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From the Health and Science Ultimate Curriculum Guide
CONTENTS
Unit 1 - Introducing the
Newspaper
Checking Comprehension
Counting
Interviewing
Family Night Out
There’s a Place
Heroes
Outdoor
Science
Unit 2 - Everyday Science
Food Pyramid
The Five Senses
Horoscopes
Body Parts
Sports Science
Occupations
Unit 3 - Challenge Science
Energy
Science Files
Weather
Medical Alert
Science Fiction
Headlines
Unit 4 - Protecting Earth
Pollution Solution
Water Is Everywhere
Product Packaging
Recycle It!
Animal Opinions
Searching the Environment
T
he newspaper is a valuable source of information for
students. Reading a newspaper each day keeps people
informed about major issues and events that affect
their lives. Helping students use a newspaper also teaches them an
important skill for lifelong learning.
A paper does not have to contain a youth feature to be fun for
students. In fact, many students relish the opportunity to relate to
“adult” material and “real-world” issues. The topics in any day’s newspaper can excite students and motivate them to read and learn. The
activities in Unit 1 make it easy and fun for teachers to introduce the
newspaper to students. Units 2, 3, and 4 build on that knowledge
with “Everyday Science,” a group of activities on science in our lives;
“Challenge Science,” a series of more exacting activities; and “Protecting Earth,” a collection focusing on environmental science.
Copyright Hot Topics Hot Serials 2007
1
Unit 1: Introducing the Newspaper
Newspapers are full of information about things students like: movies, sports, science, art and more. Newspapers are also
the first rough draft of history. News events today will shape the lives of students for years to come. These activities will
help your students get to know the newspaper in a fun way.
Activities
1. Checking Comprehension*
4. Family Night Out
Ask students to look through the newspaper and read an
article that interests them. Instruct them to re-read any
parts they do not immediately understand. Using the
“Picture This” worksheet, have them make four drawings
to illustrate the characters, the setting, the main issue or
topic and the result of the story they have read. Make sure
they write a brief caption under each picture.
Tell the students that they have been chosen by their family to plan a family night out at the movies. First, have them check the entertainment section to see what’s playing and find a movie that is appropriate for the whole family. They will need to write down the title of the movie, the name of the theater, the times of the shows and, if possible, the price of a ticket. Why did they make the selections they did?
2. Counting
Have the students look through the newspaper and take a count of different items. How many paragraphs are in the lead story on the front page? How many pictures are there of men, and of women? How many graphs are used to chart information in the newspaper?
See if each student can make a list of five things for a
friend to find and count.
3. Interviewing
Here’s an opportunity for students to play reporter. Ask students to select an interesting person from the
newspaper and write five questions they would like to ask
this person in order to learn as much as possible about
him or her. When they have finished that, have them
imagine they are the person they selected and write
responses to the questions.
*Includes activity sheet for students.
2
5.There’s a Place
Discuss with the class how news events can take place in businesses, stores, hospitals, schools and other spots in their city and neighborhood. In the local news section of the newspaper, have students look for places where the news is happening. Direct them to make a list of these places. Have them write a check
mark next to any place they have been to, circle any spot they can walk to and underline any place they would like to visit.
6. Heroes
People are always looking for heroes and role models. Ask students to search through the newspaper for a person whom they admire. Get them to list the special traits that caused them to select this person. Then have them explain why they admire those characteristics.
In what ways can they model after their hero?
Picture this
Newspapers contain all kinds of stories to interest all kinds of people. Some are about sports. Others are about big events.
Others are about movies or TV. Look through the different sections of today’s paper and read a story that interests you.
Re-read any parts you do not understand immediately. When you have finished reading, make a drawing in each of the
spaces below. Draw the characters of the story you read, the place it happened, the main issue or topic, and the result.
Write a caption under each picture to tell what it shows.
Characters
Setting
Caption: ___________________________________
Caption: ___________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Issue/Topic
Result
Caption: ___________________________________
Caption: ___________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
3
Unit 2: Everyday Science
Science is the process of observing and experimenting to learn about the world. In the following activities,
students will get an opportunity to use the newspaper to make connections to science throughout their daily
lives.
Activities
1. Food Pyramid
4. Body Parts
Discuss with students the various classifications of food in the food pyramid— whole grains and pastas; fruits and vegetables; meat and dairy; and fats, oils and sweets. Then ask students to look through the stories and ads in the newspaper to find examples of each group.
Divide the class into small groups and provide each group
with an outline of the human body traced on chart or
butcher paper. Have the children create a list of external
body parts and label them. Then have them search the
paper for health and beauty product ads to cut out. Ask
them to glue each product ad on the body part for which
it is intended.
2. The Five Senses
Ask students to find a product in the paper and write an
advertisement that will appeal to all five senses—sight,
hearing, taste, smell, touch. It may be fun for them to
work in teams and select one person to present the ad
to the class. Ask them to decide where they want to run
their ad—in the newspaper, on TV, radio, or billboard.
How would their ad differ depending on where it ran?
3. Horoscopes*
Discuss the horoscope with your class. Explain how each
month the Earth’s orbit puts stars and planets in different
positions in relation to our planet. Do students believe
that the stars really affect their lives? Instruct the students
to read their horoscopes each day for a week and determine if the predictions come true. Using the “Star Power”
worksheet, have them keep a daily log and write the
findings.
*Includes activity sheet for students.
4
5. Sports Science
Most students know that sports have rules. They may
not know that the rules of physics are at work in sports,
too. Briefly describe a law of physics—how gravity works,
how friction causes objects to slow down and rest, how
for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Then have students look through the Sports pages for
evidence that physics is at work. (Why does a punt come
down? Why are short hockey shots fastest? What happens
when a tennis racket hits a ball?) Make
a class list of examples for one or more physics laws.
6. Occupations*
Direct the students to the Help Wanted ads in the Classifieds section of the paper. Have them find an occupation in the science field. See if they can find an ad that
describes the duties of the job. Using the “Get a Job”
worksheet, have them write a description of a typical day
on that job.
star Power
Do the stars really affect peoples’ lives? Read your horoscope each day for a week and
determine if the predictions come true. Keep a daily log to record what was predicted and what happened.
Name: ___________________________________________________
My sign is:
My birthday is: ____________________________________________
The dates for my sign are: ___________________________________
Prediction
What happened
★
Monday
★
★
Tuesday
★
★
Wednesday
★
★
Thursday
★
★
Friday
★
5
Get a Job
With your teacher, find the Help Wanted ads in the Classifieds section of your newspaper. Look through the different occupations and pick one in a science field. Then fill in the form below. Based on what you learned in the ad, write a description
of a typical day working at this job.
Name of Occupation / Position Title: _______________________________________________________
Experience Required: ___________________________________________________________________
Salary and Benefits: ____________________________________________________________________ Duties / Responsibilities: ______________________________________________________________________
Using your imagination, write a description (above) of a typical day on
the job. Be sure to include what it would feel like to perform this job, as
well as the actual duties.
6
Unit 3: Challenge Science
Life science, physical science, health science and earth science articles are found throughout the newspaper. In these
activities, students will get a chance to explore current issues and ideas by discussing problems, experimenting with data
and drawing conclusions. By using a scientific eye, your students will learn ways to see more in the fascinating world
around them.
Activities
1. Energy*
4. Medical Alert
Have the students select items from ads and stories in
the newspaper that require an energy source in order to
operate. Then, using the “Energy” worksheet, ask them
to list their items by category (i.e. electricity, natural gas,
gasoline, battery, solar). Finally, have them create a graph
classifying the items according to the source.
Ask students to scan the newspaper for several days and
clip out an article related to medicine. Have them read
the article and find the specific problem or challenge
involved, the population or group that is affected, and
possible solutions.
2. Science Files
Challenge students to search the newspaper for a week
for stories about a branch of science—space, biology,
chemistry, etc. Have each student create a science file
by cutting out articles, pictures and advertisements tied
to science. After they have completed their files, have
students write a short essay detailing why they would or
would not like to work in the field they have been
following.
3. Weather
Direct students to the weather page in the newspaper.
Then ask them to answer the following questions based
on the newspaper’s weather report for the previous day:
• What city had the warmest temperature?
• What city had the coldest temperature?
• In what cities did it rain?
• What were the high and low temperatures
for your city?
Have them create a bar or line graph to show the temperatures of various cities.
5. Science Fiction
Have the children scan the entertainment section for
television or movie listings of science fiction shows or
films. Have them list the shows and write down why they
believe their selections are science fiction. Discuss how
science fiction uses fantasy “inventions” or “scientific”
theories to create a story line and how real science aids
the creation of science fiction. Then have students write a
review of a science fiction show or movie that they have
seen recently. Do they have suggestions for using other
science ideas to improve the story?
6. Headlines
Get students to cut out all the headlines from today’s
newspaper that have a science connection. Challenge
them to rank the headlines in order of importance to
them, their families and their lives. Have them write a
paragraph explaining why their first choice is most
important.
*Includes activity sheet for students.
7
Energy
Many of the things we use every day need power to operate, such as games, cars, and cell phones. Look through the ads
and stories in the newspaper for items that require an energy source. Write the name and page number of each item in the
correct box below [Example: computer (p. 31)]. If an item uses more than one source—electricity and batteries, for example—list it in both places. When your list is complete, add up the items in each group and write them in the small gray
boxes of each category, then make a graph using the totals.
Gasoline
Electricity
Natural
gas
Gasoline
8
solar
batteries
Electricity
Solar
other sources
Natural Gas
Batteries
Other
Unit 4: Protecting Earth
Protecting the environment is an important concern for everyone. By teaching children about pollution, recycling and
conserving resources, we can develop their environmental awareness today so they can help make a difference tomorrow.
Activities
1. Pollution Solution*
4. Recycle It
Have students skim the paper for articles about the
environment. Divide the class into small groups and have
the children read an article (or read it to them). Using the
worksheet titled “Pollution Solution,” get them
to brainstorm ways to solve some of the environmental
issues raised in the article. Then ask them to write an
anti-pollution slogan and design a banner for classroom
display.
Instruct students to make a chart by dividing a piece of
construction paper into five sections. They should title the
sections “glass,” “metal,” “paper,” “plastic” and “non-recyclable.” Then have them cut out newspaper pictures of items
that can be found in the home. The goal is to categorize
the items to be recycled by pasting them on the chart.
Have them write a paragraph to explain the chart. When
they have finished their individual charts, let them design
a class or school program for recycling. Ask them what
they would need to put their plans into action.
2. Water Is Everywhere
Challenge the class to search the newspaper to find as
many articles that involve water as possible. Have each
child keep a list, then make a master list for all students
on the board. Examples could include sports played
in or on water (or ice), water pollution or conservation
stories, water and weather reports, stories that mention
bodies of water. What conclusions can they draw from the
articles about the role of water in the world?
5. Animal Opinions
Direct students to the editorial page to find examples of
letters to the editor. Ask each student to write a letter discussing wildlife and the environment. The topic: Is it more
important to protect the environment to save wildlife or
to use the environment to aid progress that will benefit
human society?
3. Product Packaging
6. Searching the Environment*
Have students look in the newspaper for items that have
different types of packaging. Then ask them the following questions about the packaging: Is it recyclable? What
material(s) is it made of? What are the pluses and minuses
of those materials? How could the packaging be improved?
Send your students on a scavenger hunt. Using the worksheet titled “Let’s Go Hunting,” have them find the environmental items in the newspaper.
*Includes activity sheet for students.
9
Pollution Solution
News about nature and the environment is important to newspapers, because many readers are
concerned about what happens to wildlife and the Earth. Divide into teams and skim the paper for
articles about the environment. Read one together and then use the chart below to help brainstorm
a solution to the problem discussed in your article.
Issue
Who is affected
Importance
Information that is needed
Solution
When you have finished your chart, write an anti-pollution slogan and do a rough sketch of an idea for a banner
that you could create and hang in your classroom.
10
Let’s go hunting
Environmental news and information is found all through the newspaper. Some can
be found in the news stories. Some can be found in ads. Some can even be found in
photographs. Using the list on this page, go on a scavenger hunt in the newspaper. You
may want to divide into teams and make it a game.
Before you start, decide if you want to find one example for each item, or see how
many different examples you can find for each item. Write your answers in the spaces below.
Include the page number(s) where you found each item.
PAGE
ITEM(S) FOUND IN THE NEWSPAPER
_____ Toxic substance: __________________________________________________________________________________
_____ Energy-efficient product: __________________________________________________________________________
_____ Water-related term: _______________________________________________________________________________
_____ Way to use water: _________________________________________________________________________________
_____ Reported abuse of the environment: _________________________________________________________________
_____ Example of recycling: ______________________________________________________________________________
_____ Something that harms the environment: ______________________________________________________________
_____ Something that helps the environment: ______________________________________________________________
_____ Environmental organization: ________________________________________________________________________
_____ Energy source: ___________________________________________________________________________________
_____ Renewable resource: ______________________________________________________________________________
_____ Non-renewable resource: __________________________________________________________________________
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Extensions
These activities explore science issues that take place around school every day. But that
should not be the end of students’ curiosity about science in their world. More can be
done to encourage it. Here are some suggestions for extending the lessons of this
teacher’s guide through the year.
1.
Cooking Chemistry
2.
Water-Cycle Mural
3.
4.
5.
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Have the students select a recipe from the newspaper’s Food section to make
a healthy dish. Make sure they write down all the necessary steps to complete
the task. Divide the class into groups so everyone can take part in the cooking lesson or call individuals one or
two at a time to perform one of the steps. Ask students to take notes and make observations throughout the
cooking process.
Discuss with your class the steps of the water cycle—how water moves from the Earth’s oceans to our
faucet and back again. Get a large piece of butcher paper to make a mural. Divide the class into small groups
so everyone can draw or paint one aspect of the cycle. Make sure the students label the processes and the
parts.
Create a Solar System
Have your students make a 3-D model of the solar system. You will need to get resource books with pictures
of the planets. Using chart paper, have students cut out the proper shape and size for each planet. Two cutouts for each planet will be necessary. Have students color their planets according to the pictures and staple
the two sides together, leaving an opening large enough to stuff their planet with newspaper. That will give a
three-dimensional appearance. Hang each planet from the ceiling for an attractive, educational display.
Recycling Effort
Talk with your students about the importance of preserving and protecting our renewable resources. Plan
a classroom or school recycling initiative. Contact a local agency to see if it would be willing to remove your
recyclables. Find out how they must be sorted and stored. Many schools have contracts with companies that
provide these services. Have students collect cans and plastics from their lunches, plus recyclable paper. Place
them in separate bins or cans. If you can get a scale, weigh them each week and have the class compute the
average amount of waste generated per child. Ask them to think up other math questions that could be used
with the project. Invite other classes or the entire school to share in the effort. Contact your local newspaper
for some publicity.
Papier-Maché Dinosaurs
Students love dinosaurs. Have students make models of some of their favorites. They will need some wire
(hangers or chicken wire are good) to mold into the shape of their dinosaur. Direct students to fill a bucket of
water and mix in two cups of flour. Then they should rip up strips of newspaper about one inch wide and soak
them in the bucket. Next, place the wet strips of paper on the wire frame so that the dinosaur takes shape.
Finally, let it dry and paint it. Allow several days for the activity and provide lots of time for clean-up.
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