Welcome to The News-Star's Newspaper in Education site!

Add The News-Star to your classroom curriculum! Our Newspaper in Education web site will enrich your existing lessons, enliven classroom discussions and develop lifelong reading habits for your students.

The News-Star is your local news source, offering daily updates on the relevant information you and your students need to understand our rapidly changing world. Our coverage of local, state, and federal governments helps young people see how the democratic process affects them on a personal level. We provide students with the thought-provoking materials that inform, inspire and move them to participate in the world around them.

Through our NIE website, you can enjoy our database of newspaper-based Lesson Plans for grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12, offered free to the educational community, as well as our weekly Geography-in-the-News lesson, "This Week in History" and "Front Page Talking Points."

In these activities, students are encouraged to discuss, engage and relate the news to their own lives. The lesson plans tie current events to lessons of history, government and sciences, sending students into the articles and regular features of the printed or online newspapers. Our lesson plans, customized by grade level, are updated every Monday.

Electronic edition newspapers are available daily by teacher request. Contact Hugh Posey, hposey@monroe.gannett.com, to sign up today!

Online Extras (Updated every Monday)

Resources to help you put The News Star to work in your classroom

Download a lesson based on political cartoons and print it out for use in your classroom. (PDF format)

This week's lesson: Disasters put focus on regulations

►Download this week's lesson
►There are more than 180 lessons archived for your use

Audio

Daily Science Webcasts

Science Diary: Healthy Ocean - Update

Some fish species are in hot water, ecologically speaking, but as consumers we can help turn the tide.
Play Audio
-- May 24, 2013

Tap the wealth of information in your newspaper as a teaching tool:

►Elementary (K-4)
►Middle (5-8)
►Secondary (9-12)

Diversity, multiculturalism, worldwide events. You'll find plenty for classroom discussions in this listing of events.

►Get This Week in History

►Federal safety board urges tougher drinking-and-driving cutoff limit to match other nations

-- Front Page Talking Points Archive

►Enhance vocabulary and written/verbal skills with over 2,500 pages of puzzles, themed features, word lists, SAT, ACT test prep and word games.

Created by:
Jan and Carey Cook

NIE Special Report

Whether its from the simple desire to help others, our environment, or our way of life, innovation is a process that begins with imagination and results in the creation of something of value for society. NBC Learn, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the National Science Teachers Association, explores the process of innovations in this compelling 11-week video series.

►View this weeks video : 3-D Printing

This week's word in the news: INITIATE

DEFINITION:
To set going by taking the first step; begin.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Troopers initiated a pursuit of the vehicle at the rest area on Interstate 71 just north of the Ohio 123 exit east of Lebanon, troopers said.
►The Dayton Daily News -- 05/20/2013

►Mayan pyramid destroyed in Belize

Answer FIVE Geography questions each week based on major news events.

►Archive of Geography quizzes

Google Glass Causing Congressional Privacy Concerns

►Discussion prompts & video archive.

Helping Kids Cope with Natural Disasters

Unfortunately, natural disasters do happen, and people are often affected adversely. It’s a traumatic time for everyone, but can be especially distressing to children. As a parent, caregiver or educator, you can help children cope by monitoring their emotional state, answering their questions, and creating opportunities to connect with family, friends, and the larger community.

Click here for some ideas for getting through this difficult time