To Kill a Mockingbird Newspaper Project

Activity Overview

The events of To Kill a Mockingbird would have made the news, and likely some would have been front page in local or county newspapers. For this assignment, students can select any major event in the novel, such as the trial or even the death of Tom Robinson, and create the front page of a newspaper that features this story. They should use evidence from the text, as well as quotes if necessary, to support their news story.

Students should be sure to include illustrations of scenes or portraits to accompany their headlines much like a real newspaper. They may also want to include advertisements or news from Alabama around that time period in order to set the events of the novel into the context of the time.

For additional templates to include in this assignment, check out our Newspaper Poster and Newspaper Worksheet templates!

Copy Activity*

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Due Date:

Objective: Create the front page of a newspaper set during or just after the events of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment."
Create a title for your newspaper and a catchy headline for the main story.
Use appropriate scenes, characters and items to create "photographs" for your article.
Include captions for "photographs".
Write the accompanying text for the main story, and any other articles on the front page.

You may need to delete the placeholder lines and add new Textables.

Copy This Storyboard*

More options

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-10

Difficulty Level 4 (Difficult / Complex)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Newspaper Posters

Copy Activity*

Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Newspaper Front Page

Students will re-tell key events from the story using a Newspaper front page as a template. They will add a catchy headline, create images and write descriptions for each to imitate the look of the front page of a newspaper highlighting the key events of the story.

	Proficient 7 Points	Emerging 4 Points	Beginning 1 Points
Headline and Descriptions	Students include a catchy headline for the front page as well as detailed descriptions for each event illustrated that explain what happened in a minimum of 3-5 sentences.	The headline and/or the descriptions for the events can be understood but it is somewhat unclear or too brief.	The front page is missing either the headline or descriptions of each of the events depicted.
Illustrations	The illustrations represent the events using appropriate scenes, characters and items. It is clear the student took time and care in creating the illustrations.	The illustrations partially relate to the events but they are difficult to understand or appear rushed.	The illustrations do not clearly relate to the key events of the story.
Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation	Final product is free of spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.	Final product contains up to three errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar that do not alter the meaning of the text.	Final product contains more than three errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar.