Current Events Webquest

Introduction

Being aware of current events is an important part of understanding the world around us, and sometimes it's fun to find those stories. When you know what's going on in the news, you become a more informed citizen of the world. You can begin to form opinions on important issues and make connections among local, national, and world events.

 

Today you will be exploring some news websites in order to create the front page of a newspaper. You are expected to report on 1 current event from each category (local, national, and world news). In each article you will summarize and give your opinion on the news story and how it will affect our community, if at all.

Task

1. LOCAL news reporter: Reports on stories in and around your city or state

2. NATIONAL news reporter: Reports on stories throughout the United States

3. WORLD news reporter: Reports on stories in countries outside of the United States.

As you visit your chosen websites, you will take notes and summarize the news stories you are going to write about in your newspaper. Because you are writting an opinion piece, make sure you close read with the symbols we practice in class. You will have to be able to explain why you agree or disagree with what you read. 

Process

Let's get started!

 

Step 1: Visit the following websites to browse current events.

Step 2: For each reporting level (local, national, world) choose one current event.

Step 3: In google Docs, create a document to write your notes and summaries.

Step 4: Use the Newspaper Template to create the front page of a newspaper which will include your three article summaries and opinion writing.

 

Local:

http://www.nj.com/news/

http://patch.com/new-jersey/newarknj

National:

http://www.cnn.com/US/

http://www.nytimes.com/section/us

World Reporter

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world

----> Newspaper Article Template

Evaluation

Topic Choice

4

Topic is of high interest and educational value (teaches new ideas and information).

3

Topic is of interest to audience and teaches some new information.

2

 Appropriate Topic.

1

 Inappropriate Topic.

Content

Highly detailed, well organized, shows a strong understanding of the topic.

Reports all the basic facts in an organized way.

Reports some of the basic facts.

Incomplete, reports few details, too brief, disorganized or confusing.