Name of Lesson: Current Events Report

Grade Level: 5/6 Subject: Social Studies Prepared by: Andrea Arnold Overview and Purpose: Each month students will be responsible for creating and presenting a current event report. They will have a different topic each month. The students will have several different ways of delivering/creating the report. Technology will be at the core of their research and their creations. Students will present to peers. Educational Standards: From State & Core Standards

Identify main idea and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting. Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening. Determine an authors point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts. Identify some of the personal responsibilities and basic rights of individual freedoms that belong to American citizens. (455.01a) Describe ways in which citizens participate in public life. (455.01b)

Objectives: Specify skills/information that will be learned

Students will summarize an article. Student will create a visual presentation of article. Student will discuss topic with peers. Student will compare and contrast articles.

Materials Needed: Internet access (netbooks, iPods or Kindle Fires) Printer Word, PowerPoint, Prezi, GarageBand scrapbook supplies Current event calendar, guidelines, letter

Other Resources: (websites, videos, books, etc.) Lab time for students who dont have access from home http://classjump.com/m/mrsarnoldsclass/index.php Google reader (optional) student can access bundles on class website If website doesnt support it would be good to have a Google Drive for class with files in it. Local newspaper Scholastic News

Information: Give and/or demonstration necessary information

1. Students will need to be able to access classjump. Go over how to maneuver through classjump. 2. Prior to current event project, students and teacher will have read articles together and used

summarization skills. 3. In small groups, students will read an article; identify main idea and supporting details. Students will discuss article and identify the authors purpose for writing. Students will share with peers. 4. Each month students will be responsible for doing a current event project. Review calendar, topics and technology that will be used. This could be done in small centers too. 5. Hold working lunch meetings for those who do not have experience with any of the technology. (This would mostly be students that are new to the school.) Verification: Steps to check for student understanding

1. When students working in small group, teacher will be monitoring conversations. 2. Small group will designate a person to share article summary with class. 3. Monthly assignments will be graded on a rubric. If student is not understanding assignment after
first month, teacher will conference with student and give them the opportunity to resubmit. 4. Students will have the opportunity to attend a working lunch meetings if they are having any problems with the assignment.

Activity: Select an article from Scholastic News. Students have worked on summarizing previously as a whole class. Students will be broke up in table groups. o Their goal is to read and identify main idea of article. o Identify sentences that support main idea. o Identify authors purpose for writing. o Designate spoke person and have them share their finding with the class. As a class write a summary of article. Focus that summary includes: Title of article, main ideas, supporting details and does not include the summarizers opinion. When completed, go over the objectives and requirements for monthly current event project. This project will be completed at home and during designated class times. Hand out documents to student and be sure to post on class website as well. Students will present their current event project on designated day. Discuss with students what they feel is important about sharing current events? What does current mean? Do we always agree with what is being said? Is it important to be informed? What skills might we gain from using current events? How can technology help us with assignment?

5th/6th Grade Monthly Current Events

1. Choose an article that is appropriate and interesting to you and is related to your assigned topic. It must be recent (within the month). You may choose an article from a newspaper or magazine or from one of the RSS Feed bundles that Ive created. 2. All information can be found at http://classjump.com/m/mrsarnoldsclass/ 3. The type of presentation designated for you is on the calendar. 4. Specific requirements for type of presentation will be posted on class website. 5. If you are having any problems, weekly lunch work meetings will be held. 6. Read this article alone and with an adult. 7. Take notes on the article to prepare your summary. 8. Write a full summary of your article. This should be typed. 9. You must have at least two paragraphs for your article. The first paragraph (4-6 sentences) should summarize the article. The second paragraph (4-6 sentences) should explain why you chose the article, and why it is important. You may have more than two paragraphs if necessary. Be sure to proofread and edit your writing! 10. Be ready to share your article with the class. You should prepare notecards and not read your summary from your project. You will share your article on the due date at the end of the month.