Description
In this lesson students will use fairy tales to practice writing news stories without the added complexity of conducting interviews and outside research.
Objectives
- Students will review the qualities of a news story.
- Students will practice writing news leads.
- Students will write a 150-200 word news story.
Common Core State Standards
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2.E
|
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. |
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.B
|
Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. |
| CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.C
|
Use appropriate and varied transitions and syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. |
Length
Approximately 120 minutes
Resources
Students’ copies of fairy tales
Handout: Model fairy tale news story
ELL Differentiated Handout: Model fairy tale news story
Handout: Drafting your fairy tale news story
Slideshow: Fairy tale news story
Lesson step-by-step
Before class: Students bring a copy of a favorite fairy tale, preferably the original (and darker) version.
Day 1
- Activate background knowledge — 5 minutes
Review the qualities that make a story newsworthy, effective news leads and news story structure.
- Draw connections — 20 minutes
Distribute and discuss the model fairy tale news story. Then pick a couple of well-known fairy tales and ask students to brainstorm possible news stories that could be written about those stories. Share ideas.
- Practice
Students should use the remainder of class to work on stories, using drafting sheet for guidance. Students should finish their fairy tale news stories as homework.
Day 2
- Pair/share — 30 minutes
Working with a partner, students will share their stories. Students will evaluate their partner’s story according to news rubric, offering revision advice.
- Revision
Students revise their stories during class as the teacher moves around the room to answer questions and offer informal feedback. Students should submit their final stories the teacher.
Day 3
Share the strongest student models with class. Follow up with class discussion, or consider using a short written reflection on a notecard as an exit ticket.
Differentiation
Through self-selection of fairy tales, there will be some differentiation. Students who struggle will be more likely to select well-known fairy tales that are part of a long tradition of fractured retellings. The drafting worksheet should also help those who struggle. It is also possible to assign fairy tales to groups in order to simplify the work of developing possible angles, character names, quotes and so forth. Students would write a story individually in this model, although they may need more time.