Journalism Lesson Plan

Explore the world of journalism through the works of Eugene Field. Although Field became very well known for his many poems such as, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod and The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat, during his lifetime he was a journalist by career. In fact, Eugene Field was the first syndicated columnist, meaning his column was printed throughout the United States. Below is a quick overview of the lesson standards and objectives as well as a download link and introductory video. Happy learning!

Show-Me Standards
Communication Arts
1. Speaking and writing standard English (including grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, capitalization)
3. Reading and evaluating nonfiction works and material (such as biographies, newspapers, technical manuals)
4. Writing formally (such as reports, narratives, essays) and informally (such as outlines, notes)
5. Participating in formal and informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas

Objectives
1. To engage children with the art of journalism and help them to understand the importance of the profession.
2. Further improve students’ writing, reading, and research abilities.
3. Improve students’ ability to read non-fiction material and be able to analyze and evaluate it.

Activity
Read a review written by Eugene Field for his column and answer questions. Then read a more modern review and answer the following questions. Next compare and contrast the historic review with the modern review. Finally, write your own review.

Download Lesson