1. "Newsinary"
• Materials Required: 3" X 5" index cards, newspapers, dictionary
Activity Time: generally one week for average students
Concepts Taught: spelling & dictionary skills.
• Adapted from: http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/24.html
o Step 1 - Students are all given 27 3" X 5" index cards. They write one letter of the
alphabet on the blank side of each card.
o Step 2 - On the 27th one they write their name and "Newsinary".
o Step 3 - Find a newspaper.
o Step 4 - Finds, cut out, and glue to the correct index card a word new to him/her
from the newspaper. It cannot be a person's name or place unless you are
sure it can be found in either the dictionary or encyclopedia.
o Step 5 - Continue looking for new words. If letters j,k,q,u,v,w,x,z are hard to find,
They may pick a word from the dictionary to use if they cannot find one in the
paper.
o Step 6 - Once you have all 26 words, check to make sure you didn't cut out words
you already know.
o Step 7 - Once this is completed find the definition of each word and write it on the
card. It doesn't matter which definition if there are multiple definitions.
o Step 8 - If you can't tell what the word means, even with the
definition, they must go back and make it so they understand the meaning.
o Step 9 - If you cannot tell what the word means, even with the
definition, you must go back and make it so that you understand the meaning.
o Step 10 - Once the cards are turned in accurately Mr. B will bind them into a little
book that you get to keep.
Students will become acquainted with 26 new words through this group of
assignments and will acquire awareness of news articles as they browse
the news for new words.