What’s the story—and how will you tell it? Young journalists will step into the exciting world of media and content creation as they investigate ideas, conduct interviews, write articles, create reviews and features, and explore different ways of sharing stories with an audience. Students will experiment with headlines, photography, reporting, editing, and digital content while learning how great journalists find interesting angles, ask thoughtful questions, and communicate their ideas clearly. From covering school happenings and current trends to sharing opinions and uncovering stories of their own, every class encourages curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and a confident voice.
See the Content Creators Packing List here.
In this program, the Instructor(s) will have the flexibility to assess the group’s interests, writing experience, and access to technology when determining the best structure for the term. The suggested lessons below can lead toward a collaborative class newspaper, magazine, newsletter, or digital presentation. Instructors are encouraged to adapt the activities, spend additional time on popular formats, and find age-appropriate examples online as needed. Any photographs, interviews, or stories involving members of the school community must follow school privacy expectations and receive instructor approval before being shared outside the class. For additional guidance or support, instructors are encouraged to reach out to a Senior Instructor or Liz.
A suggested 10-week term plan is as follows:
Lesson 1: Welcome to the Newsroom!
Objective: Introduce journalism and help students discover what makes a story interesting.
Activities:
- Icebreaker: “Three Things About Me” — classmates choose which fact would make the most interesting story
- Group Discussion: What is journalism, and where do we encounter it?
- News Hunt: Examine age-appropriate articles, reviews, interviews, and photo stories
- Mini-Lesson: The 5 Ws and 1 H — Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How
- Newsroom Challenge: Turn an ordinary classroom event into a short news report
- Begin a class list of possible stories and topics
Lesson 2: Finding the Story
Objective: Learn how journalists identify topics, audiences, and interesting angles.
Activities:
- Warm-up: “What’s the Story?” — brainstorm possible stories inspired by an everyday object or image
- Mini-Lesson: The difference between a topic and an angle
- Activity: Find three different angles for the same topic
- Discuss audience: Who are we creating content for?
- Story Pitch Workshop: Students develop and present short story ideas
- Select possible features for the class publication or final showcase
Lesson 3: Headlines, Leads & the 5 Ws
Objective: Practise writing attention-grabbing headlines and clear opening sentences.
Activities:
- Headline Match-Up: Match sample headlines with their stories
- Mini-Lesson: What makes a headline accurate, clear, and interesting?
- Headline Challenge: Write serious, exciting, and funny headlines for the same event
- Introduce the “lead” as the opening of a news story
- Writing Activity: Create a short news report using the 5 Ws and 1 H
- Partner Review: Can the reader quickly understand what happened?
Lesson 4: Interview Like a Journalist
Objective: Develop thoughtful questions and practise active listening.
Activities:
- Warm-up: Turn simple yes-or-no questions into open-ended questions
- Mini-Lesson: Preparing for an interview and asking useful follow-up questions
- Discuss interview etiquette, permission, accurate note-taking, and respectful reporting
- Partner Interviews: Students interview one another about a hobby, talent, or memorable experience
- Quote Selection: Choose the strongest quotation from the interview
- Write a short profile or “Meet the Reporter” feature
Lesson 5: Reviews & Opinion Writing
Objective: Learn how to express an opinion clearly and support it with specific reasons.
Activities:
- Group Discussion: What can journalists review?
- Mini-Lesson: The difference between fact and opinion
- Examine the basic parts of a review: introduction, description, opinion, evidence, and recommendation
- Review Challenge: Review a book, game, snack, movie, place, school activity, or fictional product
- Create a rating system using stars, numbers, or original categories
- Peer Check: Is the opinion supported by clear examples?
Lesson 6: Photography & Visual Storytelling
Objective: Explore how images, captions, and layout help communicate a story.
Activities:
- Photo Investigation: What story does this image tell?
- Mini-Lesson: Framing, angles, backgrounds, lighting, and focal points
- Photography Challenge: Capture an object or approved space from three different perspectives
- Caption Writing: Create accurate captions that add information to each image
- Discuss photo permission, privacy, and why images should never be misleading
- Optional Activity: Create a photo essay or illustrated story using staged photographs or drawings
Lesson 7: Features, Lists & Creative Content
Objective: Experiment with engaging content formats beyond traditional news articles.
Activities:
- Explore formats such as feature stories, advice columns, quizzes, lists, how-to articles, comics, and infographics
- Mini-Lesson: Choosing the best format for an idea
- Creative Challenge: Present the same topic in two different formats
- Students select a format and begin an original piece
- Small-Group Feedback: What is clear, interesting, or still missing?
- Continue developing pieces for the final publication
Lesson 8: Facts, Sources & First-Round Editing
Objective: Check information carefully and begin preparing content for the final class publication.
Activities:
- Warm-up: “Fact, Opinion, or Advertisement?”
- Mini-Lesson: What is a source, and what makes a source trustworthy?
- Compare two age-appropriate accounts of the same topic
- Discuss misinformation, exaggerated headlines, advertisements, and sponsored content
- Fact-check articles, quotations, names, captions, and other details
- Peer Editing: Use “Two Stars and a Suggestion” to provide constructive feedback
- Revise written pieces and identify anything still needed for the final project
Lesson 9: Final Editing & Publication Deadline
Objective: Complete, proofread, and submit the class publication for printing.
Activities:
- Mini-Lesson: The difference between revising and proofreading
- Complete a final check for accuracy, clarity, organization, spelling, punctuation, and respectful language
- Finalize headlines, captions, quotations, photographs, illustrations, and page layouts
- Assign newsroom roles as appropriate: writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, fact-checkers, and layout designers
- Assemble the class newspaper, magazine, newsletter, or other final project
- Create a front cover, title, table of contents, and contributor credits, if appropriate
- Submit the completed, print-ready project to Liz
Important: The final project must be sent to Liz at least one full week before the final lesson to allow time for printing and delivery to the school. Instructors should plan backward from the final class date and contact Liz earlier if they anticipate needing assistance with formatting or printing. Please send one complete, organized file rather than separate student files whenever possible.
Lesson 10: Newsroom Celebration!
Objective: Celebrate the completed publication, recognize each student’s contributions, and reflect on the term.
Activities:
- Reveal and distribute the printed class newspaper, magazine, or newsletter
- Host a newsroom celebration where students browse and enjoy one another’s work
- Reporter Spotlight: Each student introduces a piece, reads a favourite excerpt, or shares something they contributed
- Optional Press Conference: Students answer fun questions about their stories and creative process
- Newsroom Awards: Celebrate strengths such as creative headlines, thoughtful questions, careful editing, engaging writing, teamwork, and original ideas
- Reflection: Which journalism skill improved the most? What story would you investigate next?
- Take a group photo with the finished publication, if permitted
- Celebrate with a newsroom-themed game or Instructor-approved snack
Content Creators: Journalism Club Packing List
The final format of the class project may vary depending on the group’s interests and the technology available at the school. Additional materials may be requested by emailing Liz at any time. Please give at least one week’s notice when requesting supplies.
If the group is creating a printed final project, the Instructor must email the completed, print-ready file to Liz at least one full week before the final lesson. Earlier submission is encouraged for longer publications or projects requiring special formatting.
Student Resources
✔️ Content Creators: Journalism Club — Student Resource Pack — one complete printed pack per student
This pack contains the planning sheets, interview tools, writing templates, editing checklists, and reflection activities needed throughout the program. Instructors may use the pages in the order that best suits their group.
General Supplies Used Every Week
✔️ Pencils, pens, erasers, and sharpeners
✔️ Lined and blank paper
✔️ Reporter notebooks or small notebooks
✔️ Large white paper
✔️ Markers and pencil crayons
✔️ Sticky notes
✔️ Index cards
✔️ Folders for storing student work
✔️ Timer or stopwatch — Instructors may use their own phone
Photography & Visual Content Materials
✔️ School-approved tablets, laptops, or cameras, where available (check with Liz if you’d like students to use their computers)
✔️ Plain and coloured paper for handmade layouts
✔️ Rulers
✔️ Scissors
✔️ Glue sticks
✔️ Magazines and flyers for layout inspiration and collage activities — Instructors to provide
✔️ Props or simple objects for staged photography — Instructors to provide OR submit a Supplies Request to Liz
Final Publication Materials
✔️ Construction paper or cardstock
✔️ White paper
✔️ Stapler and staples (several)
✔️ Tape and glue
Instructor-Created Resources
Instructors may create the following with or for their group as needed:
✔️ Story and photography prompts
✔️ Headline examples
✔️ Age-appropriate sample articles, interviews, reviews, and features
✔️ Newsroom roles and assignments
✔️ Group brainstorming charts
✔️ The final publication layout
Students must not publish identifying information, private details, photographs, recordings, or interviews without appropriate permission. Class devices and accounts should be used only as directed by Liz and/or Randy.