This document provides instructions for a 3rd grade current events assignment. Students are asked to find a recent article about an individual or group helping others published within the last 2 weeks. They must summarize the article, explain why it is important and who it affects, and why they chose that article. Students are provided sources to find articles and told to organize their thoughts on the back page before writing a summary paragraph and a paragraph on other details.

1. Name: ___________________ # _____ Date: ____________________
January 24, 2011
Current Event:
Helping Others, 3rd Grade
This week you will be looking for a current event that takes a closer look at how someone
or how a group of people are working to help others. You may write about an organization
that is donating their time or money towards a cause that helps others, or you can focus on a
single person who is working to make a difference. Make sure to include who the article is
about, what they are doing to help others, and why it was important to you. Put the main
points in your own words and remember to choose an event that is no more than 2 weeks old.
Great places to look would be the national newspapers or magazines, like The New York Times,
or even the local newspapers like the Benicia Herald or the Vallejo Times Herald. Many
newspapers have online versions that they update daily if you do not subscribe to a newspaper.
Another great place to look is the public library. They subscribe to many of the well-known
newspapers and also have internet access available.
After you have chosen your story complete the form on the back of this page to help
you organize your thoughts. Your writing will need to include a summary of the article or story
in your own words, explain why the article is important or who it will affect, and tell about why
you chose this story. After filling in the organizer on the back, you will need to rewrite your
information into two separate paragraphs. One paragraph for your summary, and another
paragraph for your other information. Your final copy should be written in ink or typed. Have
fun and happy current event hunting!
Remember:
• A summary is a paragraph that includes only the main details of the article. Only
include the information that is the most important and leave out the smaller details.
• The story or article you choose must be current! You cannot choose a story that is
more than 2 weeks old.
• Your current events are due Friday. When you turn them in they should include a
completed back page, the article or story / information about the news program, and a
final copy of your information that is written in ink or typed.
• Have a parent proofread your writing to check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

2. Name of Newspaper or Other Source: ______________________________________________
Date of Article or Story: ___________________________________________________________
Title of Article or Story: ___________________________________________________________
Summary (remember to just include the main points!): __________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
You can attach another sheet of paper if you need more space.
Why was this story important and who will it affect the most? ___________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Why did this story interest you? ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
• Make sure a parent or other adult proofreads your work before you do your final copy!