Newspapers in Education
Teachers and homeschool parents, using this guide will make your subjects more relevant and interesting to your pupils and will encourage creative thought. Please adapt these ideas to fit the needs of your students! If you or your students have any suggestions or ideas for these teacher guides, please email Sarah Nachin – [email protected]
This guide is based on the newest Florida Standards for grades K-12.
Activities and Questions based on the Apr. 25, 2025 – May 1, 2025 issue
American History Activity for High School: (SS.912.A.2) Understand the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction and its effects on the American people.
Read the article on pg. B-1 and B-4 about Chinsegut Hill. Then write an essay about one of these topics:
1. The effects of the Civil War on the social and economic conditions of a typical upper-middle-class family living in the South.
2. The effects of Reconstruction on the social and economic conditions of a typical upper-middle-class family living in the South.
3. The effect of Reconstruction on formerly enslaved people.
Use at least one outside source. Be sure to give the title of the resource, the author (if named) and where you found the article (the URL). Your essay should be at least 400 words.
Critical Thinking Activity for High School: (ELA.12.C.1.3) Write arguments to support claims based on an in-depth analysis of topics or texts using valid reasoning and credible evidence from sources, elaboration, and demonstrating a thorough understanding of the subject.
Read the article on page A-5 entitled “Retired Sheriff Talks Immigration to Brooksville Republican Club. Then write an essay of at least 400 words stating your opinion on how best to handle illegal immigration. Use at least one outside source to back up your opinion. Be sure to give the title of the resource, the author (if named) and where you found the article (the URL).
Composition Activity for Middle School: (ELA.6.C.3.1) Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.
Read the article on page B-3 about the Live Oak Theatre production of “Frozen.” In an essay, describe the characteristics of two characters in the play and what their relationship is to another character in the play. For example, is he the father of one of the characters? If so, whose father is he? Is she the sister of one of the characters? If so, whose sister is she? You’ll have to do some research to find out more information than what is in the article. Your essay should be at least 350 words.
Math Activity for Middle School: (MA.K12.MTR.7.1) Apply mathematics to real-world contexts.
Study the following advertisements: Craig W. Krueger Air Conditioning & Heating (pg. A-4), Ryan Homes (pg. A-5), Emerald Isle Electric (pg. A-6), Hernando Sportsman’s Club (pg. B-2)
Measure the width and height of each ad and then convert that to column inches. A column is approximately 2.5” wide, so if an ad measures 5” wide x 4” high, it would be 2 col x 4” (or 8 column inches – multiply 2 x 4). The advertising rate is $7.50 per column inch, so if your ad is 8 column inches it would cost $60 for one week. Calculate answers, given the information in the question:
1. If Ryan Homes runs their ad for 3 weeks, how much more will they pay for their advertising than Krueger Air Conditioning and Heating if they run their ad for 5 weeks.
2. Emerald Isle Electric is going to run their ad for 8 weeks. For the first three weeks they pay the regular price, but for the next 5 weeks they get a 10% discount on each ads How much will they pay all together for their advertising.
3. Hernando Sportsman’s Club runs their ad for two weeks. Then for the next two weeks they decide to increase their ad to 2 col x 8.” How much more will their ad cost them for the second two weeks than for the first two weeks?
4. If Ryan Homes runs their ad for two weeks and Emerald Isle Electric runs their ad for three weeks, how much advertising revenue will the newspaper make from these ads?
5. Krueger Air Conditioning and Heating runs their ad for 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks, they pay the full price, but the last 3 weeks, they get a 10% discount. Hernando Sportsman’s Club runs their ad for 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks, they pay the full price, but the last 3 weeks, they get a 10% discount. What is the difference between what Krueger Air Conditioning and Heating pays for their ads and what Hernando Sportsman’s Club pays for their ads?
Composition Activity for Elementary School: (ELA.10.C.3.1) Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.)
Read the article on page B-12 about the Hernando County Fair keepsakes. Then write an essay about what you would enter in a county fair and why. Your choices could be an animal you raised, like a rabbit or a chicken; an arts and crafts project; baked goods, such as a pie or cake; or vegetables you grew. Tell why you would enter that type of exhibit and what steps you’d take in developing your exhibit. For example, if it was an animal, you’d mention how you would get the animal, what you would feed it and how you would care for it. If its baked goods, you’d tell what exactly it is, what ingredients you would need and how you would prepare it. Your essay should be at least 300 words.
Vocabulary activity for Elementary School: (ELA.K.V.1.2) Ask and answer questions about unfamiliar words in grade-level content.
Read the article on page B-3 about the play “Frozen.” Write the definition of each of the following words as it is used in the sentence. Also, write down what part of speech each word is, as it’s used in the sentence, and use the word in an original sentence.
1. harmony (the word in the sentence is “harmonies”)
2. conservatory
3. lyrical
4. epic
5. camaraderie
6. isolation
7. engaging
8. sibling
If you wish to submit any of your compositions from this week to the newspaper for us to consider publishing, please email to [email protected].