seventh graders in social studies present newcasts about india

Story by Dylan Ball

Giant screens hang from the ceiling. Anchors read of their scripts. Reporters are rushing to get ready for their next segment.

But this isn’t happening in a news studio, it’s happening in seventh grade social studies class.
Seventh graders prepared for their newscast about India for weeks. Students were allowed to have a partner. They were assigned a topic about modern India and present a “newscast”  in front of the class. The topics included the Mughal Empire, the Taj Mahal, the British and Indian perspective of the East India Company, the Sepoy revolt , and the salt march.

“It was a good way to have fun with friends and learn at the same time,” Moriah Smith, seventh grade, said. Students researched with their partner to make a script they followed during the newscast.
Students were graded on how well they were prepared, how creative they were,what props they brought,and the information that was discussed.

“Students could learn about their topic in depth but also other students topics when they presented too,” Eli Harter, seventh grade, said.

Students were responsible for paying attention during the other students presentations. Mr. Ryan Snyder, seventh grade social studies teacher, passed out a note sheet to make sure students were prepared for the test. Students would write a summary of other students' newscasts so that they would know about the other topics too.

Harter believed that this project was important. “It is important to learn more about other cultures,” he said.

Students were nervous the day they presented but agreed with Harter and Smith that it was a fun project.