# Lesson 34: Create a Mini Classroom Newspaper

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟠 E. Writing Projects

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## Objective

I can write a short news article with a headline, a lead that answers the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why), 2–3 detail sentences, and a caption for a photo/drawing.

## Materials

- Pencil and paper or tablet
- Tracing Pad (below) for headline & lead practice
- Crayons/markers for layout boxes

Tip: Keep headlines short and bold: “Library Hosts Book Swap”.

## Mini-lesson — Headline, Lead, Details, Caption

1. Headline: short, no period — grabs attention.
2. Lead: first sentence with 5Ws.
3. Details: 2–3 more facts or a short quote.
4. Caption: 1 sentence that explains the photo.
5. Order: Headline → Lead → Details → Caption.

Video won’t be included when printing.

## Guided Practice — Trace & Draft

Write a headline and a lead about a school clean-up day.

- Possible headline: Students Clean School Yard
- Lead example: On Friday, Room 2 students cleaned the yard to keep our school beautiful.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Letter
Pen

## Drag & Drop — Build Newspaper Parts

Drag the chips to make clear, news-style sentences. Keep punctuation at the end.

Library Hosts Book Swap
Students clean the yard on Friday.
Who is helping the team?
Parents join at nine o clock.
The lead answers who what when where and why.
A caption explains the picture.
Volunteers fill big bags with leaves.
Readers learn facts quickly in the lead.
Short sentences make news easy to read.
Clean Up Day brings our school together.
The headline is short and bold.
We add quotes to share a voice.

## Quick Check (15 questions)

#### 1) Which is a headline?

The students cleaned the yard on Friday. Students Clean Yard We are very happy.

#### 2) The lead should include…

jokes colors the 5Ws

#### 3) A caption is…

a short line that explains a photo a long story a type of headline

#### 4) Which sentence sounds like a strong lead?

I like books. On Friday, students traded stories at the library book swap. Reading is cool.

#### 5) Best order:

Caption → Headline → Lead Lead → Caption → Headline Headline → Lead → Details → Caption

#### 6) Which headline fits a school play?

Fourth Graders Perform Spring Play We went to the theater. Actors!

#### 7) The article should…

hide the facts add facts or a quote only ask questions

#### 8) Choose the best caption.

A picture. People stand. Room 2 stacks books for the swap.

#### 9) Which sentence belongs in news?

The team won on Saturday at the park. I think soccer is the best. The park is big and green.

#### 10) Good leads are usually…

very long short and clear poems

#### 11) Which headline is best?

We Cleaned the Yard and It Was Fun The Yard Was Cleaned on Friday by Students Students Clean Yard

#### 12) A quote in news should…

share what someone said be a made-up story rhyme

#### 13) The 5Ws do not include…

who how much I like it where

#### 14) Which is a strong ending for news?

The end. That’s it. The clean-up helped our school shine.

#### 15) Best reason to use captions:

They help readers understand the photo. They are decorations. They replace the article.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Clear headline Lead answers 5Ws 2–3 extra facts or one short quote Helpful caption

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can write headline, lead, and details 🙂 I need more practice with the 5Ws 😅 Headlines are tricky
Lesson 35 →