Academy Curricular Exchange
Columbia Education Center
Social Studies

TITLE:    Current Events, Geography

AUTHOR:   Sharon Norris, Holy Trinity School,
          Okarche, OK

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:     6-12,  Geography,
                         Economics, Current Events

OVERVIEW:  Students need to be aware of the events that
are happening in their world.  The best way to
accomplish this is by reading the newspaper and
becoming informed.

OBJECTIVE(s):
1.  Students will become familiar with the
    newspaper.
2.  Students will become aware of the events
    happening in their city, state, nation and
    world.
3.  Students will learn to summarize.
4.  Students will find locations  on a map.
5.  Students will compute distances using map
    scales.
6.  Students will learn to ask thought-provoking
    questions.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:    A newspaper for each student,
maps, rulers

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
     First thing in the morning each student chooses an
article from the newspaper.  You may want to set a
minimum length.  Students write titles on board to
prevent duplication.  During the day, as the students
have time, they read their article, summarize it, find
the story location on a map and compute the distance
from their city.
     At the appropriate class time each student points
out the location on the map and gives the distance.
Then the student gives his or her short summary of the
article.  The class follows along in their own
newspaper and asks the presenter questions from the
article (you may want to limit the number of
questions).


TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  Give  students a chance to
discuss articles that are of particular interest of
them.  Challenge brighter students to try to choose
articles that may have follow-up stories.  Or have them
summarize TV reports on their articles.  Encourage
students to become involved in the world around them.

Click here to return to OFCN's Academy Curricular Exchange

Click here to return to OFCN's Academy
Click here to return to OFCN's Main Menu