Introduction
History is often told through different outlets, viewpoints, and opinions. After learning about the different biases that drive different media outlets, I want students to explore their own way to tell the news throughout American history.
Through research, students will become familiar with important topics, events, political scene, social climate, and journalism trends throughout different decades of our history. Make sure it is American History specific, world news is not necessary unless it directly pertains to an issue in the United States at that time.
Task
1. You and your group (groups of 4) will choose from the following decades; 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's.
2. Students will research major news events of that decade using the textbook, links provided, videos, online news sources, etc.
3. Students need to come up with a newscast relevant to the decade with the following: Headline News, Sports, Entertainment, and Fads and Fashions.
4. Students will upload newscast to youtube to be viewed in class.
Process
American History Newscast Presentation:
Your assignment is to recreate a newscast based on the news and information of your particular decade using an audio visual presentation.Your Broadcast should showcase the main events of the decade, as well as the daily life and social environment of the time. All members must take place in the newscast. Each broadcast must last between 10-15min, including stores from all of the following categories: Headline News (at least 2 local and 3 national stories), Fads and Fashion, Sports, and Entertainment. Students will have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions at the end of the presentations.
Outline for your American History Newscast Presentation:
- Opening Commentary: introduction of members, your stations name, introduction of stories. This may include theme music or introductory graphics/bit
-Headline News: Choose at least 3 stories from your decade in any of these topics: political events, Presidents, wars, Supreme Court decisions,riots, mass murders, economics, environmental issues. Two stories must be national and one local.
-Fads and Fashions: Fashion trends, what was worn, favorite foods, popular cars, hair styles, and trendy games things to do and places to go. Must include at least 4 trends.
-Sports: sports heroes and legends of the game, important games such as superbowl, olympic medal wins, college championships, etc. Must include 3 stories.
-Entertainment: movies, books, music, TV shows radio shows, actors, actresses and what made them what they are. Must include 4 stories.
- Closing / Summary/ Wrap up: Close out and sum up stories told in newscast. Include "sign out" from each newscaster. May include graphics/theme music.
Possible links to use for each decade can be found below. Any other sources must be approved by the teacher.
http://history.journalism.ku.edu/
1930's
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/front.html
1940's
http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1940.htm
1950's
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1950s.html
1960' s
http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1960.htm
1970's
http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1970.htm
1980's
Evaluation
Students will be graded according to rubric below. Categories include Openning Comentary, Headline News, Fads and Fashion, Sports, Entertainment, and Conclusion/Wrap Up. Students will also be graded for their Research, Accuracy of Facts and overall presentation. Each Section is worth 5 points. The project is worth 45 points total.
Opening Comentary: Openning must catch viewers attention, and give an intro to the news that will be covered in your newscast. Main stories must be metioned and "teased" in a way that gives the viewer an idea of what they will be watching.
Headline News: Must include at least 4 news stories, two national and one local that headlined the news during your particular decade. Stories must be historically accurate, and portrayed in an exciting way for viewers. 3 Stories must be national and one local.
Fads and Fashions: Must inclue at least 2 major trends, fads, or fashions of your decade. Each story must be supplemented with a photo or representation.
Sports: Must include 3 sports stories from your decade. Facts must be accurate with sources to back them up. Sport stories can be either national or local.
Entertainment: Must include at least 3 entertainment stories from your decade. This could be in terms of film, celebrities, or music. Each story must be historically accurate with sources sited.
Conclusion/Wrap up: Conclusion accurately sums up all stories told in the newscast. Conclusion must be clear and concise to close out the segment.
Research: Group research accurately portrays the information necessary for each story. Each fact has a supporting citation.
Accuracy of Facts: All facts are reported accurately according to decade. Any incorrect fact will be marked down one point.
Overall Presentation: Newscast is well prepared and put together. The stories as well as props and overall look correctly portrays the decade. Students are able to answer questions in regards to their stories and effectly present information to the class.
Conclusion
Presentations:
Students will partake in both the audio/visual presentation and oral presentation in class
Groups will present project on their decade and answer questions classmates have
Groups will help classmates better understand the major issues and events that went on during their decade in US history.
Credits
This webquest has been created by Karlee Humphry.