Current+Events

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Current Events

Assignment: Read one article a week and summarize that article. **A summary is due every Friday.** You may choose **any** article of interest with parent permission and that is appropriate for fourth grade. The links at the bottom of the page will help you find your weekly article, or you may use an article from the newspaper. Click on the Article Summary Notes below and print the outline. At first just jot down the main points. Later in the year you will learn how to turn your notes into a summary paragraph. Even though you will hand in your notes each Friday, **you only will present an article to the class every other Friday (only twice a month).** Use these notes for the written assignment and to help with the presentation. Follow my example below. Print a copy of the attached article summary page for notes.

** Purpose: ** This weekly assignment enables you to practice the comprehension strategies you learn in class. This weekly short presentation provides the opportunity to practice public speaking and also learn the skill of articulating the main points of non-fiction material.

Note: All students are to read an article and fill out the article Notes page each week and hand in. Each student will present an article twice a month. **So choose an article that interests you, read it, and write down the main points in your own words. Just use bullet points. Be able to state a short summary using your own words. Then if it is your week to present, just practice at home in front of the mirror, in front of your dog, your parents, or even bribe your brother or sister. Then present your summary of the article to the class on Friday. Please include a copy of the article, along with your notes that you will hand in on Friday after your presentation. (If you get nervous, don't worry everyone does at first, but eventually you will turn into an interesting, dynamic speaker.) **

**Mrs. Hyatt's Example ** **__Title of Article:__** "Spotlight on Soccer" **__Author:__** Sachin Shenolikar, From the Editors of //Sports Illustrated// **__Date of Article:__** May 7, 2010 **Magazine or Newspaper (Source**): //Time for Kids// **__Volume:__** 15 **__Issue:__** 26

**__Notes__**__:__
 * Soccer most popular sport in the world
 * First World Cup in 1930
 * Takes place every 4 years in a different country
 * First time it is taking place in South Africa
 * 32 nations will participate
 * 64 matches in the tournament
 * $420 million dollars in prize money to the winning team
 * Possibly 3 million tickets sold all together for the W.C.
 * Starts June 11th
 * Ends on July 11th with the champions celebrated in the city of Johannesburg at Soccer City Stadium
 * Famous players to look for: Argentina-Messi (striker), Portugal-Ronaldo (forward)
 * Best teams to look for: Spain, Brazil (won 5 World Cups), England
 * USA plays England first

Links - Time for Kids - CNN Student News - Scholastic News **Grading**

Rubric - These are my expectations

Summary has main points of the article Events are presented in a logical order Student speaks loud enough Student uses expression (fluency) while orally reading notes Student has practiced enough that student can look up occasionally and makes eye contact with audience Material is educational and interesting Source is given
 * 4**

Students has almost all of the above but is lacking in one or two expectations
 * 3**

Student has more than two expectations missing and may need some assistance
 * 2**

Student needs some assistance in order to redo the assignment
 * 1**

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