Community Newspaper 1800’s
Nancy Bonbright
Cleveland Elementary
The Memphis Daily Eagle and Enquirer
Memphis, Tennessee
February 21, 1855
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/jbordley022118
55memtn.html
Summer 2009
Teaching with Primary Sources
Illinois State University
After a unit on the 1800’s students can complete this lesson.
The students will learn about life during the 1800’s by reading old newspaper articles.
They will then write articles, advertisements, columns, editorials, and use photographs from the Library of Congress Primary Sources.
A newspaper will be published for the students to take home.
Overview
Objectives
Recommended time frame
Grade level
Curriculum fit
Materials
Students will:
 Learn about newspapers in the 1800’s by reading
actual documents. They will then put together a
class newspaper during the 1800’s.
Two weeks.
3-5
Social Studies, Language Arts
Old newspaper handout
How to write a newspaper packet
Lined paper
Pencils
Computers
White Board
Tape
Chart paper
Students stories, ads, columns, editorials, photographs
printed
Banner for newspaper printed
Yellow paper 11x17
Rubric
Extension Activity handouts
Ohio State Learning Standards
Social Studies:
Social Studies Skills and Methods
Distinguish between fact and opinion.
. Communicate relevant information in a
written report including the acknowledgement
of sources.
Formulate a question to focus research.
S4A3. Use primary and secondary sources to answer
questions about Ohio history.
Literacy Skills
Engage students with a variety of literacy based
instructional strategies to prompt higher-level
thinking, responses, and discussions.
Procedures
Day One:
 Pass out Packet from old newspapers.
Handouts are located in Handouts section.
 Students will read the articles.
 Discuss articles in class.
Day Two
 Discuss the jobs of a newspaper. The jobs we
will have in our newspaper are reporters,
advertisements, photographs, columnists,
editorials.
 Go to handout page showing how to write a
newspaper article. Remember the how, what,
when, where and why. Handouts are located
in Handouts section.
 Have students begin to think what job they
want to do for the newspaper.
 Begin to Brainstorm names for the
newspaper.
Day Three
 Make a job list of who is doing what on
board. The jobs we will have in our
newspaper are reporters, advertisements,
photographs, columnists, editorials. Make a
copy of the list to keep.
 Make a copy of the list to keep.
 Have class suggest names for the newspaper.
 Vote on name for the newspaper.
 Have students write down ideas on what they
want to do for their job.
 Teachers will conference with each student to
go over ideas.
Day Four
 After students have conference with teacher
They may begin to work on their story,
advertisements, columns, editorials, and look
for photos.
 The students will use the computer to type
stories, advertisements, columns, and
editorials. The students who selected to be
photographers will use the link
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSo
me.php?format=Photograph to look for
appropriate photos to use with the stories that
are written.
Day Five
 The students will continue to use the
computer to type stories, advertisements,
columns, and editorials. Make sure the
students know how to save their work on the
computer. The students need to have a byline
for the article. The students who selected to
be photographers will use the link
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSo
me.php?format=Photograph to look for
appropriate photos to use with the stories that
are written.
Day Six
 The students will continue to use the
computer to type stories, advertisements,
columns, and editorials. Make sure the
students know how to save their work on the
computer. The students need to have a byline
for the article. The students who selected to
be photographers will use the link
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSo
me.php?format=Photograph to look for
appropriate photos to use with the stories that
are written.
 When students have completed their
assignment have them save the document.
Students who are the photographers need to
print out the pictures.
Day Seven
 Begin to compile the pictures and assemble
ads for the paper.
 Edit and rewrite news stories, ads, and
columns for the paper.
Day Eight
 Continue to compile the pictures and
assemble ads for the paper.
 Edit and rewrite news stories, ads, and
columns for the paper.
Day Nine
 Assemble newspaper. All stories must be
typed.
 Have students help place ads, stories,
columns, photographs and banner on paper.
Day Ten
 Have students help place ads, stories,
columns, photographs and banner on paper.
 Print newspaper- use yellow paper 11x17 to
print on.
Day 11
 Pass out newspaper.
Evaluation
Student participation in discussion over newspaper
articles and jobs on a newspaper.
Student’s ability to write a story for the newspaper in
1800’s.
Students stories, ads, columns, editorials and
photographs.
Rubric see attached.
Extension
2. Treasure Hunt Activity
Pass out one newspaper for every two students. Goal:
Find the following information as quickly as possible
(Write items on the board for students to see):
3. Game: Treasure Hunt
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Break Ss into teams.
Hold up the handout Can you find these things?
and a newspaper. Explain the rules.
Give one newspaper and one worksheet per
group. (Use copies of the same newspaper.) Set
a time limit. Use a timer. "You have ___
minutes!"
Feedback: The winners tell class what page the
items are on.
Award prizes/points/stars.
the score from a sporting event
the price of a used car
a comic strip with an animal
an editorial cartoon
the time a movie is starting at a local theater
today’s weather
the price of the newspaper
a column that gives advice
information about a cultural event
the name of the editor of the newspaper
the title of a story which occurred in your local
area
the title of a story that contains the name of a
country other than the United States
Find these things as fast
as you can!
1. the score from a sporting
event
page: __________
2. a comic strip with an
animal
page: __________
3. the time a movie is
showing at a local theater
page: __________
4. today’s weather
page: __________
5. a column that gives
advice
page: __________
6.
information about a
cultural event
page: __________
Melody Noll, Ameritalk, P.O. Box 8632
Oakland CA 94662
Tel: (510) 655-8439, Fax: (510) 655-6179
melody@ameri-talk.com
Primary Resources from the Library of Congress
Image
Description
Citation
URL
SHAW Death
Former Congressman from New
Hampshire
The Lowell Courier
http://theoldentimes.com/tshaw43nh.html
March 16, 1843
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
June 17, 2009
http://theoldentimes.com/tshaw43nh.html
POWELL - GOLDSWORTHY
Marriage
The Sydney Herald
http://theoldentimes.com/powellgoldswo
rthy09291880aus.jpg
Sydney, Australia
at the Solomon Islands
September 29, 1880
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/powellgoldswo
rthy09291880aus.jpg
DICKIE Birth
in San Francisco, California
The Scotsman
Edinburgh, Scotland
http://theoldentimes.com/g
wdickie01201882sanfranca
.html
January 20, 1882
Copyright © 2000-2008 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/gwdickie01201
882sanfranca.html
Drs. BORDLEY & SWAN Now
Partners
The Memphis Daily Eagle and Enquirer
Memphis, Tennessee
Dr. SWAN Former Partner of Dr.
HOWCOTT
February 21, 1855
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/jb
ordley02211855memtn.ht
ml
http://theoldentimes.com/jb
ordley02211855memtn.ht
ml
Wagon & Carriage Manufactory
The Ogle County Press
John P. MILLER, Proprietor
Polo, Illinois
http://theoldentimes.com/jo
hnpmiller07311880ogleil.h
tml
July 31, 1880
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/johnpmiller073
11880ogleil.html
KINGERY Property Auction
at Brookville, Illinois
The Ogle County Press
Polo, Illinois
William McILNAY, Auctioneer
http://theoldentimes.com/g
akingery03021878ogleil.ht
ml
March 2, 1878
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/gakingery03
021878ogleil.html
Steamboat Disasters on the Mississippi
& Ohio Rivers:
Many Passengers Killed
The Whig
Little Rock, Arkansas
Steamer Glencoe Destroyed at St.
Louis
April 15, 1852
The Redstone Explodes Near
Carrollton
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/glencoe04151
852river_1.html
http://theoldentimes.com/glencoe041518
52river_2.htm
l
http://theoldentimes.com/glencoe041518
52river_3.html
http://theoldentimes.com/glencoe04151
852river_1.html
http://theoldentimes.com/glencoe041518
52river_2.htm
l
http://theoldentimes.com/glencoe041518
52river_3.html
LOYACANO - MARTIN
Engagement
The Daily Picayune
http://theoldentimes.com/loys
12orl.jpg
New Orleans, Orleans Parish,
Louisiana
February 25, 1912
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/loys
12orl.jpg
PAUL - BROOM Marriage
at Comfort, Kendall County,
Texas
Reported as part of Boerne
Society News
The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
January 4, 1914
Copyright © 2000-2006 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/pau
bro14kend.html
http://theoldentimes.com/pau
bro14kend.html
Fatal Coal Mine Explosion
in Columbiana County, Ohio
The Gainesville Reporter
Gainesville, Alabama
February 17, 1881
Copyright © 2000-2009 by
TheOldenTimes.com - Historic
Newspapers Online
http://theoldentimes.com/expl
osion02171881columbianaoh.
html
http://theoldentimes.com/expl
osion02171881columbianaoh.
html
Newspaper Writing Rubric
Name _______________________________________________ Date ____________________
Score ___________________
Score A
Focused on topic
Logical progression of ideas
Sentence structure varied
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization are correct
Photographs must match story or advertisement. Use correct citation/sources using primary sources from Library of
Congress.
Score B
Focused on topic and includes few loosely related ideas
Logical progression of most ideas
Occasional errors; word choice is adequate
Includes two- three grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors
Photographs will be related to the story. Sources/citation is used with some errors.
Score C
Focused but may contain ideas that are loosely connected to the topic
Lacks logical progression of ideas
General conventions are used
Includes three- four grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors
Photographs are not relevant to the story line. Sources/citation is used with many errors.
Score D
Addresses topic but may focus by including loosely related ideas
Has little or no organizational pattern and may lack completeness or closure
Frequent errors in basic conventions
Includes five or more grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors
Photographs are not relevant to the story line. No sources/citation used.
Score F
Does not address topic
Has no organizational pattern
Majority of errors in basic conventions
Includes a majority of grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors
No photographs used.
Handouts
How to Write a Newspaper Article
Follow this step by step guide to a good article:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Decide what your article will be about.
Research the topic of your article.
Write your article using the template below.
First paragraph: In the first few sentences, answer these questions!
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why
5. Grab the reader's attention by using an opening sentence which is a question or something unexpected!
6. Now, give the details. It is always a good idea to include one or two quotes from people you interviewed.
Write in the third person (he, she, it or they). Be objective. Use active verbs so the reader feels things are
really happening!
7. Last paragraph: Round off your article. Try ending with a quote or a catchy phrase!
8. By-line: At the end, state who wrote the article; 'by ....’
9. Decide where appropriate illustrations/pictures will be placed.
10. Proof-read your article and edit where needed.
11. Spell check your article!
To start you off we have created a template. Click on the links at the bottom of the page to open them. You can
change the template, add extra columns and type in your article.
Newspaper Article Template - Word
30 kb
Actual Newspaper Articles from 1800’s
Advice Column

Advice Column example
Process:
Compare and Contrast, Critical Thinking, and Concept Application.
Procedure:
1. Compare and contrast news articles (facts of current events, sports, business, etc.) to advice columns (fact and
opinion)
2. As a class, brainstorm some well known advice columnists. (Dear Abby, Ann Landers, Dear Polly, Polly's
Pointers, and Dr. Lamb).
3. Read an example of an advice column. Discuss the similarities and differences of the two news stories.
(Advice columns offer advice to readers. Readers send letters with questions, and the author of the column
answers with facts and opinions about the topic.)
4. Guide students to the understanding that before you can form your opinion, you must do some thinking about
the topic. Have the students practice with the following question:
Is it important that students earn their own allowance, or should parents just give it to them?
5. Have students think about their opinion, and lists facts that support it. (I.e. I do think students should have to
earn their allowance because their parents had to work for their money.) Brainstorm with the student’s reasons
for both sides of the opinion.
6. Have the students write an answer to this question as if they were the advice columnist. Guide students to the
understanding that the columnist puts their opinion and their most important support in the first paragraph.
The other paragraphs are additional supports. The advice columnist may want to include where they get their
facts also. (