Speaking Up on the Daily News
Categories: 4th Grade, Writing
Even if your fourth grader can talk a mile a minute to bring you the latest school news, she probably needs practice with writing and speaking skills. She needs to be able to write and speak using informative introductions and conclusions. Make it fun by helping her create her very own show called "The Daily News"!
- pencil
- notebook (or several pieces lined paper)
- Optional: video camera & blank video tape to record
Tell your town crier she'll love practicing reading and writing skills by creating her own News Broadcast! This can be videotaped to keep, or performed just for the family. Have your child pick a topic from the list below to use for her "News Report," or create her own topic.
Suggested Topics:
- Mysterious Nighttime Noises Revealed
- Tuesday's Surprise School Lunch: To Eat or Not to Eat?
- Big Family News
- Our Family Vacation
- A Movie is being filmed in our town!
Step 2:
Have her interview at least two other family members using a pencil and notebook to record quotes. Tell her to go beyond getting just the facts and include other people's opinions about their topic. For example, if she's writing about "Mysterious Nighttime Noises Revealed," she may want to question siblings about what they think is making their backyard noises. Is it a neighbor's pet? A wild animal? A flying saucer? Have your child use these basic questions and add others to fit their topic:
- What do you know about this event (or problem)?
- What facts or information do you have which leads you to believe this?
- What do you like or dislike most about this event?
- Do you have a solution to this problem or suggestion?
- What do you want future generations to know about this?
Step 3:
Have your child write a brief introduction paragraph using the following outline:
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1
- 2
