A History Newsletter
Dermot Lucey
1. Title:
A History Newsletter
2. Duration:
This module can be done in 16 class periods; preferably some of those should
be double periods. However, the time can be extended.
3. Aims/Objectives:
(a) To involve students in actively researching, writing up and editing
news reports based on actual historical people and events;
(b) To promote History in the school;
(c) To provide experience in word processing and desktop publishing, and
linking these with History.
4. Teaching and Learning Strategies:

Access to IT facilities to research the news stories, to word process them,
and to use Microsoft Publisher to layout the newsletter

Access to Library facilities to research the news stories and illustrations

Discussion and Group work to organise the research, writing up and design
of the newsletters and to make class presentations

Visit to a local newspaper to link up the work done in the class with the
work of journalists
5. Content:
(a) Organisation – the overall theme of the newsletters is decided and the
class is divided into small groups, a maximum of 4 per group.
The theme is divided into topics. Each group is assigned or chooses a
different topic to research and they must produce separate 4-page
newsletters. For example, the overall theme could be ‘Nazi Germany’
and each group is assigned a different topic for their newsletter e.g.
The Young Hitler, The Rise to Power, Nazi Ideas, Nazi Propaganda
and so on.
The various tasks have to be outlined – research, editing, wordprocessing, design and layout – and the group assigns the tasks
amongst themselves. Usually tasks will be shared.
(The alternative to deciding on one theme is to allow each group to
select at random any topic from History. This is more difficult to
manage.)
(b) Research – in the computer room or the library.
(c) Writing the stories – the stories have to be short because Microsoft
Publisher gives a minimum and a maximum number of words for each
story. Some editing will be done during this time as well as searching
for illustrations.
(d) Word Processing – similar guidelines should be followed in relation to
spacing, fonts etc. for all groups.
Once the text is word-processed, further editing will take place to
ensure the story is within is its limit.
Illustrations can be scanned or downloaded from the Internet.
(e) Design and Layout – Microsoft Publisher has a ‘wizard’ (or a series of
step-by-step instructions) for laying out the newsletter. Text is inserted
into the space provided for each story and illustrations are also placed
where they are needed.
The newsletter is then printed off.
(f) Presentation to the rest of the class – each group must present their
newsletter to the rest of the class and outline in summary their main
stories.
Copies of the newsletters, in colour if the school has a colour printer,
are displayed on the walls of the History Room and/or on notice boards
on the corridors.
(g) Visit to a local newspaper – if possible.
5. Assessment:
Assessment will be ongoing during the research, writing and layout of the
newsletter through oral questioning.
Each element of the work in progress can be assessed whether it is the research
documents, the written story, the final newsletter or oral presentation to the class.
6. Resources:

School library

Microsoft Publisher on the school computers

The internet, particularly the use of search engines like www.google.com
7. Links:
There is a strong link with media studies in English. Other links will depend
on the theme of each newsletter.
8. Evaluation:
Evaluation will be on a continual basis as you check the work in progress.
How did the original process of organisation work out? Should the groups be
randomly or systematically chosen? Were the topics equally suitable for
research and writing? Were their IT skills adequate before the process began?
Was it worthwhile visiting the local newspaper?