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Headlines Detectives

Grade:

3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Uses:

Current Events Connection

/ Preview and Engage

Materials:

Headlines Detective handout and writing utensils

Description

Students analyze headlines to predict the content of news stories.

Preparation

Select three or four recent news headlines from news articles that are age appropriate and related to your unit of study. Write the headlines on the handout before making copies for students.

Implementation

Begin by telling students they will be news detectives examining headlines for clues about the news stories behind them. Review the Headlines Detective handout with students, reading aloud the headlines at the top of the page. After students complete the handout, have them compare their predictions with a partner, explaining which clues led to their thinking. Then ask for volunteers to share their predictions with the whole class, discussing how different clues led to different interpretations.

Teaching Tips

Consider using varied levels of Britannica School In the News! for elementary and middle school students.
Guide students to think about why the selected headlines are newsworthy, significant, and relevant.
To extend the activity, distribute or display the full articles and have students read them. Invite them to mark their correct predictions with a ✓ on their handouts and put a ★ next to any surprising information they didn’t expect to find.

Supporting All Learners

For students needing extra support: Provide headlines with one key word underlined as a starting point for finding clues. Students can also use a simplified recording method by drawing their predictions instead of writing them.

For advanced learners: Have each student craft their own headline about a current event, exchange it with a classmate, and use this same prediction process to analyze each other’s headlines.

To support multilingual learners: Provide the headline in both English and their home languages. Students can make predictions using either or both versions of the headline and can write their responses in their preferred language.

Note: Provide accommodations and modifications based on your learners’ needs to ensure full participation.

Skyrocket PreK-2 Curiosity!

In the News