Lesson plan for teachers

To view a copy of the lesson plan for this project click here.

Welcome to your next Social Studies project!!!

Over the next few days we will be exploring the Spanish-American War and more importantly the impact of Yellow Journalism on the War!

So lets get started!

STEP 1:

One of the main causes of the Spanish-American War was the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine off the coast of Cuba. Look at this map and locate Cuba.

Now watch this video to get a sense of what happened to the U.S.S. Maine




Now that you have watched the clip I want you to answer the following questions (do this by adding a comment after this post):

What was the U.S.S. Maine?

What happened to it?

Why would this upset people?

What would you want done after this happened (what actions would you want your government to take?)

If you need to, please rewatch the video so that you can fully answer the questions.

So the U.S.S. Maine exploded! How does this lead to war? Well as it turns out a new type of journalism started to develop at this point. This new type of journalism was call Yellow Journalism. What is Yellow Journalism you may as? Watch the following clip and find out!



Get a Voki now!

STEP 2:

Click on the following examples of what Yellow Journalism from the Spanish-American War.
Pick one of the following examples and answer the following questions in a post.

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Questions:

1. What is most noticable about the example?
2. What is the example showing? what is the example representing?
3. How is this media making people feel?
4. How would this influence or change peoples mind?
   
   
   

Step 3:

Go to the PBS website about Spanish American War and explore the site. Make sure you click on all the tabs (some are located on the left and others are on the right).

In a post respond to the following:

1. What are some interesting facts you found?
2. What is something new that you learned?
3. Do you think there is Yellow Journalism in todays world? Explain why or why not.

Step 4:

In our last step I asked you to look at some examples of Yellow Journalism. One of the questions that was asked was whether or not you thought Yellow Journalism still existed today.

Watch the follow post to get an answer:




What do you think about that? Have you ever noticed the large headlines and big pictures that was talked about in this clip?

Most likely not because that is just what we are use to.


So for the next step I would like you to do the following:

Find information about this William Hearst. Once you find information on the web write 3 or 4 paragraphs about who he is, what he did, how it changed the world, and what you think of him. Make sure you put your own opinion in the work! ( and don't for get to include where you got your information from)

Post this assignment in the comment box!

Step 5:
So now that we know that Yellow Journalism still exist take a look at the following examples:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4


Now in the answer the following questions in a post:

1. How do these examples show Yellow Journalism?
2. What words pop out that create the desired emotions the newspapers want readers to have?
3. Do you think these examples got people to think or feel a certian way?

Step 6:

Now that you know what Yellow Journalism is and that it still exist go search the web for examples.

Once you find an example post the URL in the comment box. Also explain how this is an example of yellow journalism.

Step 7: THE LAST STEP

We have studied Yellow Journalism for some time now. We have seen examples from the past and the present. We know that Yellow Journalism will not go away in the furture.

For this step I would like you to create your own piece of Yellow Journalism. You can create either a Newspaper front page or just draw a cartoon. You may choose a recent topic in the media, or something that you have learned from class.

Also, you must write a response about your work. Be sure to clearly state what Yellow Journalism is, how it effects people, and how your work is an example of it.

When you have completed the drawing and the response you must hand in your work to Ms. Pitt so that she can scan your work into the computer and upload it to this blog!