Las Vegas Newspapers in Education

Mini Page Archive - September 2008: Issue 35-39

The Elephant Sanctuary -- Issue 35 -- Aug. 30-Sept. 5

This week's standards:

Students understand the characteristics and life cycles of organisms. (Science: Life Science)

Students understand the interactions of animals and their environments. (Science: Life Science)

Activities:

1. Make a "Bigger Than an Elephant" poster. Cut out newspaper pictures of items that are as big as an elephant, or bigger. Paste them on your poster.

2. Write the letters E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T down the left side of a piece of paper. Now cut out newspaper words that start with each letter and that describe elephants. Paste them next to the right letter. (For example, you might paste the word "enormous" next to the first "E.")

3. How many places in your community are concerned with animals? Look through the newspaper and circle any services or stores that focus on making life better for animals.

4. Which elephant, Asian or African: (a) has larger ears, (b) has one "finger" at the end of its trunk, (c) is more wrinkled, and (d) is endangered?

5. Put yourself in the place of a circus elephant who goes to live in an elephant sanctuary. Tell your story. Use details to describe the changes in your life.

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

The Science Behind NASCAR -- Issue 36 -- Sept. 6-12

This week's standards:

Students develop understanding about science and technology. (Science: Science and Technology)

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

Activities:

1. Draw a large car on a piece of paper. Then paste newspaper words that remind you of NASCAR cars or races on your car.

2. Look at the car ads in the classified section of your newspaper. Find at least five car safety features shown in the ads. Put a star by the feature you think is most important. Write a sentence explaining how that safety feature protects drivers.

3. Look in the sports section of your newspaper to find stories and information about auto racing. Circle all the stories in blue. Circle any stories about NASCAR in red. Write a sentence about the story you think is most interesting.

4. How do these NASCAR features protect the driver: (a) inside "cage," (b) frequent tire changes, (c) special driving suit, and (d) side-door foam?

5. Use the newspaper or the Internet to find the names of today's top NASCAR drivers. Select one driver to research. Use the Internet to learn more about your driver. Use these questions to guide your research: Who sponsors the driver? How old is the driver? How did the driver become interested in racing? What did the driver do to become a top NASCAR driver? Write a brief biography of your driver.

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

Meet Jacqueline Woodson -- Issue 37 -- Sept. 13-19

This week's standards:

Students comprehend and respond to a variety of images and text.

Students identify forms and elements of literature. (Language Arts: Reading)

Activities:

1. Write the name of one of the Newbery or Caldecott books in a circle in the center of a piece of paper. Cut out newspaper words and pictures that show what you think the book might be about. Paste them around the title.

2. Make a Newbery/Caldecott recommendation for three different people in the newspaper. Select an entertainer, an athlete, and a community or national leader. Explain your recommendations.

3. Find three newspaper stories that match Newbery or Caldecott books in some way. Paste the stories on a piece of paper. Write a sentence for each one telling why the story reminded you of the book.

4. Which of the Newbery/Caldecott books is (a) about real people, (b) had poetry, (c) was about different times, and (d) was about friends?

5. Conduct a survey among your friends. Have them select their favorite book from today's Mini Page. Ask them to choose the book they would like to read. Have them explain why they made their choices. Then write a paragraph discussing which books were the most popular and why.

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

Put the Brakes on Bullying -- Issue 38 -- Sept. 20-26

This week's standard:

Students demonstrate respectful and caring relationships in the family, workplace and community. (Family and Consumer Science: Interpersonal Relationships)

Activities:

1. Write the words "I'm Special" at the top of a piece of paper. Now paste newspaper words and pictures on the paper that tell all about you.

2. Find three comic strip characters showing that they like and respect other characters. Paste the strips on a piece of paper. Next to each strip, write a sentence telling how you know the characters in the strip like each other. Now list three things you do to show that you like and respect your family and friends.

3. Find a comic strip that shows a character dealing with someone who is teasing or being mean to another person. Write a sentence telling how the character handles the situation.

4. Discuss bullying with three friends. Together, make a list of three bullying situations you have seen or experienced. Now list at least three things you could do to make the situation better.

5.Work together with several friends to create a "Be Careful in Cyberspace" brochure for parents. List tips to show parents how to help their children be safe on electronic sites. Be sure to include information about instant messaging, e-mail, and Internet sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

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

NASA Turns 50! -- Issue 39 -- Sept. 27-Oct. 3

This week's standards:

Students develop an understanding of objects in the sky. (Science: Earth and Space Science)

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

Activities:

1. Make a Happy Birthday card for NASA. Decorate your card with words and pictures from the newspaper.

2. Create a "Thank You, NASA" poster. Find newspaper words and pictures that show items we have now that are the result of the space program. Look for electronic devices, weather information and food. Paste your words and pictures on your poster.

3. Select three newspaper stories about events in other countries. Paste the stories on a piece of paper. Next to each story, list the different kinds of NASA-related technology that might have been used to gather the information in the story.

4. Which of NASA's projects (a) sent men to the moon, (b) is exploring the surface of Mars, (c) is sending back data from the edges of our solar system, and (d) works with other countries to establish a space station?

5. Visit the NASA Web site at www.nasa.gov and read about current or upcoming NASA missions. Select one mission that interests you. Write a paragraph describing the mission and discussing how the information we will learn from the mission will affect our knowledge and lives.

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