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My Voice Activity: Newspaper Search

A local news or feature story has the potential to jumpstart a project by putting a human face on a social problem. An exploration of current events also helps students to become more connecting to the issues affecting their community.

Description: Students search through the newspaper to find topics of interest. Use preview skills in the Newspaper Find to examine one article.

Time Frame: 45-60 minutes

Materials:
1. Newspapers
2. Handout - Newspaper Find
3. Pen or Pencil

Objectives – Students will be able to:
1. Examine different social issues present in their community.
2. Identify and describe the positive and negative aspects of the community.

Procedures:
1. Remind students that the focus of the service-learning project will be on an issue that affects their
community. One way to determine what problems exist is by conducting research. Reading local newspapers is one way to research the social issues that are relevant to the community.
2. Distribute the newspapers (e.g. The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Metro, Philadelphia Weekly, Citypaper) and the "Newspaper Find."
3. Allow students to work individually or in groups to search for evidence of social issues in the
newspaper.
4. Have students share what they recorded and how their observations compared with their predictions.
5. Use the Issue Parking Lot to generate a list of strengths and needs in the community that students mentioned.
6. Use the list to discuss possible topics for the service-learning project. Ask students to think about
which issues are most prevalent in the community, most important to the class, and most interesting to pursue.

Assessment:
1. Did students identify a variety of community issues?
2. Were the observation sheet and discussion responses thoughtful and thorough?

Curriculum Standards: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

Extension/Homework:
Media: Examine news from other media sources including the internet (Philly.com), local news radio (KYW-AM 1060, WHYY-FM 90.9) and television (local news programs). Students can analyze the messages that are being delivered through various outlets.

Download a PDF of this Sample Activity