See what you know about the news below. To prepare, you might scan the articles or summaries on today’s paper.
News Quiz | April 15, 2011
By JULIE COHNWord of the Day | obfuscate
By THE LEARNING NETWORKobfuscate •\ˈäb-fə-ˌskāt; äb-ˈfəs-ˌkāt, əb-\• verb
: make obscure or unclear
The word obfuscate has appeared in 14 New York Times articles in the past year, including on June 28 in “Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray,” by Jan Hoffman:
Figuratively Speaking: Exploring How Metaphors Make Meaning
By AMANDA CHRISTY BROWN and HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO
Language Arts
Teaching ideas based on New York Times content.
Overview | How are metaphors used in both writing and everyday life? What is the role of metaphors in shaping our reality? In this lesson, students raise their awareness of the prevalence and function of metaphors in our everyday language by investigating common metaphors in poetry and song, analyzing the use of metaphors in a variety of short texts and exploring the metaphors in use throughout their daily life.
Materials | Student journals, slips of paper with metaphors for love from songs and poems (see below), computers with Internet access or print copies of The New York Times
Warm-Up | Before students arrive, write “Love is _______________” on the board. As they enter, ask them to use their journals to fill in the blank with a noun (and an article, if necessary) that best represents their feelings about love.
After two minutes, invite students to share their sentences. Ask the class if they noticed any similarities. If no one mentions it, explain that these sentences are metaphors. Take the time to review or introduce the definition of metaphor and various types of metaphors, and to distinguish them from similes. Read more…
Poetry Pairing | April 14, 2011
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
Jeremy M. Lange for The New York Times Creighton Lee Calhoun Jr. has spent over 30 years collecting old Southern apple varieties in the hope of sustaining them. At his home in Pittsboro, N.C., he trains most of his collection on wires. Go to related article »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 we pair the poem “Peach Fires” with a March article from the Home and Garden section, “He Keeps Ancient Apples Fresh and Crisp.”
What Song/Artist Pairings Would You Like to Hear?
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
A review describes a recent Carnegie Hall concert in which James Taylor and guests like Sting and Bette Midler sang their versions of classic songs including “Home on the Range” and “Penny Lane.” Is there a song that you love, whether old or new, that you would like to hear a different artist perform? What song would that be, and whom would you like to hear sing it? Why?
Fiddle-Dee-Dee! ‘Gone With the Wind’ Lives On
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
Rich Addicks for The New York Times Selina Faye Sorrow adorns nearly every room of her home in Powder Springs, Ga., with “Gone With the Wind” memorabilia. Go to related article » Use the photo and related article to answer basic news questions.
WHO are the “Windies”?
WHEN was the book, “Gone With the Wind,” first published?
WHAT are some of the items related to the book and movie that Selina Faye Sorrow owns? (This slide show might help.)
WHAT book, movie or television show have you ever collected memorabilia about?
WHERE do Windies consider “the promised land”?
HOW many main actors from the original film are still alive?
WHY, according to a Windies organizer, Kathleen Marcaccio, do the book’s themes still resonate?
Related: Our lesson plan “What’s Your Reading History? Reflecting on the Self as Reader” can help students think about how our reading, or viewing, experiences shape who we are.
Test Yourself | April 14, 2011
By THE LEARNING NETWORKTest your proofreading skills with today’s question, created by Danielle Hoagland and Judith McCaffrey at Grammarlogues, from the article “An Easter Treat From the ‘Cake Boss.’ “
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:
News Quiz | April 14, 2011
By TAMARA BESTSee what you know about the news below. To prepare, you might scan the articles or summaries on today’s paper.
Word of the Day | chaotic
By THE LEARNING NETWORKchaotic •\kā-ˈä-tik\• adjective
1. lacking a visible order or organization
2. completely unordered and unpredictable and confusing
The word chaotic has appeared in 697 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Sunday in “It’s Time for Your Face-Lift, Miss Piggy,” by Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes:
Reader Idea | A Student-Driven Bullying Curriculum
By KATHERINE SCHULTEN
Jon Schulman The top seventh-grade Peer Leaders at Intermediate School 291 in Brooklyn. From left, Diana Plascencia, Sandra Burgos and Pamela Moronta.Ideas From Readers
Submit your story about how you’ve taught with The Times.
Here is another in our Great Ideas From Readers series.
If you’ve used The Times for teaching and learning and would like to see your idea in our blog, write in and tell us what you’ve done.
Teacher: Jon Schulman, Civics and Law Coordinator
School/Location: Roland Hayes – Intermediate School 291, in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn
Grade or Level of Students: Middle School (ages 11-14)
Idea: A student peer-leadership group takes on bullying with monthly grade and schoolwide initiatives.
Why We Chose It: With a few Times articles and Learning Network resources as inspiration, this teacher created a semester-long, student-run antibullying curriculum that his peer leadership group has taken and made their own. Mr. Schulman describes the program at his school, then suggests nine ideas any school could adapt.
Read more…
Learn about why and how we pay taxes with this hands-on lesson plan in which students fill out tax returns.
Over 20 ideas for teaching poetry, plus our Second Annual Found Poem Challenge. 
