WESTERN GAZZETTE

AUGUST 3, 1854EDITOR: CHRISTIAN MEYER

UNITED STATES ACHIEVES MANIFEST DESTINY!

WESTWARDEXPANSIONPROJECTTAKESWARMSPRINGSMIDDLE SCHOOL BY SURPRISE!

BY: CHRISTIAN MEYER

Introduction: Students at WarmSpringsMiddle Schoolhave the opportunity of a lifetime. They will research key events during the United States’ expansion west. The students will take important events from Westward Expansion and incorporate these events into a creative newspaper project.

Task: Students in Mr. Meyer’s 8th grade Social Studies class were assigned to complete the following criteria:

  • Locate the question document on Mr. Meyer’s webpage
  • Complete the questions electronically using the internet and your textbook as a resource
  • Create a newspaper that covers events that occurred during Westward Expansion
  • Include a header and footer
  • The header (newspaper title) will be in different font than the newsprint.
  • The newsprint will be no larger than size 12 font.
  • The header will have the name of the newspaper, the name of the editor, and the date of publication
  • The footer will have the page number.
  • Each student will complete four articles (see page three). The adventures contained in the articles must include real life events that may have happened during the time we are studying. Write the articles as if you were there in history (first person narrative).
  • Each article must have a headline (no more than size 14 font) and a byline – name or reporter (no more than size 10 font). Preferably, the title will be in

different font form the newsprint.

MR. MEYER’S STUDENTS ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE GLEEFULLY

BY: CHRISTIAN MEYER

Warm Springs students were elated at the prospect of such a wonderful project, and they enthusiastically accepted the challenge. As many of the students were unfamiliar with creating a newspaper, they followed the guidelines closely. The kids also were attentive to their beloved teacher’s instruction.

Students wishing to be successful with their projects listened closely as Mr. Meyer explained the necessary steps for building a newspaper:

  • Bring a flash drive or thumb drive if possible.
  • Open a Microsoft word document
  • Click on the view option on the tool bar and drag down to Header and Footer.A text box will open at the top and bottom of your screen. This is where your newspaper’s name, date, and your name will be.
  • Select your font size and insert the name of your newspaper; on the next line add the date (historical) left justified; and your name as editor right

justified in the margin provided.

  • Select your font size and insert the footer information in the margin provided at the bottom o the page (this will be an automatic page number).
  • Close the header window and move on.
  • Click on Format and drag down to Column. Select the format with two columns.
  • Begin your article. Be sure to include the pertinent information.
  • Save your file often! You will save the file in the temp files located in the system.
  • Mr. Meyer will guide you through this procedure.

STUDENTS BEGAN THEIR PROJECTS WITH GUSTO!

BY: CHRISTAN MEYER

Mr. Meyer’s students enthusiastically began their assignment. Not only were they extremely interested in performing at the best of their ability; they were excited to begin as soon as possible. Of course, all students made sure they assumed the role of newspaper reporters and followed the guidelines closely. They all wrote about the:

  • Who
  • What
  • When
  • How
  • Where

And

  • Why

of event about Westward Expansion.

Each student wrote amazing articles about the following events and topics:

Oregon Trail – One article (3/4 of a page – column and a half).

  • Include important events, hardships encountered, destinations along the trail, how they travelled, and people encountered along the trail

TexasIndependence – One article (3/4 a page)

  • Include facts about early U.S. settlers in Texas, why they went there, why the war started, the battle of the Alamo (who, what, when, where), when Texas achieved its independence.

Mexican War – One article (3/4 a page)

  • Explain how and why the war started. Report on the final battle of the war and the agreement reached between the U.S. and Mexico with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. Include a picture downloaded from the internet of the land the U.S. added on as a result of the War.

California Gold Rush – One article (3/4 a page)

  • You will report on when and where the gold rush began, identify three separate ethnic groups who came to California in search of riches, and

include when the U.S. added California on as a state.

FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CLOSELY AND HAVE FUN!

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