The News

We read an article about the Little Rock 9 in Time for Kids recently.  2017 was the 60th anniversary of the brave heroism of 9 teens who integrated Central High in Arkansas.  After we read about the LR9 in the weekly news magazine, we read another article in a mainstream newspaper, designed for adult readers.  We also watched a few of their videos.  The Thirdlanders were pretty shocked to read, in the mainstream text, about the resegregation of public schools in the U.S.  We will look at some statistics about that.  We then tried out a simulation, where 3rdlanders took on the roles of assistant editors at the weekly news magazine planning a follow up article about the Little Rock 9.  One group of editors want to send some reporters to talk to the students at Central High, as well as the principal, to find out what Central High is like today.  Others want to include some maps of Little Rock, Arkansas, in the next piece.  Another group wants to include photographs of the statue commemorating the Little Rock 9.  Another wants to focus on Jefferson Thomas, a member of the Little Rock 9 who died in 2010. We all want to include some information about resegregation about our public schools in the follow up article, since this was a sad surprise for these readers.  PBS has some great graphs about resegregation and I will share some during math class this week.  

The simulation allowed the Thirdlanders to focus on the design of future articles as well as content.  Their conversations were lively and enthusiastic.  The Thirdlanders enjoy discussing current and historic news topics.