Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection Introductory Lesson

Grade Level/Subject:

This lesson has been differentiated for a small class of students with emotional problems (SIED designation). Because these students find it difficult to attend to a task and to follow step-by-step instructions, this lesson introduces the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection in a linear sequence of numbered steps. It also assumes a small-group instruction model. This assignment is also a good introduction to using Colorado's Historic Newspaper Collection for all levels of students.

Focus:

Students will learn how to research historic newspapers on the internet. Students will broaden their perception of what life was like over one-hundred by exploring this resource, and comparing and contrasting advertisements in historic newspapers to today's newspapers.

Time:

Three class periods

Content Standards and Benchmarks Assessed

Reading and Writing

Standard 1: Students read and understand a variety of materials.

• Use comprehension skills such as comparing and contrasting.

Standard 2: Students write and speak for a variety of purposes and audiences.

• Organize written and oral presentations using strategies such as comparison and contrast.

• Use a variety of devices such as precise vocabulary to convey meaning.
  
• Plan, draft, revise, proofread, and edit written communications.
  
• Use handwriting and at the most appropriate time, word processing to produce a product that is legible.

Information Literacy

Standard 1: Students will be information literate and use instructional technology when they access information efficiently and effectively.

• Select from a variety of sources (primary and secondary) to best meet information needs.

Standard 2: Students will be information literate and use instructional technology when they evaluate information critically and competently.

• Use listening skills to follow and explain complex, multi-step directions.

Assessment

See the assignments below and assess accordingly.

Standards Addressed

History
Standard 1: Students understand the chronological organization of history and know how to organize events and people into major eras to identify and explain historical relationships.

• 2.1:Students know how to formulate questions and hypotheses regarding what happened in the past and to obtain and analyze historical data to answer questions and test hypotheses.
  • 2.1.1 Formulate historical questions based on examination of primary and secondary sources including documents, eyewitness accounts, letters and diaries, artifacts, real or simulated historical sites, charts, graphs, diagrams, and written texts.
  • 2.1.2 Gather and evaluate information from multiple sources, including electronic databases, to understand events from multiple perspectives.
    

   
  

Possible Procedures

Introduction

1. Begin this lesson by initiating a discussion with your class about what life was like one-hundred years ago, asking such questions as: Have you ever wondered what it was like to live one hundred years ago? Have you ever wondered what it was like for children your age to live one hundred years ago? If you opened up a newspaper from one hundred years ago, what information do you think you would find in it? Do you think you would find similar information in today's newspaper?
2. Introduce Colorado's Historic Newspaper Collection by telling the class that they will have the opportunity to look at newspapers from 100 years ago (and older!) and comparing and contrasting historic newspapers with newspapers of today. They will explore these newspapers on Day 1.
3. Introduce the assignments, letting the class know that they have a choice of two assignments that they will complete on Day 3.:
   Assignment 1: Analyze an ad from an old newspaper. Design an advertisement that people would see in today's newspaper for the same product.
   OR
   Assignment 2: Compare and contrast a news article in news alert format. In complete sentences, write what the article is about using who, what , where, when, how, and why.

Day 1:

Where do you start?
Give these instructions to your students and have them work independently, in small groups or following your verbal instructions (depending on the abilities of your class and the number of computers that you have available)

1. Type in www.cdpheritage.org/newspapers/
2. Click on Search Colorado's Historic Newspaper Collection

Date Search: Click on the tab at the top of the page that says Date Search.

1. To find a specific newspaper title, under 1. Publication, click on down arrow, and scroll down to find Colorado Springs Gazette, then click on it.
2. To find the year and month, under 2. Year and Month, Click on down arrow of the year box, and select 1878. Click on down arrow of the month box, and select March.
3. To find the date, under 3. Date, Click on 9. The Issue from March 9, 1878 will open.

Ads

1. Scroll down until you see the ad that says BREAD, and click on it. The ad will open up in a popup box.
2. To close the ad, click on the X in the upper right corner.
3. Feel free to take a few minutes to click on other ads you may find interesting.

Articles

1. Scroll up to the top of the same newspaper (March 9, 1878 Gazette).
2. Scroll toward the right side.
3. Look for " The Age of Mother Goose" article.
4. Click on it and read. Do you know any of these nursery rhymes? Close the article the same way you closed the ad.
5. As a class, do a news alert for this article or another article the group selects: Answer the who, what, where, when, how, and why questions.

Practice

1. Click on date search again
   
2. Find the newspaper title White Pine Cone, then click on it.
   
3. Select the date February 21, 1890
   
4. Find the Royal Baking Powder ad
   
5. Click on it and read.
   
6. Find the Central Meat Market ad
   
7. Click on it and read.

1. Go back to date search
2. Click on Breckenridge Bulletin or Rocky Mountain News
   
3. If you clicked on Breckenridge Bulletin, click on the year 1908, if you clicked on Rocky Mountain News, click on the year 1875.
4. Put in the month and date of your birthday or the closest date to your birthday.
   
5. Find 2 ads and read them.
   
6. Now find one article that interests you and read it.

Day 2

1. Type in www.cdpheritage.org/newspapers/
2. Click on Search Colorado's Historic Newspaper Collection

Keyword Search: Click on the tab at the top of the page that says Keyword Search.

1. Next to Enter your search term, type in cat in the box.
2. Click the box that says All Publications.
3. Click on GO button.
4. At the top of the page, it will say how many items came up using the word cat. These items could be articles, ads or captions of photos.
5. For each item that comes up, you will see the date, the newspaper title and the title of the item. Click on the title of the item to read the item.
6. Select two or three of these items, and read them.

Keyword Search limited to Ads

1. Click on keyword search
2. Enter school supplies
3. Click the box that says All Publications.
4. To limit your results to just ads, under Select Content click the button next to Ads.
5. Then click on the GO button.

Practice

1. Click on at least 5 different ads.
2. Look at any pictures or designs the ads have.
3. Notice the wording and vocabulary words used in the ads.
4. Pick 2-3 that you like.
5. At the top of each ad, you will see an image of a printer. Print out the ads you have selected by clicking on this image.

Newspapers of Today

1. Go to www.gazette.com to get today's Colorado Springs Gazette on-line.
2. At the website, scroll down and look on the left hand side for Newspaper Ads Online (under the heading Online Services) and select it.
   
3. Enter a topic in the box where it says Enter Search.
4. Or click on one of the stores on the left side of the page under Advertising Inserts.
5. Print out 2-3 ads from today's newspaper.

Comparing and Contrasting Ads

1. As a class, select one old ad and one new ad to compare and contrast.
2. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of chart paper. On one side write OLD and the title, and date of the old ad. On the other side write TODAY and the title and date of the new ad.
3. Under the appropriate column, as a group describe everything you see about the ad. Look for design, vocabulary and prices.
4. Discuss what you think the old ad tells us about what people were like living over 100 years ago.
5. Discuss what you think the ad from today tells us about what life is like for the people of today.
6. What is different about the two ads? What is the same about the two ads?

Select one of the following assignments:

Compare and contrast advertisements from over 100 years ago to today's advertisements.

1. Select one old ad that interests you.
2. On a piece of paper, describe everything you see about the ad. Look for design, vocabulary and prices.
3. In a few sentences write what you think the old ad tells us about what people were like living over 100 years ago.
4. Design an ad for today's newspaper about the same product that the old ad is trying to sell.
5. Turn in the piece of paper, the old ad and the design for today's ad to your teacher.

Do a news alert for an article that interests you.

1. Look in the Breckenridge Bulletin or the Rocky Mountain News for an article that you are interested in.
2. On a piece of paper, use complete sentences to answer the who, what, where, when, how, and why questions related to your news article.
3. Turn in your paper and the two articles to your teacher.

-Laura Isakson and Mary J. Johnson, Eagleview Middle School