Las Vegas Newspapers in Education

Mini Page Archive - July 2009: Issues 27 - 30

Fun at the Fair -- Issue 27 -- July 4-10

This week's standard:

Students understand the ways in which language, stories, folktales, music and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence the behavior of people living in a particular culture. (Social Studies: Culture)

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of yourself and a friend at a Renaissance fair. Write a story about visiting the fair (what you see, eat and do there).

2. With a friend, look through the grocery ads of the newspaper. Use a red marker to circle foods that people ate in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. Use a blue marker to circle modern foods that you would not find in those times. 3. Look in newspaper ads for three modern appliances or electronic devices that would have improved life for people living during Renaissance times. Explain how each item would have made life better for those people.

4. In which of the Renaissance tournament events would you have to have (a) good eyesight, (b) quick reflexes and (c) strong arms?

5. In what ways are modern sports like events at a Renaissance tournament? Find sports in the newspaper that are similar to tournament events. Write a paragraph comparing modern and historical sporting events.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

Aquatic Artistry -- Issue 28 -- July 11-17

This week's standards:

Students understand that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, selfexpression and social interaction. (Physical Education)

Students apply movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills. (Physical Education)

Activities:

1. Draw a large swimming pool on a piece of paper. Paste newspaper words that describe synchronized swimming in the pool.

2. Design a pattern, or formation, that a team of eight swimmers could create. Draw a picture of the swimmers creating your design in the water. Describe your design.

3. Look in regular and classified ads to find places where you could go to take lessons in swimming or gymnastics. How many lessons are offered at community pools or sports centers? How many are offered by private schools or camps?

4.With a friend, find non-swimming activities in the newspaper that are similar to synchronized swimming in these ways: (a) creative movement, (b) musical interpretation, (c) physical strength and (d) teamwork. Talk about your choices.

5. Write a short story about a young person who trains to become a synchronized swimmer. Be sure to talk about your character's practice sessions and competitions, and the costumes and the music your character uses. You can find more information if you have your parents use the video option of Google to find video clips of synchronized swimming for you. There are clips that show you how to do the positions shown in today's Mini Page.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

From the Earth to the Moon -- Issue 29 -- July 18-24

This week's standards:

Students understand science and technology. (Science: Science and Technology)

Students understand the abilities of technological design. (Science: Science and Technology)

Activities:

1. Draw a large moon on a piece of paper. Paste newspaper words and pictures that tell about space on your moon.

2. Cut out newspaper pictures of different types of transportation. Paste your pictures in a line showing how people use different transportation depending on how far they want to go. Start with transportation that goes short distances, like a bicycle. End with transportation that goes long distances, like airplanes.

3. Pretend you are in charge of selecting the first people to live in a moon colony. Find five people in the newspaper you would ask to work in the colony. Write a sentence explaining why you chose each one.

4. Which of the Apollo missions (a) first landed on the moon, (b) had a scary experience, and (c) had the first humans orbit the moon?

5. Make a list of five reasons why we should continue to invest in the space program. Now write a letter supporting space exploration to a representative in Congress.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

Meet Anne Frank -- Issue 30 -- July 25-31

This week's standard:

Students use biographies and stories to understand the individuals who are honored by the nation. (Social Studies: History)

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of your bedroom. Paste newspaper words and pictures of items you would want in your bedroom if you had to stay there for a long time. Do not choose anything that uses electricity.

2. Select five people in the newspaper whom you would choose to stay with you in your house if you could not leave for a long time. Write the names on a piece of paper. Next to each name, write a sentence telling why you would choose that person.

3. Make a plan for a long stay in your house. Divide a piece of paper into two columns. In the first column, list items from the newspaper that would last for a long stay. In the second column, list items that someone would have to bring to you because you would use them up or they would spoil.

4. What information in today's Mini Page shows you that Otto Frank was (a) liked and respected, (b) a good planner, (c) generous, and (d) determined?

5. Create a diary that would tell people in the future what life is like today. Write your thoughts and activities in your diary for at least five days. Include information about the daily activities of your friends and family members. (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)