Newspapers in Education

Teachers and homeschool parents, please share this with your students. Using this guide will make your subjects more relevant and interesting to your pupils and will encourage creative thought. 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 grade school through high school.

Activities and Questions based on the Feb. 28, 2025 – Mar. 6, 2025 issue

Critical thinking activity for High School: (ELA.9.C.4.1) – Conduct research to answer a question, drawing on multiple reliable and valid sources, and refining the scope of the question to align with findings.)

Read the article on pg. A-1 and A-4 entitled “Hernando Commissioners contemplate DOGE Proposal.” Then, write an essay of at least 500 words stating how you would make Florida’s government more efficient. Include what DOGE stands for and what the agency is tasked to do. If you were a commissioner or part of Florida’s DOGE, name three measures you’d take to make the state’s government more efficient. Be specific. Don’t just say, “Cut wasteful spending,” or “Layoff some government workers.” Tell how you’d do this and what specific workers you would lay off if this was one of your options. Cite at least two sources, giving the title of the article or book, the URL if it’s online, and the date and author (if they’re given). 

Civics activity for High School: (SS.912.CG.3.15) Explain how citizens are affected by the local, state and national governments.

Read the article on pg. A-4 about the two proposals that Senator Ingoglia is putting up. The first is an amendment to the state constitution and the second is a bill he’s proposing. Write an essay of at least 500 words that covers the following: What is the difference between an amendment and a bill? Name at least one positive way and one negative way in which these proposals could affect Florida citizens and the reasons for your belief. Be specific. Cite at least two sources, giving the title of the article or book, the URL if it’s online, and the date and author (if they’re given). 

Math Activity for Middle School: (MA.3.DP.1.1) Collect and represent numerical and categorical data with whole-number values using tables, scaled pictographs, scaled bar graphs or line plots. Use appropriate titles, labels and units.

Study the following advertisements: First Financial Guarantee  – 6 columns x 3”(18 column inches; Emerald Isle Electric –  4 col. x 4” (16 col. in.); Dana Railroad Supply – 3 col. x 4” (12 col. in.); Water Melon Swim – 6 col. x 10” (60 col. in.); and Cirque Ma’Ceo – 3 col. x 10” (30 col. in.)   Next, calculate the cost of each ad. The ad rate is $8.30 per column inch. To find out the cost of the ad, multiply the number of column inches by the rate. For example, if an ad is 15 column inches, the cost would be $124.50 (15 x $8.30). 

Then, put the figures into an Excel Spreadsheet. Create a pie chart from within the program.  If you don’t know the Excel program, list the information like this, starting with the smallest ad and going up to the largest ad.  It would look something like this: 

Then, draw a pie chart by making a circle and dividing it into “slices” that represent the size of each ad. Each “slice will be a different color. The smallest ad will be the smallest “slice” and so on. Make them come as close as possible to the exact proportions. It will look something like this (Disregard the sizes of each “slice” in the sample. Yours will look different.)

Social Studies activity for Middle School: (SS.912.A.3.5) Identify significant inventors of the Industrial Revolution, including African Americans and women. 

Read the article about the event celebrating Black History and a local centenarian on pages A-1, A-8, and A-9. Then, write an essay discussing one of those inventors mentioned in the article and one other inventor of the 1700s through the 1800s. Include a brief biography of that person(where and when they were born and when they died.) Also, describe what they invented or perfected, what challenges they overcame, and why this invention was important. Cite at least two sources, giving the title of the article or book, the URL (if it’s online), and the date and author (if they’re given). Your essay should be at least 375 words long.  

Comprehension Activity for Elementary School: (ELA.K12.EE.2.1) Read and comprehend grade-level complex texts proficiently. 

Read the article about Heritage Day on pg. B-1 and B-3. Then, answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What do you suppose was the purpose of the Heritage Day Festival?

2. Where did the events take place? (There are more than one. Be specific. Don’t just say “Brooksville”) 

3 What did the Sons of the American Revolution set up outside their tent?

4. Name three different items that the vendors sold.

5. Name four items you can find at the Train Depot museum. 

6. When was Brooksville founded?

7. Who judged the pie contest?

8. What did the mayor of Brooksville do? 

Extra Credit Assignment: Write an essay about the early history of Brooksville. Your essay should be at least 300 words made up of at least four paragraphs.   

Vocabulary Activity for Elementary School: (ELA.2.V.1.3) Identify and use context clues, word relationships, reference materials, and/or background knowledge to determine the meaning of unknown words. 

Read the article on page B-14 about the Arts Council. Then, write the definition that comes closest to the meaning of each of the following words as it is used in the sentence. Try to figure out what the word means by the context rather than consulting a dictionary. Also, try to determine what part of speech it is by how it’s used in the sentence. (Watch out! #8 is tricky.)Then, use each word in a sentence of your own: 

1. peer (the word in the sentence is “peers.”)
2. prestigious 
3. alternative
4. specifically
5. platform
6. astonish (the word in the sentence is “astonished.”)
7. craftsmanship 
8. showcase (the word in the sentence is “showcased.”)

If you wish to submit any of your compositions from this week to the newspaper for us to consider publishing, please email [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, age, grade level and school that you attend.