Online Collaborative Social Studies Lesson Plan

Gettysburg Newspaper

www.lcweb2.loc.gov
www.memory.loc.gov
www.civilwarhome.com
www.64thill.org
www.geocities.com
www.memory.loc.gov
www.classroomclipart.com

Curriculum Connection:
Field trip to Gettysburg – the purpose of the activity is to provide background knowledge of the battle prior to the trip.

Materials Needed:
Computer lab, classroom computer, 25 issues of Cobblestones Magazine on the Civil War, art center materials, Photo Analysis Graphic Organizer, and newsprint paper.

Classroom Collaboration:
Prearranged classroom teams of four with assigned roles: Team Leader (editor), Journalist (classroom computer word processor), Art Director (organizes pictures and graphics), and Researcher (organizes information found online –assists editor).

Online Collaboration:
Interactive websites

Lesson:

1. Students participate in reading activity using Cobblestones Magazine on the Civil War for background knowledge.
2. Teams create a front page of a newspaper that could have been published following the battle at Gettysburg during the Civil War.
3. All students do general background research on the topic in the computer lab using the above bookmarked websites. (Research may be saved in a team folder in the “S” drive)
4. All students do research to write an article for the front page based on a pre-determined, team decided, choice.

   Choices include: fashions, military uniforms, local news, national news, music, technology, economics, the battle itself, editorials about the battle, and human interest stories (Ex.- an article about Matthew Brady who is responsible for creating photo-journalism)

5. All students choose at least one authentic picture from the magazine or websites and analyze using provided graphic organizer.
6. All students provide a graphic or drawing to accompany their article (usage will be decided by the editor).
7. Pictures may be printed in black and white only -(be sure copyright restrictions have been reviewed).
8. Teams may choose to draw their own artwork for their paper.
9. Articles are to be completed in Microsoft Word in the computer lab and saved to your individual file in the “S” drive. You may print out copies for revision/editing and a final copy to be pasted on your newsprint.
10. Partner -peer revisions and editing should occur before final copies are submitted to the team editor.
11. Teams will decide on a name for their newspaper.
12. Teams will present their newspapers for the whole class when completed.

Evaluation:
Assessment will be ongoing throughout the activity.
Teams will need to complete weekly “HOT” team progress evaluation forms.
Individuals will submit their articles for evaluation using standard writing rubrics.
Individuals will submit their Photo Analysis graphic organizer.
Individuals will be evaluated on team process using a collaborative work rubric.
Teams will be responsible for the completed newspaper (quality, layout, graphics and content) and presentation to class.
Team percentage points for completed newspaper front page : Research 15%, Writing 30%, Cooperation 20%, Artwork (graphics)10%, Articles 20%, Presentation 5%.

This activity is a combination and reorganization of several lessons. One is a lesson I have always completed with my class prior to our trip to Gettysburg . I have added elements of technology and collaboration from this class and lessons found online in the research (PBL Book –Chapter 1 and Education World website)

Image provided by Classroom Clipart

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