what they eat, and (c) how they keep warm. In the second column paste newspaper words/pictures of where people live, what they eat, and how they keep warm.

4. Which winter animals (a) migrate, (b) find food on land, (c) find food in water, and (d) live in groups?

5. Write a paragraph comparing a winter animal and a pet.

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

Getting to Know You -- Issue 52 -- Dec. 25-31, 2010

This week's standards:

Students conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions. (Common Core Standards: Writing)

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of someone you would like to interview. Write three questions you would ask.

2. Choose newspaper stories about three people to interview. Write questions for each person.

3. Find a newspaper story where a person was interviewed. What questions were asked? What questions would you add?

4. Why is it important to (a) agree on a time to meet with the person, (b) take good notes, (c) plan questions, and (d) listen carefully?

5. Use the Mini Page interview questions to learn about your family. Ask an older family member about his/her life as a child.

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