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Hideaway Times | Map Magic | The Trackers | Treasure Trove | Newspaper Activities | Quest Tips |
Newspaper-Related Activities
INTRODUCTION
1. The Trackers are off on another adventure. This time they are working together to produce a treasure map of ghost towns in Florida for Jackson to use on his next visit. Clip articles from The News-Journal showing kids organizing to do something positive in their community. For inspiration, post the clippings on a bulletin under the title "Kid Power." Plan for your class to undertake a school or community project.
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2. Skim the chapter headings in this Florida Quest booklet. You will see that the Trackers are exploring sites in three areas of historical importance: New Smyrna, the St. Johns River, and St. Augustine. Create a bulletin board in your classroom where you can post newspaper articles or pictures of these places in the news as the caper unfolds.
3. Treasures are often found in treasure chests. Create a word treasure chest for your class by decorating a box with newspapers. In it, put the most unusual words you find in the newspaper. On one side of a card paste a sentence from the newspaper containing the word and, on the reverse, put the meaning of the word. Play a game to see if you can stump your friends with the words and their meanings.
CHAPTER 1
4. The lucky Trackers get to go on a narrated river tour in Chapter One. Look through The News-Journal to find other interesting trips and tours available in this area. If possible, go on one and bring back information to share with the rest of the class.
5. In this chapter, the Trackers learn about some of the many ethnic groups that helped to settle this area long ago. Florida still attracts people from many different parts of the world. Make a poster of articles and pictures from The News-Journal that show how different cultures are influencing life in modern-day Florida. Write a song or poem about your feelings.
6. Some of the early settlers in southeast Volusia County were farmers and farming is still an important industry throughout the state. Make a classroom display of news photos and ads from The News-Journal showing Florida farm products. Conduct a survey to see which are most popular with students in your school.
CHAPTER 2
7. In Chapter Two, the Trackers get to learn about local history, first hand, from a very interesting folk historian. From The News- Journal, clip articles about people in the news you might like to interview. Select one and make a list of questions you would ask and, with a classmate, role-play being a news reporter interviewing the person in the news.
8. Look through the TV listings in The News-Journal for interesting programs about history. Watch one or more and report back to the class on what you learned.
9. The Trackers learn that many of the early visitors to the areas along the St. Johns River were tourists who came for the hunting, fishing and adventure. Clip articles from The News- Journal about modern-day Florida tourist attractions. If possible, go to one that you have never visited and bring back information to share with the rest of the class.
CHAPTER 3
10. In Chapter Three, the Trackers learn that Fort Mose is a place of high significance in African-American History, but there is so little left of the site that most of the details of daily life there have been lost. Look through The News-Journal for an article about a city or town that you think many have historic significance 200 years from now. Underline the parts that you would want kids in the future to know even if it should turn into a ghost town.
11. To get to Fort Mose, Niki packs up the van for a day trip to St. Augustine. Look through the classified ads for pictures of vans and select the one that you think would be best for the Trackers. Compute how many months it would take to buy it if there were payments of $500 a month (assume 0% financing costs).
12. In St. Augustine, the Trackers encounter an enthusiastic, young tour guide and her horse, Dexter, who take visitors on carriage rides through the historic sections of the city. Look through the classified ads in The News-Journal for horses for sale. Take note of the selling prices and characteristics and clip the ad for the one you think best suited for work like Dexter’s. After some research online or in the Media Center, make a drawing of the horse and post it with the ad for others to enjoy.
CONCLUSION
13. Imagine that Jackson is coming to visit you. Look through The News-Journal and clip information about places you want him to see. Consider restaurants and attractions as well as sites of historical importance and the wonders of nature. Make your own treasure map of great places in your neighborhood.
14. Maps are important ways to show information. See how many different kinds of maps you can clip from recent editions of The News-Journal. Create a montage of the maps and design a corresponding quiz for classmates based on information on the maps.
15. The Trackers are impressed with the stories they uncovered about the past inhabitants of some of Florida’s ghost towns. From The News-Journal, clip articles that show the bravery and courage of people in today’s world. Select one to nominate for the Bravery Hall of Fame. Write a paragraph telling why you chose him/her, send it to nie@nieworld.com, and then check The Florida Quest website on www.nieworld.com to see who has been selected.
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