The student will define the word "community" through brainstorming and using a web.
The student will then choose a community they will be a part of and create a similar web for their chosen community.
The student will gather newspaper articles relating to their chosen community, and categorize and organize that information for presentation.
The student will prioritize elements of community by using a graphic organizer or an outline or a narrative.
The student will write a letter to a prospective member of their chosen community and inform the person about their community and the features that make it unique.
Newspapers, glue and poster board, or a presentation software like Powerpoint or Hyperstudio
Write the saying "No man is an island" and the word "community" on the board and ask the students to discuss how they relate to each other. (Or) Have students give other words with the same root as "community": communication, communion. Then write the statement: "The newspaper is a communication tool that helps the community communicate." Ask in what ways that is true.
1. Brainstorm and discuss the elements that make a community by webbing around the word "community". Use the students' definitions. Redefine student outlook with probing questions such as "if we work together, are we a community? Is a school a community?" Try the web with nouns - school, work, neighborhood. Try the web with emotion/feeling words - caring, sharing, working. Extend the association arms of the web by listing characteristics and features.
2. Have students think of a real community they are a part of or choose a hypothetical community. They will create a web of the characteristics of that community by using the web on "community" as a model. Their community can be school, classroom, shop, career, social, religious, ethnic, sports.
3. Students will read, cut out and gather newspaper articles related to their larger community and arrange them as a class collage.
4. Students will repeat step 3 by collecting articles on their chosen community and present their information as an individual or small group collage. Those with access to and know-how about technology can use on-line newspapers can use printouts from the newspapers and/or make an electronic collage using Powerpoint or Hyperstudio.
5. Students will write a letter to prospective student inviting him or her to join his chosen community by providing information about their chosen community and talking about its unique features.
6. Have students share their letters about their community with the class and send the letters to a real person. Letters can be e-mailed where feasible.
Ask the students how reading the newspaper can help people build a sense of community.
Presentation products and letters.
Submitted by Irene Angiletta, Ruth Cion, Kathy Grimaldi, Choong L. How (R.V.T.S.S)
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