Current Event Project

Have you ever realized something you hated as a child turned into something you love as an adult?

I have come to this realization with my class  this year. As a child, I never liked Social Studies or History classes. I could not identify with the content. It seemed so foreign; a bunch of dates and wars that I could not connect with. Luckily, at the third grade level, the content is based more on being a good citizen and contributing to a greater society. (Now that, I can handle!) My enjoyment for teaching Social Studies has grown as I look at concepts I originally thought were foreign as a child, like supply and demand, and now teach it in a way that makes it easier to understand for my students.

One specific assignment I am passionate about in particular are Current Event projects. Man, oh man, did I detest this assignment when I was in school! Why did I care about what was happening around the world? It surely did not affect me in my bubble where all I thought about was who I would sit next to on the bus and what delicious dessert I could have that evening. I almost apologized to myself as a child for placing on children something I myself hated. But, let me tell you something: It is not foreign. It is happening right NOW. It affects ALL PEOPLE. And there are lessons to be learned from these “stories” written in the newspaper and on the internet. Children need to know!

This took a bit of convincing on my part in order to encourage and motivate my students. I did what I always do: make a personal connection. I explained my hatred of the subject and my students could not believe it since I am so animated during Social Studies lessons. But, they enjoyed hearing they had something in common with me. I then discussed the importance of choosing an article to report on that you are interested in- why torture yourself? Once students realized the newspaper had more to offer than boring dates and wars, they got really excited to see what was happening around town. In fact, they taught me a few things! For example, a student reported on an article that stated my school district’s Superintendent was allowing students to bring technology, such as ipads and cell phones, into school to enhance their 21^st century skills. The students were proud when they got quite a shocked reaction out of me while reporting on that article. I didn’t even receive an email about this topic until later that afternoon from the Superintendent. They LOVED knowing something I didn’t. Many students even chimed in with details creating an entertaining flow of dialogue!

Above are some current event projects I have received towards the end of the year. The first project we did completely together by browsing a newspaper, choosing one article, and reading it aloud. It took lots of discussion and a sequencing graphic organizer to help students understand the story line completely. We then followed the rubric as we did our write-up to ensure we answered all questions and sections. Students held on to this example to help them complete their monthly assignment. At first most reports were handwritten, but as students understood the expectations (the rubric never changed, and they could refer to it all month long), they began to create projects with cover pages, a bibliography, and images from the article. Students enjoy presenting their article to the class and see the reactions on their classmates’ faces; especially on topics such as  car accidents or bullying.

The rubric is posted on my class’s website as well as stapled into their daily agenda. Students know to turn in the assignment any time before the last day of the month. This routine helped students perfect the assignment. Grades began at the lower level of a “1” and have climbed to not only perfect scores of a “4”, but additional extra points have been awarded for above-and-beyond additions such as typing, ribbon binding, and pages of additional images. There are many templates to use for a current event that I found on the internet. I chose what I liked from the various examples and created the one I now use. Above is the expectation and rubric.

Some students are not the best planners and need some guidance. So I typed a cheat sheet that they can refer to weekly and check off as they complete each section:

Now you K-2 teachers, don’t think this post does not apply to you! I presented at a staff meeting linking this assignment to the Common Core objectives and also helped staff brainstorm how to alter the assignment based on student age/ability level. 5^th grade teachers added assignments to the research sections. Kindergarten decided to choose a small article as a grade level and incorporate the whole-class assignment during morning meeting.

Getting students involved in the community requires them to know what is going on in their environment. Not only have students grown as reporters (writers, readers, and public speakers), but they have matured in their knowledge of their community. That makes me proud that I helped them see the importance of events so that they can better themselves while bettering the community.

Do you implement Current Event projects in your own school? If so, how?

Is there something similar you have your class complete?

About the author, Gretchen

I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.

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