Students at Seaford Manor Elementary School are learning how to write — and think — like journalists and nonfiction authors.
Third graders recently wrapped up their “expert books,” a nonfiction writing project that allowed each student to select a subject they know well and break it down into chapters. Topics ranged from animals and sports to toys, with each book featuring a hand-drawn cover and writing techniques such as cause-and-effect and compare-and-contrast.
Teachers said the assignment helped students express their personal interests while practicing real-world writing skills. In fifth grade, students took their writing a step further through a journalism unit that introduced them to reporting, feature writing and even newspaper layout.
To begin, students gathered information by researching and conducting interviews, then wrote articles about events and issues around their school and community. They learned to answer the basic questions — who, what, where, when and why — before diving into more in-depth feature stories on topics such as fashion, movies, nutrition and holidays.
Some budding reporters conducted surveys among their peers to enhance their stories with real data. The unit wrapped with a lesson in design: Students used Canva to create pages that looked like real newspaper layouts, complete with headlines, images and illustrations.
