21st Century News- 4753

Summary

How do we find out what is going on in the world around us? Compare that to how word traveled during the 17th & 18th Centuries. Students will become journalists and create historical fiction in the form of 21st Century news from the perspective of a famous American that they have chosen from the 17th and 18th Centuries.

TIPC Ratings

For research, this lesson is in the target range. Students created their own questions to guide their research, and they used many varied sources to obtain their information on their famous American.

Students worked with a group to create guidelines and rubrics for their type of news.
-Students created “I want to know…” questions to help guide their research. They also used the Famous Persons Wall Wisher sites to see what other classmates wanted to know about that person. Ideas were shared on Wall Wishers to communicate and collaborate research.
-Students used a variety of digital tools (Keynote, creating an actual website/blog on Students Weebly, Pages, iPads, Photobooth, Dropbox, and more) to communicate their process and reflections to their peers which scores this lesson approaching.

This lesson is target in the category of critical thinking and problem solving.
-Students used technology as a way to enrich and enhance their learning.
-Students revised their ideas when they encountered problems and their original plans did not produce their desired product.
-Students were required to make decisions about materials and commit to their selections.
-Students were allowed time to reflect on their experience as a team member, journalist, and learner.

This lesson required students to synthesize what they know about 21st Century news sources, and created a new and different product based on the interest of the group. They used first person in terms of writing and took strategic risks in making their research take on a 21st Century look.