|
Abstract
Students who participate in this lesson will be applying the
knowledge they have learned in the classroom to real-world
situations. The students already understand the four basic functions
of government, but now they will analyze newspaper articles to
validate how these functions affect them as individuals and society
as a whole.
Lesson fundamental understandings:
Essential
Questions:
Standards
National Standards Students should be
able to explain the major arguments advanced for the necessity of
politics and government. Students should be able to explain the
meaning of the terms civic life, politics, and government.
State Standards
Lesson
Prerequisite Skills
Students must have extensive knowledge of the four functions of
government in order to participate in this activity. They must also
have the knowledge of how to utilize the Internet, navigate the Web
and browse a specific Web site to locate specific information. If an
online newspaper site is not available, the students must understand
how to navigate through an actual newspaper.
Teacher
Information/Situations/Setting/Time Students will need
a computer with access to the Internet or a classroom set of
newspapers if online access is not possible. The teacher may want to
review the functions of government prior to this exercise and
perhaps provide several examples of the how these functions are
performed by the government to guide students on their task.
Assessment
The assessment for this activity will be the same for all
students. The teacher will predetermine how many points each article
is worth. For example: If the teacher requires the student to locate
a total of four articles,(one for each function) with each article
worth 25 points, then the entire activity could be worth 100 points.
In addition, the teacher will want to assess whether the article
located, summarized and applied accurately reflects the proper
function. If any part of this article assessment is left out, the
appropriate number of points will be deducted. The teacher will need
to inform students in advance how many points each article is worth.
It would be ideal for the teacher to present a rubric prior to
assigning this activity.
Student Activity/Tasks Students will
begin by reviewing the four functions of government: to provide
social order, provide for the National Security, to promoting social
standards and to allocating public services. The student will then
log on to the Internet and enter in the web address for either a
local newspaper or any national newspaper that provides an
accessible URL. The student will browse the site, attempting to
locate specific articles which appropriately identify the level of
government, whether federal, state or local, which is performing one
or more of the designated functions. (For example: any article which
involves United States foreign policy or information on the Armed
Forces would be considered "National Security"--performed by the
federal government). Once the article has been identified, the
student will read the article, provide a brief summary, and indicate
which function of government is being performed and what level of
government is involved. In addition, the student should identify
which newspaper is being used, the date of publication and the title
of the article. If no computer access is available for student use,
a classroom set of newspapers will be sufficient for this activity.
Enrichment/Alternate Activity:
Cross-Curricular:
Technology
Requirements/Tools/Materials
Classroom set of computers
Web Browser Software
Internet
access
Printer
Acknowledgements:
Additional Resources
Main
URL:
Related Lessons
Related Resources
Copyright © 1997-2003
Career Connection to Teaching with Technology
USDOE Technology Innovation Challenge Grant
Marshall Ransom, Project Manager
All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
