JANUARY, 2006, KEY NEWSPAPER

Lesson Plans

 

Activity #1) Read the article “Leaving Home: Florida Teen Sneaks into Iraq.”

1.      Why did a 16- year-old boy go to Iraq and not tell his parents?                  

2.      What is the definition of “immersion journalism?”

3.      When and where did he go?

4.      T/F -Farris Hassan crossed the border into Iraq safely many times.

5.      Did Hassan’s journalistic story about Iraq ever reach his class?

6.      How and when was Hassan returned to the U.S.

7.      T/F His mother, who was born in Iraq, believed her son had used good judgment in flying off to Iraq without informing her?

8.      Would you ever consider putting your life at risk for an assignment?

 

Activity #2) Read the article “DeLay Resigns as Majority Leader of the House.”

1.      What has happened to the Republican Majority Leader in the House of Representatives?

2.      What are the criminal charges against DeLay?

3.      What do lobbyists do in the political process?

4.      How is lobbyist Jack Abramoff involved?

5.      Why did DeLay step down permanently as congressional party leader?

6.      How would the Democrats define “culture of corruption”?

7.      How will DeLay be replaced?

 

Activity #3) Read the article “Polar Bears Ignore the Cold to take Plunge into Lake

                     Michigan.

             1.    Who are the Polar Bears that use Lake Michigan beaches in the middle of                                 winter?

2.      List three reasons people jump into ice-cold water on January 1st.

3.      Do you think those “polar bears” are using good judgment?

4.      Is Milwaukee the only place to experience “Polar Bear Clubs?”

 

Activity #4) Read the article “Credit Card Costs are Going Up in 2006.”

1.      Who is requiring that people make higher minimum payments on the money they owe on their credit cards, starting January 1, 2006?

2.      What is good about credit cards?

3.      What is the effect for many people of buying without cash?

4.      How much credit card debt does the average household owe, according to the American Bankers Association?

5.      How will the new rules help people pay off their bills faster?

6.      Compare and contrast the difference in amount and time with paying $15 or $20 per month on $1000 balance.

 

7.      T/F- The best way to track your spending is by setting up a budget and using your credit cards with caution.

 

Activity 5.)  Read - “Get Ready to Enter the 2006 Readers as Writers Contest.”

 

1.      If you are an experienced or budding writer, where and when can you tell your story?

2.      List the four categories of students that can quality for the Readers as Writers Contest.

3.      Can you only submit stories and essays?

4.      List some of the ways you can submit your writings; how many and how long.

5.      What sequence or order should you follow in sending in your writing?  Number the order.  1.-Write your phone number, 2-  literacy program, 3- location, 4- home address, 5-print your name, 6-instructor or tutor.

6.      T/F- The work must be good for family publication containing no profanity, sexual themes, illegal activity, or glorifying violence.

7.      When are the entries due and will they be published in a book?

8.      What other kind of recognition is received?

9.      Where should you send the writings?

 

Activity 6.)  Read the article “Postage Increases Go into Effect January 8”

1.      It appears many things are being raised in January, bus fares, credit card               payments, and now what???

2.      What is the difference in the price of first class stamps from January 7 to January 8th?

3.      How much does the government want the post office to raise?

4.      Will the raise affect the Key Newspaper?

5.      List two reasons why postage costs are rising?

 

Activity 7.)  Read the article “Helpful Tips to Protect Your Money”

            1.     T/F- Some Identify Theft concerns with your checks or credit card accounts            

   can be avoided?

2.    Why should you only place your initials on your personal checks rather than    

                   your first and last name?

3.        List two other ways to protect your checks from thieves.

4.        List three procedures to follow when using credit cards that might protect you.

5.        T/F- Photocopy both sides of all the cards you keep in your wallet and your passport. 

6.        Hotel Key cards contain all your personal information.  Should you return them promptly when leaving or take them home and destroy?

7.        Can you take your time in reporting a theft of credit cards or checks to police?

8.        When credit cards or checks are stolen, list the three national credit reporting organizations and the Social Security Administration fraud lines that should be notified, in addition to notifying your bank.

           

Activity #8.)  Read the article “Bus Fares Go up In Milwaukee County.”

1.      Why did bus fares in Milwaukee County increase January 1st?

2.      Most sets of 10 tickets increased $1.00 to $3.00. Could you infer that a pass at $14.00 for the week would be a better buy?

3.      How many buses are in The Milwaukee Country Transit system?   a. 680;

b. 55;  c.  470;  d.  300

4.       Is it a fact, or is it the opinion of this writer that children, senior citizens and people with disabilities only pay $8.50 for 10 tickets?

5.      If the city has 55 routes around town, what is the average number of buses for each route if they own 470 buses?

6.      If the price increase only covers 35 percent of the cost of running the buses,   how much more is needed, and where does this extra money come from?

 

Activity #9.)  Read the article titled “McCarthy Replaces Sherman as Packers Coach.”

1.      What major change has happened in the Packer’s football organization?

2.      What experience has McCarthy had in pro football?

3.      What is one major concern the new coach will deal with?

4.      What record did Sherman have at Green Bay?

5.      T/F-Sherman is optimistic for the Packers for next season.

 

Activity #10) Read the article “Last Laugh.”

1.      To what one problem does the funny poem refer?

2.      Have you experienced any of these events?

 

Activity #11.)  Read the article “Kraft Changes Oreo Recipe to Make Them a Healthier                                    Snack.”

1.      What is an Oreo?  Who has eaten an Oreo?

2.      What was the problem with Oreos?

3.      What is the major change in the recipe for Oreos and other Kraft food products?

4.      Why were Trans fats used?

5.      There are about 28 grams in an ounce. There are about 2.5 grams of Trans fat in an Oreo.  About how many Oreos would give you an ounce of Trans fat?

6.      What do Trans fats do to us?  Is this a fact or an opinion?

7.      What is the problem with saturated fat substituted for the Trans fat?

8.      What made Kraft change the recipes for Oreos and many other food products?

 

Activity #11.) Read article titled “Let Your Money Work for you with a Savings                                               Account”

1.      Some people think they have no money to save.  How can you “find” money to save?

2.      The story mentions spending $1.00 for a cup of coffee. Today, it is easy to spend $2.50 a day for coffee.  How much would that be for one year?

3.      Name one place you can open a savings account.

4.      Describe one way to make it easier to save money.

5.      List some of the requirements to open a savings account.

6.      What are some of the benefits of saving?

 

Activity #12.) Read the article “Plan Your Career.”

1.      List some steps in creating a career plan.

2.      T/F- Volunteer work or a hobby can be useful skills for future careers.

3.      How would you network about a career?

4.      If you like to work with your hands, which of the following jobs might interest you?  a. plumber;  b. carpenter, c. lawyer, d. teacher, e. heating and air conditioning technician.

5.      List some benefits of writing a career plan.

6.      T/F- A Career Plan will prepare you for writing a resume for a job or help your application to a school for training.

 

JANUARY, 2006, KEY

 

ANSWERS 

 

 

1. Activity #1 - 1.) Hassan wanted to write about the Iraq war for an Immersion Journalism class project, so this meant to him that he should travel to the country.  This country is unsafe so he did not want to tell his parents.  2.) Immersion Journalism stresses living the life of the people you write about.  3.) He left the U.S. with a $900 plane ticket on December 11, and landed in Kuwait City, close to IRAQ.  4.) False;  5.) Yes, on Dec. 15, he emailed a story to his class.  6.)  In Baghdad, Iraq, the American Embassy held him after he had gone to the Associated Press, who turned him over to the Embassy who sent him home, on January 1, 2006.  7.) False.  8.) Answers will vary, but this is an unsafe country, especially for Americans.

 

2. Activity #2 -1). He resigned as leader because of corruption charges.  2.) He misused corporate donations made to fellow Texas lawmakers. 3.) They work for special interest groups and get the government contracts and laws written that favor their interests. 4.) He pleaded guilty to three felonies.  He gave trips and other gifts to lawmakers to get them to vote a certain way on an issue. Some of the gifts, including cash may have gone to DeLay and his aides. 5.) He felt the charges against him were too distracting to stay on as majority leader.  6.)  Answers will vary; have a good discussion on ethics and job of elected officials.  7.) The Republican House members will choose their new leader.

 

Activity #3 - 1.) They are people who belong to cold-water swim clubs or individuals who like to take a cold plunge into Lake Michigan on New Years Day each year for the thrill of it.  2.) For fun, to raise money for charity, like the experience, may be drinking alcohol.  3.) Answers will vary.  If dressed warm enough after experience will be okay.  4.) Many cities throughout the state (Lake Nemahbin, Waukesha) and the nation (Coney Island, NY,) have met since 1903.

 

Activity # 4.)  1.)The Federal Government.  2.) They allow people to buy without paying cash.  3.) Many people accumulate large bills, debt they find hard to pay off.  4.) $9,000 is the average owed, says the American Bankers Association. 5.) They will have to pay a higher amount each month, so cut down on the length due.  6.) With $1,000 balance, paying $15 per month--it takes 17 years to pay off and you pay $3,000 interest; increasing to $20 payment each month, it takes 7 years to pay back whole amount and interest costs are only $1,750. 7.) True-a budget is the way to go, pay bills faster, and stay out of debt.

 

Activity #5.) - 1.) Enter the “Readers as Writers Contest” offered by The Key Newspaper, MATC before March 13, 2006.   2.) Adult students in Wisconsin Basic skills, GED/HSED, Adult High School, and English as a Second Language classes.   3.) No.  Essays, poems, short stories, opinions, raps, song lyrics, or journal entries can be submitted.  4.) Submit up to two pages, two entries allowed, use a computer, place on a diskette or email attachment to (balistrv@matc.edu)  after your teachers or tutors have reviewed and approved.  5.)  5, 2, 1, 2, 3, 6.  6.) True

7.) March 13, 2006, yes, published with other best entries selected by a panel of independent judges. 8.) At a special Awards ceremony at the Milw. Public Library on May 3 or at the Northcentral Technical College for students and teachers who are in the northern part of Wisconsin. 9.) Send to the Key Newspaper, Milwaukee Area Technical College, email attachments to (balistrv@matc.edu) Speak to your instructor about entry forms and other details.

 

Activity #6.) - 1.) Postage stamps, postcards, Priority mail, express mail and international rates.  2.) two cents-first class stamps go from 37 cents to 39 cents.  3.) The government wants the Post Office to raise 3.1 million to go into an escrow account for the future.  4.) Yes. The Key mails about half of the 15,000 copies printed each month.  5.) Rising fuel costs, people use the Internet more and more to pay bills.

 

Activity # 7.) - 1.) True. 2.) The bank will know how you sign your check, but a thief will not know if you use initials or full name, so bank will be alerted if fraud is attempted.

3.) Place work number on check instead of home number and never print your Social Security number on checks.  4.) Don’t sign back of CC, instead write, “Photo ID Required.” Cancel credit cards as soon as lost, and do not place full credit card number on checks when paying account; list only the last 4 numbers. 5.) True-Keep photocopies in safe place.  6.) Destroy it yourself.  7.) Yes, first step toward investigation.  8) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; Experian 1-888-397-3742; TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 and SS Administration (fraud line) 1-800-269-0271.

 

Activity #8.) - 1.)  The Bus Company spent an extra $2.5 million in 2005 because of higher fuel prices. 2.) Yes, and the pass has unlimited usage during the week.  3.) C.

4.) Fact. Only pay 85 cents for a ride.  5.) 65 percent more is needed and that comes from the federal, state and county governments.  6.) Average- divide 470 by 55-get 8.5+- use 8 or 9 buses per route.

 

Activity #9.) - 1.)  Eating too much.  2.) Answers will vary, have a good discussion and laugh at poetry.

 

Activity #10.) – 1.) A cookie made of two chocolate-flavored wafers held together with a small amount of white frosting in the middle.  Show of hands. 2.) They contained a substance called Trans fats and scientists decided Trans fats are not healthy for people. 3.) Kraft stopped using soybean oil and now is using canola and palm oil. 4.) They give the products a richer taste and products do not spoil as quickly as those made with other oils.

5.) c-11.   6.)  It is a fact that they increase levels of bad cholesterol and reduce levels of good cholesterol in a person’s body.  Doctors also believe Trans fats make arteries more rigid, which can lead to strokes and heart disease.  This can be measured.  7.) Saturated fats can also lead to heart disease and obesity.  8.) The federal Food and Drug Administration decided in July 2003 that Trans fats should be listed on all package labels, starting January 1, 2006, so the company worked hard to cut the Ttrans fats out and retain the flavor the consumers expected.

 

Activity #11.) – 1.) Try taking careful note of how and where you spend your money. 2.) Multiply $2.50 times 365 days, equals spending $912.00 per year. 3.) A Bank who will pay you interest to use your money.  4.)  Allow a bank to take money directly from your paycheck and deposit it into your savings account.  5.) Proof of ID (drivers license, state or country ID; Social Security Card; Check Stub with SS number on it; Minimum deposit, transaction fee; fee for using ATM.  6.) Money ready for an emergency; control of your finances; feel better about your finances; learn helpful money habits.

 

Activity #12.)  1.)First think and then list your skills, do the same with your interests, think about what you like to do and list what experiences you have had and what you learned; think about your experiences as possible careers or links to positions; study jobs to see if they really interest you and to see what skills they require. 2.) True 3.) Talk to someone who is in the career, ask to shadow his or her job.  4.) a, b, e. 5.) Identifies your skills and interests; identifies jobs that fit your interests and skills; helps you focus on what you want and how to get there. 6.) True. You will be ready.