How to Use a Local Magazine in the Classroom
- 1). Break the magazine into sections. Each section should be about one local event, place or person. Divide the students into groups so that the number of groups equals the number of sections. Assign one section to each group. The group needs to read the section, then present what they learned to the class.
- 2). Bring in some of the magazine staff. An editor or staff writer can talk about the steps that go into creating a magazine. This helps the students understand that magazines and newspaper do not just pop out of thin air. This also introduces students to the job market.
- 3). Set aside 15 minutes each day for the students to read through a magazine. Require that they write a short paragraph about one thing they learned pertaining to the local area. This ensures that they read something and did not spend the entire time looking at photos.
- 4). Use the magazine to highlight tourist spots in your area. Talk with students about how outsiders might see the local area. If students have never visited other places, or are young, they may not realize that their area is new to other people. The discussion should help them realize there is more to the world than where they live.
- 5). Bring in the publisher to talk about the publication process. If possible, set up a field trip to visit the printing press. This allows students to see how a magazine is put together after the editorial process is completed.
