Spreading the Good News! Using Non-Fiction Articles in the Classroom!

A couple weeks ago I had some extra time on one of those crazy Fridays (you all know which kind I'm talking about!). Not knowing what to do, I decided to bring the mobile ipad lab into our classroom. However, I didn't want the ipads to become a free for all. So I searched some fellow bloggers for ideas.


I quickly came across Runde's Room. Jen has several websites that shared websites geared toward kids where you can find "good news". She also had a great freebie that I knew would be perfect!


Before I officially sent the kiddos free on their assignment, we quickly went through the 5 Ws. (Please do not judge that hand!)

The websites we visited were Happy News and Good News Stories. I gave the kiddos their choice and they split about half and half. (Jen has more good news websites listed in her blog post.)

My 6th graders took nearly 30 minutes to get this activity completed. I told them to make sure and read the article before they started the worksheet. They wanted to make sure their article was long enough to fully answer each of the five questions. Telling them that worked like a charm because I bet every student read at least three articles! All I kept hearing was, "Check this out" "This is sweet!" "Can you believe that?" It was nice to see them so interested and engaged.


Click here or on the photo below to get your freebie from Jen's blog post. 

 

 

If you are looking for a different sheet or want something for your younger students, this one will work. It's from Kinder Zoo. Click here or on the picture for your free download from her TpT store.

 

 

Now I realize not everyone will have access to a mobile ipad lab like I did. However, you could easily bring up one article on your projector and have the entire class analyze it. Or you could take your kiddos to a computer lab. Or you could just make this a fun activity for those "time filler" moments. Either way - these websites are ones I hope you will use time and time again!


How could this activity work in your classroom?
~HoJo~