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All books/Purposeful Nano Classroom Activities for Effective Teaching
Chapter 634 min read

Headline News

By Vivek M Agarwal•About the Author

Activity illustration

At a Glance

  • Time: 2-3 minutes
  • Prep: None
  • Group: Individual or pairs
  • Setting: Any
  • Subjects: Universal
  • Energy: Low

Purpose

Activate prior knowledge by having students create a newspaper headline summarizing what they know or predict about a topic. The constraint of a headline (short, attention-grabbing) requires synthesizing knowledge into core ideas.

How It Works

  1. EXPLAIN (30 seconds) - "Create a newspaper headline about [topic]. Make it catchy and capture the key idea."
  2. WRITE (90-120 seconds) - Students individually or in pairs write headlines
  3. SHARE (60 seconds) - Students read headlines aloud or post them
  4. DISCUSS (optional) - "What do these headlines reveal about what we already know?"

What to Say

"Imagine you're a newspaper editor writing a headline about [topic]. Your headline should capture the main idea in 5-10 words. Make it interesting enough that people would want to read more! You have 90 seconds. Go!"

(After writing) "Let's hear some headlines! Read yours aloud."

(After several share) "Great! Your headlines show you already have ideas about this topic. Today's lesson will give you the full story behind these headlines."

Examples:

Topic: Photosynthesis

  • "Plants Turn Sunlight into Food!"
  • "The Secret Life of Leaves Revealed"
  • "How Green Things Make Energy"

Topic: American Revolution

  • "Colonies Break Free from Britain!"
  • "Taxation Without Representation Sparks Rebellion"
  • "13 Colonies Fight for Independence"

Why It Works

Headline writing requires distillation—identifying the most important element. This activates knowledge and forces prioritization. The creative, journalistic frame makes it engaging. Reading others' headlines exposes students to different angles and prior knowledge. The activity explicitly teaches that complex topics have core messages that can be captured concisely.

Research Citation: Summarization and synthesis improve comprehension and retention (NRP, 2000).

Teacher Tip

Celebrate creative headlines! The goal isn't factual accuracy yet—it's activating thinking. Funny, dramatic, or sensational headlines are welcome if they capture a key idea. This reduces anxiety and increases engagement.

Variations

Headline Types

Factual: Straightforward, informative Sensational: Attention-grabbing, dramatic (tabloid style) Question: Poses a question to create curiosity Prediction: "What Will Happen Next?" Past Tense: Summarizing an event that occurred Future Tense: Predicting what will happen

Content Examples

Science - Climate Change:

  • "Earth's Temperature Rising: Scientists Warn of Consequences"
  • "Can We Stop Climate Change Before It's Too Late?"

Math - Algebra:

  • "X Marks the Spot: Solving for Unknowns"
  • "Balance the Equation: The Key to Algebra"

Literature - Romeo & Juliet:

  • "Love Story Ends in Tragedy"
  • "Family Feud Destroys Young Lovers"

History - Industrial Revolution:

  • "Factories Transform Society"
  • "From Farms to Cities: A Nation Changes"

Activity Extensions

Add Subtitle: Headline + one-sentence subtitle for more detail Byline: Add author name and imaginary news source Illustration: Draw a simple illustration to accompany headline Multiple Headlines: Create 2-3 headlines emphasizing different angles

For Different Settings

  • Large Class: Individual writing; share 5-6 aloud
  • Small Class: Everyone shares their headline
  • Online: Type in chat or shared doc
  • Pairs: Partners collaborate on one headline

For Different Ages

  • Elementary (K-5): May need examples; allow drawing instead of all words
  • Middle/High School (6-12): Enjoy the creative writing aspect
  • College/Adult: Can be more sophisticated, nuanced

Online Adaptation

Excellent for Online:

  • Students type headlines in chat
  • Or write in shared Google Doc
  • Can use Padlet for visual display of all headlines
  • Works seamlessly virtually

Troubleshooting

Challenge: Students say "I don't know enough to write a headline." Solution: "Use what you DO know, or make a prediction! Headlines can ask questions too: 'What is [topic]?'"

Challenge: Headlines are too vague ("It's About Science"). Solution: "Be more specific! What ABOUT science? What's the key idea?"

Challenge: Students write paragraphs instead of headlines. Solution: "Headlines are SHORT—like a tweet! 5-10 words max. Capture the big idea quickly."

Challenge: Headlines are all identical. Solution: Challenge: "Can anyone find a DIFFERENT angle? What's another way to headline this?"

Challenge: Students worry about spelling/grammar. Solution: "Don't worry about perfection! This is a draft. Just get your idea down."

Extension Ideas

  • Gallery Display: Post headlines around room like a news wall
  • Vote: Class votes on most creative, most informative, most intriguing headline
  • Expand: After learning, students write the full "article" to go with their headline
  • Revise: After the lesson, students revise their headlines based on new knowledge
  • Compare: Show real news headlines about the topic; compare to student versions

Related Activities: Quick Write, 3-2-1 Bridge, What Do You Know About