Overview and Background: Unit: News Station

Joni Watkins : Cheney USD 268

Language Arts. : Language Arts. : Language Arts.

Cheney : Grades 2 - 2 : Aug. - Jun.

Title:	News Station
Topics:	News Station
Time Frame:	1 year
Start Date:	-
Status:	Draft
Date Revised:

Other Designers:

Summary:
Students will design a news station in our room. They will report on specific topics during the news cast every other week. The topics are: weather, sports, school happenings, local news, national news, birthdays, holidays, book of the week, character education trait (catch someone doing something good), and trivia. Some students will also be graphic artists (to help with backdrops and props), camera people, and editors. We will transition into this as the year goes on. At first I will teach how to research and report on each topic, then gradually students will be independently doing everything. We will report the news in our room and watch the broadcast on our television. Eventually we may invite other classes to come in and watch us broadcast.

Print Materials Needed:
Backdrop for News Station
Video Camera
VCR
Overhead Projector and screen

Resources:
Copy of news broadcasts from local news stations.
Copy of news broadcasts from other schools.

Resource Attachments:

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1:http://www.kctu.com/news.htm

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

State:	Local Standard
Title:
Standard(s):	Reading *Responds to text in a variety of ways (graphically, orally, or in written text) *Read self-selected and teacher directed materials orally and silently. *Read expository materials at an independent level. Instructional Technology (Local Standard) *Use the Internet to process information. Writing *Create a rough draft to be edited and revised. Speaking *Demonstrates appropriate delivery techniques. *Speaks for a variety of purposes and situations with audience awareness. *Understands and applies a speaking process that produces a coherent message.

Understandings:
user	The news is an important source of information. The news helps keep us informed on everyday happenings. Selecting what appears on the "news" and the viewpoint of the news story can affect the viewer.

Essential Questions:
User	What does the news have to offer? What topics are reported in the news? Why is watching the news important? Is everything on the news fun to watch? Is what appears on the news all the news?

Knowledge and Skills:

K
The students will know the different topics they will report on.
Students will know what is involved in running a news station.

S
The students will be able to research a topic, write a report, and speak in front of a camera.

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

Assessment Summary:
Students will create a news broadcast for the Cheney Cable School channel.

Task/Prompt: News Reporter

Type: Performance Task

Topics: News Station

Summary:
Students will create a news broadcast for the Cheney Cable School channel.

Print Materials Needed:

Resources:

Resource Attachments:

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1: http://
Link 2: http://
Link 3: http://
Link 4: http://
Link 5: http://

Notes:

Student Directions:
You work for our class news station (name to be decided by students). You have been hired to report on the newest and upcoming topics of interest in our school and community.
*Look at the topic you will be reporting on that was assigned by your teacher.
Topics are: weather, sports, school happenings, local news, national news, birthdays, holidays, book of the week, character education trait (catch someone doing something good), and trivia.
*Look on the news web site, read the newspaper, interview someone, or do whatever is needed to get the information you need to report on your topic.
*Write out what you will say during your report.
*Revise and edit your report.
*Write it so that you can read it on an overhead transparency. (This will be projected up behind the camera as a teleprompter.)
*Practice saying your report.
*Give report at the appropriate time during the broadcast.

Other assessment evidence to be collected:

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Learning Activities:

W
Discuss the similarities and differences between the local news and our Cheney news program.

H
Watch several news reports from local news stations.

E
*Take a field trip to a local news station if possible.

*Discuss ways to research and find information. Such as: looking at a news website
reading the newspaper
reading a magazine
interviewing someone
etc.

*Watch a news broadcast from another school.

*Practice how to write a news report.

*Practice all the different roles needed for a news broadcast.

R
Students practice presentation in front of each other and provide feedback and suggestions before the broadcast.

E
Students present their news report on the school cable channel.

Notes: