Lesson Plan: Introduction to Journalism
Grade Level: 7th-9th grade (adjustable for other levels)
Subject: English Language Arts / Social Studies
Duration: 50 minutes
Objective:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the key concepts of journalism, including its purpose and importance.
2. Identify the key components of a news article.
3. Practice writing a basic news article, focusing on the 5 Ws and H (Who, What, When,
Where, Why, and How).
Materials:
Whiteboard/Smartboard
Markers
Handouts with an example of a news article (preferably from a reputable source)
Projector (optional)
Computers or paper for writing (if available)
Graphic organizer for writing a news article (optional)
Standards:
Common Core Standards:
o [Link].8.6: Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a
text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting
evidence or viewpoints.
o [Link]-LITERACY.W.8.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and
audience.
Lesson Procedure:
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
Hook:
Show a short, recent news clip (video or written news article). Ask students:
o What makes this a news story?
o Why do people need to know about this?
o How do news reporters convey important information quickly?
Objective:
Explain that today's lesson is an introduction to journalism, where students will learn
how to write a news article, understand the essential components of a story, and explore
how journalists gather information.
Define Journalism:
Briefly explain journalism as the practice of reporting, writing, and presenting news and
information in various media formats (newspapers, TV, online).
2. Direct Instruction (15 minutes)
Key Components of Journalism: Discuss the 5 Ws and H (Who, What, When, Where,
Why, How) as the foundation of every good news story:
1. Who: Who is involved in the story?
2. What: What happened? What is the main event or action?
3. When: When did it happen? What is the timeline?
4. Where: Where did it take place?
5. Why: Why did it happen? Why is it important?
6. How: How did it happen? What were the methods or causes?
News Article Structure: Explain the typical structure of a news article:
o Headline: A brief title that grabs attention and summarizes the story.
o Lead: The first sentence or paragraph that answers the 5 Ws and H.
o Body: The main part of the article that expands on the details of the story.
o Conclusion: Summarizes key points or leaves the reader with a final thought.
Example: Display a short news article on the board or distribute it to students. Walk
through the 5 Ws and H, identifying them in the article. Discuss how the article is
structured.
3. Guided Practice (10 minutes)
Group Activity:
Divide students into small groups. Give each group a recent event (e.g., a local school
event, sports competition, or community news). Have them:
1. Brainstorm the 5 Ws and H based on their event.
2. Work together to write a lead paragraph for their news article, using the 5 Ws
and H.
Discussion:
After 5-7 minutes, have each group share their lead paragraph with the class. As a class,
discuss how well the group captured the key information and whether it answered the
essential questions.
4. Independent Practice (10 minutes)
Writing Assignment:
Ask students to choose a recent event (e.g., a news event, something that happened in
their school, or a community event) and write a brief news article. They should:
o Include a headline.
o Write a lead paragraph that answers the 5 Ws and H.
o Write a few additional sentences in the body of the article to provide more
detail.
o Conclude with a final sentence that sums up the article.
Support:
Provide a graphic organizer for students who need help structuring their article. The
organizer can have sections for each of the 5 Ws and H and space for students to draft
their lead and body paragraphs.
5. Closure (5 minutes)
Class Reflection:
Ask students:
o Why is it important for news articles to include the 5 Ws and H?
o How does a journalist ensure their story is clear and engaging?
Exit Ticket:
Have students write a brief response to the question: "Why is it important for a
journalist to be objective and clear when writing a news story?"
Assessment:
Formative Assessment:
Observe group discussions and review students’ lead paragraphs to check for
understanding of the 5 Ws and H and their ability to identify the key components of a
news story.
Summative Assessment:
Review students’ independent news articles to evaluate their ability to structure a clear,
informative article that includes the 5 Ws and H.
Extension/Homework:
Extension:
Have students research a current event from an online news source and write a full news
article, following the same structure and ensuring they answer all the 5 Ws and H.
Homework:
Assign students to read a news article from a reputable source and identify the 5 Ws and
H in the article. They can then write a short reflection on how those elements helped
them understand the story.
Differentiation:
For struggling students:
Provide a more detailed graphic organizer with prompts for each of the 5 Ws and H.
Allow students to choose a simpler event to write about, such as something that
happened at school or in their personal life.
For advanced students:
Encourage students to explore additional aspects of journalistic writing, such as the
importance of objectivity, the difference between primary and secondary sources, or
writing in an active vs. passive voice.
