February 17, 2011, 3:13 pm
By ANNISSA HAMBOUZ and HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO
Damon Winter/The New York Times Justin Bieber fans waited to get tickets for a screening of “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” in Times Square. Go to related article »
Media Studies
Teaching ideas based on New York Times content.
Overview | What are pop culture idols and icons, and how do they both reflect and influence the prevailing culture? What does media coverage about popular stars say about them, the publications and the culture overall? In this lesson, students analyze the teenage singing sensation Justin Bieber through the lens of cultural criticism and consider some of the ways critics deconstruct other cultural heroes and heroines. Read more…
February 17, 2011, 10:49 am
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
In our weekly “Poetry Pairing” series, we collaborate with the Poetry Foundation to feature a work from its American Life in Poetry project alongside content from The Times that somehow echoes, extends or challenges the poem’s themes. Each poem is introduced briefly by Ted Kooser, a former United States poet laureate.
This week’s pairing: the poem “Mysterious Neighbors” and a blog post, “Guns in Frail Hands.”
After you’ve read the poem and article, tell us what you think — or suggest other Times content that could be paired with the poem instead.
Read more…
February 17, 2011, 4:48 am
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.
It’s Fashion Week in New York City, and many designers, including Michael Kors and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, are showing their fall collections. How important is fashion to you? Even if you can’t afford to dress in the latest styles, do you follow the trends? What’s your favorite piece of clothing? Why?
Read more…
February 17, 2011, 4:45 am
By THE LEARNING NETWORK
Test your vocabulary skills with today’s question, created by Danielle Hoagland and Judith McCaffrey at Grammarlogues from the editorial “In Roars February.”
After you’ve clicked “submit answer,” more information will appear. To learn more about this topic, visit a related page on Grammarlogues.
Use our questions for test prep or just for fun. Find more here:
February 17, 2011, 2:47 am
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
6 Q’s About the News
Use the photo and related article to answer basic news questions.
WHO won Best in Show at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?
WHY was her win noteworthy?
WHERE does this dog live when she is not on the show circuit?
WHAT other dogs were contestants for Best in Show?
WHAT did you learn about deerhounds in general from this article?
WHAT dogs do you like best in this interactive of 102 champion breeds at Westminster this year?
WHEN does this dog breed date to?
HOW does her handler keep this dog happy on the road?
Related: our collection 12 Years of Lesson Plans About the Animal Kingdom
February 17, 2011, 1:30 am
By JULIE COHN
See what you know about the news below. To prepare, you might scan the articles or summaries on today’s paper.
February 17, 2011, 12:09 am
By THE LEARNING NETWORK
solstice •\ˈsäl-stəs, ˈsōl-, ˈsȯl-\• noun
: either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator
The word solstice has appeared in 68 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Dec. 20 in the Op-Ed essay “There Goes the Sun,” by Richard Cohen:
Read more…
February 16, 2011, 3:25 pm
By JENNIFER CUTRARO and HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO
Patrick Andrade for The New York Times Photovoltaic panels soak up the first rays of sunrise on the roof of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s new hyperefficient office building in Golden, Colo. Go to related article »
Science
Teaching ideas based on New York Times content.
Overview | How can new buildings be designed in ways that minimize their energy use? How can energy be used more efficiently in existing buildings? In this lesson, students learn about green building design, perform energy audits of their schools and then develop proposals for making their schools more energy efficient. Read more…
February 16, 2011, 4:14 am
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.
According to About.com, an urban legend is “an apocryphal, secondhand story, told as true and just plausible enough to be believed, about some horrific, embarrassing, ironic or exasperating series of events that supposedly happened to a real person.” This Times story, about a “cursed” mansion in Hollywood, is one example. What urban legends are there about houses, parks, stores or other places in your area? Even if you can’t think of any, what places near you have you always been curious about? Why?
Read more…
February 16, 2011, 3:33 am
By THE LEARNING NETWORK
Test your math skills with today’s question, created by Bobson Wong at Math for America from the article “Long and Short of Calcium and Vitamin D.”
After you’ve clicked “submit answer,” more information will appear.
Use our questions for test prep or just for fun. Find more here:
Historical Times front pages, lesson plans, crosswords, multimedia and more
A variety of ways to approach this news in the classroom, updated regularly.
