Journalism in the Halls
Teacher: Carolyn Quirk, Albert Lane
Technical High School
Suggested grade/s: 7-12
Illinois
Learning Standards
English Language Arts 1-5
Social Science 16
Fine Arts 25, 27
Estimated time:
One month, or the time required to publish
an edition of the school newspaper or
newsletter
Mural/s addressed
Gordon Stevenson, Construction Site,
1909, oil on canvas, Lane Technical High School
Mitchell Siporin, Teaching of Literature,
from the series, Teaching of the
Arts, 1938, four-panel fresco.
Objectives
Students examine the Lane
Tech murals on the Web or at the school. They conduct interviews
with students and professionals as a method of researching the
subjects of these murals. Finally, they write an in-depth article
for a special "mural" edition of the school newspaper
or newsletter.
Procedure
- Have students examine and discuss Lane
Tech murals on the Web or at the school. Encourage them to take
notes in their reporter's notebook during the discussion. Direct
students first to address the painting's details. Then have
them explore how these details contribute to a central theme.
Ask: Which of the painting's elements require further research?
Which professionals (e.g., history teachers, English teachers,
college professors,construction workers, museum curators, former
WPA workers now in their eighties, or writers) might they interview
to answer some of their questions?
- Have students read Chapter 9, "Doing
In-Depth Reporting," in Journalism Today, or another
essay on reporting. Discuss.
- Have students select a mural or mural theme
to research.
- For interviewing practice, have students
interview other students about their knowledge of and reaction
to the murals.
- Have students conduct personal and telephone
interviews with two to three professionals with knowledge relating
to the murals. Have students ask interviewees to view the murals
on the Lane Tech Web site before or during the
appointed interview.
- Have students write their article drafts.
- Teacher: Publish articles in a special
edition of the school publication. (For
examples of "The Lane Warrior" special mural edition, contact
the Elizabeth
Stone Robson Teacher Resource Center)
Evaluation
Refer to lesson objectives to review the lesson
and evaluate results. Give grades to completed articles.
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