eLibrary Elementary Standards-Based Learning Activity
Current Events
Teacher Procedures
APPROPRIATE FOR: Social Studies, Grades 3-5
TIMELINE: One to two class periods
SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS LESSON
National Council for Social Studies
IX Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of global
connections and interdependence.
(source: http://www.ncss.org/standards/2.9.html)
III Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of
people, places and environments.
(source: http://www.ncss.org/standards/2.3.html)
LEARNING EXPECTATIONS/OBJECTIVES
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Students will use eLibrary Elementary to search for current news resources.
Students will find the same news story, but in two different resources.
Students will read and print out the information they find.
Students will compare and contrast two news reports.
MATERIALS
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Computer with access to eLibrary Elementary and a printer
Pencil or pen
Writing paper
ACTIVITY PROCESS: DIRECTIONS TO THE TEACHER
Description of Activity
This activity will involve students in local, national and global current events. Each student will
use eLibrary Elementary to find news resources and pick a news story that interests them. They
need to find the same story in two different sources. The students will read both versions,
compare the two sources and write a summary of the current event.
Background Information/Scenario
Many social studies courses begin with the study of “history” first. However, engaging students in
current events through various news resources makes history more relevant and interesting to
learners. This activity gets students involved with current events on a different level. It has them
look at more than just one source of information on any given news story. It asks them to not just
read the story, but to really think about it.
© 2003 ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
Permission is granted to duplicate for classroom use only.
If teachers are already doing so, continue to use the newspaper in the classrooms as an
important part of the social studies curriculum. Pick articles from different sections and try to use
articles that may have a connection with the current unit of study students.
***This is activity can be done cooperatively in pairs. This does tend to create more engagement
with the current events issues. Students will have to talk about them together before they write. It
may also be done individually.
Outline of Procedures – Day One
1. Students will log onto eLibrary Elementary to find current news resources. To search eLibrary
Elementary:
 Go to eLibrary Elementary.
 Click the Topics tab at the top of the page.
 Click the Current Events category heading.
 Under News Resources, click Newspapers and/or Online News.
Students can also access newspapers by doing the following:
 Start on the Search (main) page of eLibrary Elementary.
 Click the yellow Open tab near the bottom.
 Click “Browse through our list of publications.”
 Click the icon above the word “Newspaper.”
 Click the individual newspapers (like “Boston Herald” or “Los Angeles Times”) to
browse through them.
2. Students will choose a current news story and secure two news resources on that story. They
will print them out. (For older students, more than two resources could be used).
3. Students will read both resources. As students are reading and comparing the two resources, a
Venn diagram may be useful. For a Venn diagram and other graphic organizers, go to the
following bigchalk Editor's Choice Web site:
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/sorganiz.htm.
Outline of Procedures: Day Two
4. Students will write a summary of what the news story is about. Then they will write a
comparison of the two resources they retrieved from eLibrary Elementary.
In their papers, students need to include the following:
 A title to represent the news story
 The details of the news story
 Compare the two resources:
--Which resources did they use?
--In what ways did each resource present information?
--What seemed to be the perspective of each resource?
--Which one appealed to the student more? Why?
--What does the student think about the subject? Why? (This may vary depending on age
ofsStudents.)
Conclusion/Finished Work
Have a class discussion about the various news resources that the students used. Discuss the
pros and cons of the various resources. Why were some better than others?
© 2003 ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
Permission is granted to duplicate for classroom use only.
ASSESSMENT
Groups will be assessed based on the following:
 Did the student use eLibrary Elementary to find news resources?
 Did the student use at least two resources?
 Did the student effectively compare and contrast the two resources?
OPTIONAL EXTENDED ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
1. Have a news day where students write a newspaper article on the topic they chose for their
assignment.
2. Have students continue to follow their stories. Are their any more developments? Did any news
resource change its position? Why?
3. Have students write a news story about something that happened or is happening in their lives.
4. Put together a class newspaper.
5. Arrange to have a newscaster or newspaper journalist writer come in to talk to the class.
© 2003 ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
Permission is granted to duplicate for classroom use only.
Current Events
A Social Studies Lesson
STUDENT COMPANION
DURING THIS ACTIVITY YOU WILL...
 Use eLibrary to search for current news resources.
 Find the same news story, but in two different resources.
 Read and print out the information you find.
 Write what you learned about the current event and compare the
information from the two resources you find.
DAY ONE
1. You will log into eLibrary Elementary to find current news resources. To search
eLibrary Elementary:
 Go to eLibrary Elementary.
 Click Topics at the top of the page.
 Click the category Current Events.
 Under News Resources, click Newspapers and/or Online News.
2. You will choose a current news story and get two news resources on that
story. Please print them.
3. You will read both resources. As you read and compare the two resources,
you may use a Venn diagram.
DAY TWO
4. You will write what the news story is about. Then you will write a comparison
of the two resources you got from bigchalk.
In your writing, you will need to include the following:
 A title to represent the news story.
 The details of the news story.
 Compare the two resources:
--In what ways did each resource present information?
--Was the information the same? Or was it different and in what ways?
--What seemed to be the perspective of each resource?
--Which one appealed to you more? Why?
--What do you think about the subject? Why?
© 2003 ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
Permission is granted to duplicate for classroom use only.
ASSESSMENT
Social Studies Activity
You will be assessed based on these criteria:
 Did you use eLibrary Elementary to find news resources?
 Did you find at least two news stories on the same topic?
 Did you keep track of the titles and sources of these news stories?
 Did you include the criteria necessary in the comparison section?
© 2003 ProQuest Information and Learning Company.
Permission is granted to duplicate for classroom use only.