EXTRA!! EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!! MAINE - THE NEXT STATE
Developed by: Maine Council for the Social Studies

Grade Level: -5-8

The MLR performance indicators listed below are for illustrative purposes. Depending on the focus of the lessons as developed by individual teachers, these indicators may or may not be addressed. Conversely this is not a definitive listing of all of the performance indicators which could be addressed in this lesson.

MLR: Civics and Government (Purposes and Types of Government):  B-6; English/Language Arts: A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8; B-5, B-6, B-9; C-1, C-4, C-5; D-4, D-5; E-2, E-3; F-1, F-2; G-1, G-2, G-6, G-8, G-10; H-1, H-2, H-4, H-5, H-6, H-7, H-8, H-9; Visual and Performing Arts: A-1, A-4, A-9; B-1, B-2, B-4, B-5; C-4

Task Description

Students will be preparing a radio newscast tracing Maine’s progress towards statehood. Each student should have a part in the actual production, whether as an anchor, news reporter in the field, one of the major players being interviewed. Students may have multiple roles, but each should be on the tape in some capacity.

This would work well as group projects, each group could illustrate an event, or write a playlet.

 Each presentation should be historically based and have some foundation in fact.

 Student Product/Performance

 The actual newscast should be the product. Some discussion should take place as to how to simulate the authenticity of this radio program.

Resources

Internet [Hint: look for information on the Missouri Compromise]

Criteria for Evaluation

The final student recording should flow smoothly, have some sort of logic to the organization of the stories, have a variety of stories, and be interesting. Students should have follows directions, used appropriate language, have proper spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. They should have spoken clearly, loud enough for the presentation area and stayed on topic.