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Newspaper Activities

  1. hand with pencil Play a game with the index section of the newspaper. Read it with your child; or have the child read it to you. Have your child locate each section as you call out the page numbers. How are newspaper page numbers different than those in textbooks?
  2. Walk your child through the entire newspaper. Discuss what kind of information can be found in the different sections.
  3. After reading news stories have your child tell you the 5 Ws and H. (See glossary)
  4. See if your family can predict the content of a newspaper story by only reading the headline.
  5. Find news articles, pictures and advertisements in the newspaper that you think would tell about life today. Imagine that you and your child are responsible for preparing a scrapbook that you will give to your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Include things that you have in your own home - or that are common in people's homes today.
  6. Ask your child to look for the "jumps" or continuations of the stories on the newspaper's front page. Have the child match the identifying subtitles and page numbers. Make it a game to see how quickly your child is able to locate these continuations.
  7. Find a newspaper picture that interests both of you. Tell your child, in story form, about what happened in the picture. Stop occasionally and ask, "Then what do you think happened?" Ask your child to make up a different story. Or talk about what might have happened before or after the picture was taken.
  8. Look for a picture of a person your child would recognize (the president, a famous athlete, a rock star, a police officer, or fire fighter, etc). Talk together about what these people do. You might ask: "Why is this person's picture in the newspaper?"
  9. Ask your child to choose a picture of a famous athlete, movie star, politician or other person he or she would like to meet. Ask, "What would you say to this person? What do you think the person would say to you?" Discuss what makes them interesting and why they became famous.
  10. Find a picture about some natural phenomenon such as a storm, earthquake, or a volcanic eruption and have your child write a paragraph explaining where such phenomenon is apt to occur and what causes this event to happen.
  11. Ask your child to look through the newspaper for pictures or stories about people from different cultures or ethnic backgrounds. Compare your customs with theirs. Talk about customs of other ethnic groups your family might enjoy.
  12. Look for pictures that show people's facial expressions and emotions. Look at photos and advertisements. Ask your child how each person feels. Then ask questions like, "What makes you happy? What makes you sad?" Ask, "Why does this picture make you feel that way?"
  13. Read the newspaper's weather forecast. Look for pictures that illustrate different weather conditions. Look at the forecast for tomorrow and help your child select appropriate clothes to wear. Or use the weather map to learn more about weather in other places, for example, "What is the weather like where Grandpa lives?"
  14. Find a story or picture of a group of people who need help (for example, victims of a fire or flood, the homeless, people in a hospital). Discuss reactions to these people and their situations. Talk about ways your family might help by spending time, sharing talents or even contributing money.
  15. Read an article with your child about a person who has broken the law. "What has the person done?" "What might happen to the person?" "Is the law a good one?" "What could this person have done differently?"
  16. Read newspaper coverage of a major news story and watch the same story presented on television. Talk about the differences between reading newspapers and watching television news.
  17. Cut out some favorite comics. Cut the captions off and ask your child to tell you a story about the pictures. Ask questions like, "Did something like that ever happen to you?" and "What do you think happens next?" Or cut the comic strip into individual pictures and ask your child to put them in order, showing what happened first, second and third.
  18. Look through the comics and have your child choose a favorite character. Ask, "How are you like this character? How are you different?"
  19. Read the TV listings together. Help your child choose a program for the whole family to watch. Ask, "Why did you choose this program? What show would you choose to watch by yourself?" Look for ads about upcoming programs. Ask, "What do you think that show will be about? Do you think it will be fun to watch?"
  20. Read a review of an entertainment event or a report of a sports event that your family attended or viewed. Are the reviewer's or the sports reporter's impressions the same as yours? How do they differ? Why might they differ?
  21. If you can find a recipe in the newspaper, prepare it together. Ask your child to help you read the directions. Then serve it to family or friends.
  22. Look through your newspaper for a review of a movie that would interest your child. Read and discuss it together. Ask, "Does this sound like a movie would enjoy?" "Why do you think you would like it?" "Have you seen any other movies or television shows or read any books that sound similar?"
  23. Read and discuss reviews of movies or other family entertainment offered in your area. Exchange ideas on what would be good to see and why. Ask your son or daughter about television shows and books that seem similar.
  24. Read and compare news stories, editorials or newspaper columns that express different points of view about international, national or local issues. Find out if your child supports one of these views, if he or she feels strongly about and why
  25. Select an editorial that treats a problem that may have some effect on your family. Determine the opinion of the newspaper on the problem. Discuss the opinions of members of the family on the issue. Do you and your child agree with the editorial writer?
  26. Have your child cut out coupons from the newspaper. Ask the child to sort the coupons into categories - cleaning products, snacks, breakfast cereals and so on. Or the child might sort the coupons according to size, color, value - or whether the child likes the products mentioned. As you make out your shopping list, have your child select the coupons you will need.
  27. calculatorHave your child choose an object pictured in the newspaper and describe it to you. See if you can correctly identify it based on your child's description. Switch roles and repeat.
  28. Pretend your child has money to spend at the grocery store. Have your child look at advertisements and cut out prices for different foods:meats, fruits, vegetables and breads. Help your child find at least two items in each group that your family might enjoy. Together, total your "purchases." How much money did you "spend"?
  29. Go through the advertisements in the newspaper with your child, identifying slogans, pictures or key words that attract attention and influence decisions to buy. Ask, "Are any of the products advertised ones that we use at home?" "Are there any that you think we should try?" "Why or why not?"
  30. Look through the classified employment section with your child. Find jobs held by family, friends and neighbors: teacher, secretary, construction worker, messenger, driver. Read and talk about the kind of duties these positions require. Ask your child to find a few positions he/she would enjoy. Ask why.
  31. Look through the classified employment section together discuss possible jobs your adolescent might consider in a few years. Look at the good and bad points of each job. What are the working conditions? Talk about jobs and careers that interest your son or daughter and what steps will have to be taken to get one of those jobs.
  32. Ask your son or daughter to think about renting an apartment when old enough to live away from home. Check rental listings in the classifieds. What will it take to make ends meet?
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