Beacon Lesson Plan Library
Yellow Journalism in the Spanish-American War
Patricia Barry Holbert
Santa Rosa District Schools
Description
Students understand the role of “Yellow Journalism” (exaggeration of facts or events) in the Spanish-American War by writing articles in that style. The students work in groups to create a simulated newspaper from a date in 1898.
Objectives
The student understands how ideas and beliefs, decisions, and chance events have been used in the process of writing and interpreting history.
Materials
-Computer
-Word-processing Software (Examples: Microsoft Word, PageMaker, Appleworks)
-Scanner
-Internet access
-Any American History textbook
Preparations
1. Find information on the Spanish-American War.
2. Set up computers and software.
3. Check the dates and see if you want to add any to the list.
4. Check web sites.
Procedures
This lesson uses class time and group work.
The number of students in a group can depend on the number of computers available.
1. The teacher will give an overview of the role of “Yellow Journalism” in the Spanish-American War.
2. The teacher will assign a date in 1898 to each group that relates to events of the Spanish-American War. The students will recreate a probable headline and newspaper from the date assigned by the teacher.
Do not tell the group what happened on that date. Part of the assignment is to have the right information for each of the dates.
A. February 24, 1895 (Second Cuban Insurrection)
B. February 16, 1896 (General Weyler issues first orders to put Cuban rebels in concentration camps)
C. February 9, 1898 (DeLome Letter criticizing President McKinley printed)
D. February 15, 1898 (February 15, U.S.S. Maine explodes in Havana Harbor)
E. April 23, 1898 (Spain declares war on US)
F. April 25, 1898 (US declares war on Spain)
G. May 1, 1898 (Dewey defeated Spanish in the Philippines)
H. July 1, 1898 (Rough Riders took San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill)
I. August 9, 1898 (Miles defeats the Spanish in Puerto Rico)
J. December 10, 1898 (Treaty of Paris ends the war)
K. February 6, 1899 (Senate ratifies treaty)
3. The students work in groups at the computer to find information, pictures, and political cartoons from the Internet or other reference books to create their newspapers from a given date in 1898.
4. The teacher can use software that they have. (Examples: Microsoft Word, PageMaker)
5. The students:
A. Create a name for the newspaper.
B. Create a headline for the important event.
C. Have one main article that relates to the event in the headline.
D. Have one article that explains what led up to that event. Have it tell any important past events.
E. Have at least two pictures.
F. Have one political cartoon.
Assessments
The students recreate a probable headline and newspaper from the date assigned by the teacher.
Criteria for the Newspaper:
A. Create a name for the newspaper.
B. Create a headline for the important event.
C. Have one main article that relates to the event in the headline.
D. Have one article that explains what lead up to that event. Have the article explain any important past events.
E. Have at least two pictures.
F. Have one political cartoon from the Spanish-American War time period.
(See Associated File for the grading rubric)
The finished product will demonstrate the following standards:
The student understands how ideas and beliefs, decisions, and chance events have been used in the process of writing and interpreting history.
The student evaluates conflicting sources and materials in the interpretation of a historical event or episode.
To assess Cooperative workers, the teacher will have the students evaluate each other in their group. The teacher will watch for group work.
Extensions
This could be modified as an individual assignment for students to do at home.
Web Links
Web supplement for Yellow Journalism in the Spanish-American War The Spanish-American War in Motion PicturesWeb supplement for Yellow Journalism in the Spanish-American War Chronology of the Spanish-American WarWeb supplement for Yellow Journalism in the Spanish-American War Chronology of the Spanish-American WarWeb supplement for Yellow Journalism in the Spanish-American War Spanish American War Home Page
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