THE FLORIDA QUEST |  |
Newspaper-Related Caper Activities
Create a Florida Quest Corner in your classroom by posting newspaper articles, maps, posters and other items related to the caper. Look at the "Terms to Know" lists at the beginning of each week's adventure. See how many of those words you can find in the newspaper, and clip and post the sentences containing those words. Also, be sure to check out the Florida Quest web pages at www.nieworld.com/floridaquest/ for more fun activities and information.
Week One: Tracking Down the Trackers
1. While working at the museum, Ally finds an important newspaper clipping from the past. Newspapers yellow over time because of the acidity contained in them. Keep your classroom clippings from turning yellow by using the following recipe - It'll keep your newspaper documents like new! Recipe: Dissolve one tablet of milk of magnesia in one quart of water and let it sit overnight. Then, pour the mixture into a shallow pan that holds the clippings you want to preserve. Cover them completely with the liquid and let them soak for an hour. Remove and pat dry with a cloth or paper towel.
2. While joining the Trackers in this in this caper, you learn about some lakes, rivers and other bodies of water in Florida. Search recent newspapers to find the names of even more water features. Then, on a map posted on a bulletin board in your classroom, use colored pins to locate each of them. You may also want to add a fact or two about each one.
3. Instead of telling Ally and Lauren their travel destination outright, the boys compose a riddle for the girls to solve. Their search for place name clues is similar to a treasure hunt. Make up your own place name treasure hunt. Use words, phrases and pictures clipped from the newspaper to give clues about a destination you choose. Ask others to participate in your treasure hunt by tracking your clues. Award a prize to the winner or winners!
Week Two: A Riddle Drifts In from the Past
4. Ethan, Zack and Miko learn about Aaron Richey, the founder of the town of Port Richey. Mr. Richey left a legacy through his many important deeds and actions. Read the obituaries in your local newspaper. Then, write an obituary for Aaron Richey as it might have appeared in a newspaper from Dr. Richey's era.
5. Mrs. Perry takes the boys on a tour of many interesting places in Florida. Take your own tour using your newspaper. Choose up to five datelines within your state and use reference books or conduct online searches on those places. Summarize your findings and share them with a teacher or classmates.
6. The Trackers discover some plantation crops important to the economy of this area. Look through the business section and the classified and display ads to discover what kinds of work are important here, now. Make a graph or visual showing your findings and share it with the class.
Week Three: The Captain Croons a Clue
7. Captain Wellington performed a song about people and places for the girls when they visited him at his boathouse. Select one or more newspaper photos and create a rap, chant or song about the photo(s). Perform your work for classmates or friends. If possible, record it onto an audio or videotape.
8. Water plays a key role in this adventure. The boys use it for swimming and snorkeling, and Mrs. Perry uses it for research. Because water is essential to life and important to the economic well being of an area, it is often in the news. Collect and post news articles about water. Then hold a class debate over some of the issues covered in the newspaper articles.
9. In this chapter, the girls visit the Museum of Seminole County History. Look through the "Go Do" section of the Friday News-Journal for other local museums to visit. If you can't visit, call for information about current exhibits. Share your findings with classmates, friends and family.
Week Four: Ally's Amiga Has an Eye for the Arts
10. The Trackers enjoy lunch at a traditional-style Mexican restaurant. Learn about Mexican and other food dishes using the Food section of your newspaper. Clip recipes of foods from different cultures and, with permission, prepare one or more of them. Invite classmates, family or friends to share your masterpieces!
11. Niki tells the Trackers about some African-American women who made significant contributions through their words and deeds. Search your newspaper for articles about other women who are prominent in their fields. Select one you feel has made a significant contribution, and compose a brief essay or poem about that person. Post it on your classroom bulletin board.
12. Study the Comics section of your newspaper. Then, choose your favorite scene in the Florida Quest and draw a comic strip based upon it. Show friends and classmates your work.