Classroom and Newspaper Related Activities for K-5

1. Color 5 A Day Logo
Display on bulletin board with other food groups
Draw pictures of your favorite fruits and vegetables you have eaten
*Look in the newspaper for ads that display fruit and vegetables
Cut them out and put on bulletin board or refrigerator art
TECHNOLOGY:
Computer: look at www.5aday.com
2002 is the Year of the Spinach.
Teachers: Refer to the section in the 6-12 area for more questions about this topic. What other resources on the Internet or in the library can you find?

2. Go over tips to get your 5-a Day
List all the fruits and vegetables the kids can think of
NUTRITION:

3. Do Word Search.
How many of the names on this list have you eaten.
* Look for these words in the newspaper
ENGLISH: Spelling/Vocabulary

4. Word Scramble.
ENGLISH: Spelling/Vocabulary

5. Grow a Sweet Potato Vine in Class.
Great Science Project
Chart growth on graph or computer
SCIENCE/MATH

6. Make the Fruit n Juice Shake
At home project for the whole family
MATH: Measure ingredients
Shop for ingredients: How much does it cost to make shake?

7. Ask kids if they wear headgear when they ride their bikes.
* Talk about importance of safety in all sports
* Look for pictures in the newspaper that show people wearing helmets.
* Find stories that talk about sports related injuries.
HEALTH/SAFETY:

8. Exercise
Name all the ways to get physical
What do they do for fun?
* Sports Page - list all the types of sports in the news
* Look for pictures of athletes - Who are they, What sport do they play.
WRITE: write a paragraph about a sport you enjoy.
HEALTH:

9. Health/Insurance
Ask children if they know who their doctor is.
Ask children if they know who their dentist is.
Ask children if they know if they have an allergy to something.
* Look for pictures in the newspaper that are medical related.
* Ask the kids to tell you what they see going on in the picture.
* Ask the kids to take this home to parents. Have them find out the name of their doctor and dentist. All children should know this information.
SELF MANAGEMENT:
* Make a list of healthy daily habits.

10. Hospital/Doctor Visit
When you go to the doctor what happens?
* Career - would you like to be a medical person when you grow up?
* Look for pictures or stories about doctors or nurses in the newspaper.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT:
What do you want to be when you grow up and why?

11. Resource Page
Stress the importance of knowing whom to call if there is an emergency
Poison Control
911
* Look for stories and pictures about emergencies i.e.; car accident, chemical spill
Who responded to the emergency?
Do you know what to do if someone gets hurt?
COMMUNITY INVOLEMENT

12. Water
Page 4 - Benefits and Needs
* Teachers: See section in the 6-12 area for more information
* Look for stories about water i.e. rain, drought, floods, growing foods, weather etc.
SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SOCIAL STUDIES

These topics and questions are provided as a guide. You can adapt any teaching fundamentals that you feel fit better in to your everyday curriculum.
Using the newspaper in the classroom can be fun and informative for all age groups. Newspaper in Education is available from the following West Virginia newspapers. If your area is not listed please call your newspaper today to ask about this program.
Please contact the newspaper in your area to request Newspapers in Education
Register-Herald, Beckley, WV Shelli Wood-NIE 304-255-4441
Clarksburg Exponet, Clarksburg, WV Leslie Moore-NIE 304-626-1467
The Dominion Post Morgantown,WV Marian Fisher-NIE 304-284-0312
The Parkersburg News & Sentinel Parkersburg,WV Diane Eddy 304-485-1891
Charleston Newspapers Charleston,WV Sally Snyder 304-348-7906

Classroom and newspaper related activities for 6-12

2. Word Scramble

3. Tips to Get Your 5-a-day
List fruits and vegetables you have eaten today.
How often do you eat these items?
Why is it important to do so?
* Look throughout the newspaper for grocery ads. Create a shopping list for these items. MATH: Buy $20 worth of fruits and vegetables. How many items can you buy?

LOG ON TO www.5aday.com

2002 is the Year of the Spinach
Research spinach.
Where did it originate?
Why was it grown?
When did it come to North America?
What cartoon character eats spinach?
What are its' nutritional values?
What is it good for?
What is LUTEIN?
* Look for recipes in the newspaper that have spinach as an ingredient.

4. Fruit 'n' Juice Shake
MATH/NUTRITION: Make shake at home. Measure ingredients. What other fruits can you use in this mix? How often do you eat breakfast? Is this a good substitute for a full meal?

5. Grow a Sweet Potato Vine
Great Science Project
SCIENCE/MATH:

6. HEADGEAR SAFETY
* Look for articles in the newspaper about sports that require headgear. List those sports and why you feel they need helmets.
* LAWS - In some states helmets are not required for motorcycle riders.
What is WV's position on this issue? How do you feel about it?
INTERNET: Research on the Web or go to library.cnpapers.com and look up articles that have appeared in the Charleston Gazette or Charleston Daily Mail.
HEALTH/SAFETY:

7. Exercise/Nutrition
Read story about Nutrition and Physical activity guidelines.
Set a personal goal to become healthy.
Write down what you really eat each day. Compare it to what you should eat like 5 fruits and vegetables a day.
Write down how much exercise you get each week.
Create a schedule to exercise regularly.
* Look for ads in the newspaper that advertise exercise or weight reduction programs.
* Write a paragraph about how you feel about your body.

8. WAYS TO BE MORE ACTIVE
Name all of the different ways to exercise.
What types of exercise create a strong heart, lungs and muscular strength?
* Look for pictures in the newspaper of people exercising.
* Write a new cut line under the photo. What is going on in the photo? Does the person's face show emotion? Which one i.e. sad, happy, pain etc.
PHYSICAL/RELATIONSHIP:

9. TOBACCO Log on to the RAZEwv.com Web site.
Write an editorial about - Why teenagers should not smoke. Send it to Charleston Newspapers, 1001 Virginia Street E. Charleston, WV 25301 attention Sally Snyder- NIE. We will publish a page in the paper with the best editorials. Deadline is October 31, 2002.
TECHNOLOGY/ENGLISH/HEALTH:

10. HEALTH QUIZ FOR TEENS
Take the quiz. If you don't know the answers ask your parents.
Have a family discussion about health insurance and going for check ups.
Get the answers. If you were in an accident or needed emergency medical treatment, would you know what to do?

11. READ ARTICLES IN THE NEWSPAPER
Health Care in West Virginia
CAMC Looses Trauma Center Status
Legislature creates insurance program for WV Doctors
Malpractice insurance causes doctors to leave state
* This is just a sampling of the health care crisis West Virginia is experiencing at this time. Begin a reading assignment from daily newspapers in your area. Help students to understand this healthcare issue and how it will affect the quality of life in our state. This topic can encompass many different areas of study. The effects of social, economic, personal health, quality of life, legislation and so on can impact the future of these students for years to come.
CURRENT WEST VIRGINIA HISTORY:

12. DIABETES
Research : Science/Social Studies Fair Project Idea:
What is diabetes?
Who does it affect?
* Look for stories about diabetes in magazines and newspapers.
* West Virginia is the second highest state in the nation for this disease, why?

13. WATER - H20 The power of water
Humans and plant life could not exist without water.
Find out all you can about water
Why does your body need water?
Look for articles in the newspaper about water related topics.
List all of the different uses of water.
Weather stories of all types (drought, flood, El Nino, etc.
Crop growing problems due to lack of water.
ENVIRONMENTAL/ HEALTH/SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAHPY/SCIENCE:

14. HEALTH INSURANCE
Seek and find the best for you.
1. Read information on how to find the best insurance program for you.
2. Know Your Insurance Terms
3. Public Health Insurance and Related Programs
4. Choosing the plan that works for you
5. Emergency Room Use
All of this information is necessary to understand how health insurance works. A general understanding of terms and policy conditions will help people when faced with a medical payment situation. The purpose for this information is to educate everyone about the need for medical insurance coverage. Whether you have private or government provided coverage you need to know how it works. If you do have coverage remember to always carry your insurance card with you. This will save time and money in the long run.
* Look for stories in the newspaper about Medicaid, Medicare, PEIA
* Answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the story. Rewrite the story from your understanding.

15. GET THE MOST FROM YOUR DOCTOR VISIT
The best way to get the best medical treatment is to be an active patient. When you are sick or injured be sure to talk with your doctor about your illness. Don't be afraid to discuss treatment procedures and always ask questions if you don't understand.
* This information is provided to create an awareness of making your visit to the doctor productive. Many people are afraid to discuss their condition with a physician for fear of a bad lifestyle or fear of knowing the absolute truth of their illness.
* A discussion here about good lifestyle choices, eating properly, exercise and daily stress would help students realize that their health is their responsibility.
* Look for stories in the newspaper that stress healthy living. Stories about people who have over come the odds to survive a life threating illness.
HEALTH/RELATIONSHIP/SELF MANAGEMENT

16. RESOURCE PAGE
Clip and Save this information for posting in an area where many people will see it.
Create a resource page with other important numbers that are relevant to your area.