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November 4, 2009

Gifted and Talented learn what’s ‘in the news’

Derrick Miller

DUNCAN — If the students in Duncan’s Gifted and Talented program were asked about how to get news, they could probably list a variety of media.

From newspapers to the Pony Express to the telegraph and beyond, the students in the program have been working on a unit called “In the News,” an idea that came from the mind of Cindy Parks, program teacher.

The ultimate goal of the unit is to have the students produce a small newspaper with original news stories written by the students. Parks has also been using the unit to help students learn about a variety of media and to get them to look at current events.

“I’m really enjoying this unit,” Parks said.

On Wednesday, the elementary students visited Duncan High School to go to the newsroom of the Demon Pitchfork newspaper. While they were there, journalism teacher Lisa Snider talked to the students about what work goes into producing a newspaper on a monthly basis.

The students have been discussing an array of communication avenues. After each lesson, they take quizzes to see what they’ve learned about each medium.

The group started the unit by studying town criers. They even had a competition to determine who would make the best town crier.

Parks said the students prepared speeches and brought an instrument for the contest. They went outside for the activity, and were judged on accuracy, vocalization and balance of voice.

The next lesson was about the Pony Express. Once again, the students had a competition. They got to see who was the fastest ride on their stick ponies.

From the Pony Express, the students galloped into lessons about the telegraph, which included studying about Samuel Morse and Morse Code.

For one activity, Parks had the students deciphering Morse code messages.

Following the telegraph was the telephone.

“Each time, we talk about what kind of news would be delivered, with the telephone, it’s more personal news.”

The students learned about Alexander Graham Bell. Parks said the students made telephones with cans and strings to highlight what they learned.

This lesson led into newspapers, which the students are still learning about. Parks said the students will eventually make a newspaper or newsletter as part of a class project. The visit to the Demon Pitchfork gave students insight into how newspapers have changed throughout the years.

Parks said several more areas of communication will be discussed with the students. Those include radio, TV and possibly the Internet.

While the objective is to be done by Christmas break, she said she may continue the lesson into the first part of the second semester because the students are having fun learning about the many different types of media.

“The kids are in tune with worldly news,” Parks said. “They’re learning about how the news is distributed.”

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