Newscast From An Ancient City

Designed by: Mary H. Harris, Hopkins Middle School

Grade Level: Sixth
Subject(s): Language Arts/Reading & Social Studies

1) CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVE(S): sequence events and steps in a process using dramatizations, retelling, pictures, charts and media.      (6-CM-6) (PACT I.B)

2) OVERVIEW: The students will produce a 15-minute newscast from their anchor desk in an ancient city of Rome. Student must work cooperatively to complete all assignments.  This lesson may be adapted as a culminating lesson for any unit in social studies. The focus of this lesson is the Roman Empire.   At the end, students will evaluate the project and their contribution to it.  

3) PURPOSE/ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S): How do you sequence events in a process when using dramatization, retelling, pictures charts and media?

4)  TIME FRAME: FOUR FIFTY-MINUTE CLASSES

5)  RESOURCES:

Collection of books on Ancient Rome

Script Review Rubric

Newscast Rubric

Markers

Posters

Video camera blank video

Exploring Ancient World Cultures http://eawc.evansville.edu/index.htm  

6) ASSESSMENT: Students will produce a 15-minute newscast to dramatize historical event in the Roman Empire.  The assessment requires the students to sequence events, role-play, and create props.  A sample rubric is provided.  Students will be assessed daily via a response slip which may be counted as a participation grade or as points toward a quiz grade.

7)       INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:  

BEFORE THE LESSON:

Students should have completed a unit on the Roman Empire.

Ask students to watch a television newscast at home and record the types of stories covered and the people involved in the program (anchors, weather forecaster, sports announcer, etc.).  Using this information as background, the teacher and students will do the following:

Activity one:

1.The teacher will review the geography, government, economy, primary people, places and events during the Roman period of history

2.Students will select collaborative groups of 4 or 5 to work on a newscast production.

3.The teacher will give the students with the newscast rubric and provide an explanation of the assessment.

4.The class will name their newscast and its TV channel. For example, Channel 10, Action News.

5.Each group will choose a director who keeps groups on task, creates an outline for the final program, and assists in the overall production.

Brainstorm possible segments and put them in order: here are some suggestions:

New from Mt.Vesuvius: interview with survivors of the volcano eruption.

Sports: announcement of the chariot races

Weather: forecast of the weather along the PO Valley

Features: interviews with the builders of the Roman Empire (Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, Diocletian and Constantine)

6. The teacher will monitor the activity of each group and answer any questions.

Daily Assessment: Students will be given a response slip on which they will write at least two facts they have learned from the day’s activity.  This may count as points toward a quiz grade or a participation grade.

ACTIVITY TWO:

1.Collaborative groups will form news teams and choose an area or segment to report.

2.Groups will write a script for the newscast. Make props and costumes for “at the scene reports.”

3.Each groups will exchange their script with another group and evaluate the group’s progress using the script peer review criteria rubric. (See Attachment.)

4.Groups will create the set for the newsroom.  (Design a program logo, a weather map, and scenery.)

5.The entire class will rehearse the 15-minute newscast. Teacher will monitor the students’ progress and answer any questions.

6. The production will be videotaped and aired over the school’s TV system.

Daily Assessment: Students will be given a response slip on which they will write at least two facts they have learned from the day’s activity.  This may count as points toward a quiz grade or a participation grade.  

NEWSCAST RUBRIC

Participants:______________________________________

Part I. The following products should have been complete for the Newscast. 
Points are assigned as follows.

5 Points = Complete      3 Points = Incomplete      0 Points = Not present

Extra credit may be earned by completing individual project