✏️ WritingGrade 2Lesson 34
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Create a Mini Family Newspaper

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Create a mini family newspaper with a newspaper name, headline, short article, and fun facts section
  • 2Write a short, punchy headline (5 to 8 words) that makes the reader want to know more
  • 3Write a 3 to 4 sentence news article in the third person (he / she / they) instead of first person
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Mini Lesson

A newspaper is a publication that shares news, information, and interesting facts with readers. A family newspaper does the same thing — but it reports on YOUR family! It is a real-world writing project that combines many skills you have practiced this year.

The Four Sections of a Mini Newspaper

  • Newspaper name — a short, catchy title for your paper. Example: The Maple Street Reporter
  • Headline — a short, bold sentence that tells the reader what the main article is about. Example: Local Kids Complete Amazing Art Project!
  • News article — 3 to 4 sentences reporting a real (or made-up) family event. Written in the third person (he / she / they — not I or we).
  • Fun facts — 2 to 3 short interesting facts about a topic you have studied this year.

Writing a Good Headline

  • Short and punchy — usually 5 to 8 words.
  • Starts with a capital letter and uses exciting language.
  • Does not give away every detail — it makes the reader want to read more!
  • Yes: Local Kids Win Town Science Fair!
  • No: Some children did a project and it went well and everyone was happy.

Writing in the Third Person

  • Newspapers report facts — they do not say "I" or "we."
  • Yes: "Kids at the library built a model volcano."
  • No: "We built a model volcano."
Mini newspaper layout showing four sectionsA newspaper layout card with the four sections labeled — name at top, headline below, article body, and fun facts at the bottom.Mini Newspaper LayoutTHE ROOM 2 REPORTERLocal Kids Win Science Fair!Kids at the library built a model volcanothat erupted red lava at the town fair.The group worked together for two weeks.Fun Facts• Real volcanoes can reach 1,000 C.• There are about 1,500 active volcanoes.1 Name2 Headline3 Article4 Fun Facts
A mini newspaper layout showing all four sections — name, headline, article body, and fun facts.
Good and bad headline comparison plus third person ruleTop half shows a weak headline versus a strong punchy headline. Bottom half shows the third person rule with an example.Headlines + Third PersonX Weak headlineWe did a projectand it was fun.✓ Strong headlineKids WinScience Fair!Third Person RuleX "We built a volcano." (first person)✓ "Kids built a volcano."News reports use he / she / they
Weak vs. strong headline comparison and the third person writing rule for newspaper articles.
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Ask yourself: "Does my headline make someone want to read more? Is my article written in the third person? Do my fun facts teach the reader something interesting?"

Vocabulary
Newspaper name
The catchy title at the very top of the newspaper in large bold letters that identifies the publicatione.g. The Maple Street Reporter
Headline
A short, bold 5 to 8 word sentence that tells what the article is about and makes the reader want to read moree.g. Local Kids Win Town Science Fair!
News article
A short 3 to 4 sentence report about a real or made-up family event, written in the third persone.g. Kids at the library built a model volcano that erupted red lava.
Third person
A writing voice that uses he, she, they, and kids — not I or we — so the report sounds objectivee.g. She led the team to victory in the final round.
Fun facts
Two or three short, interesting facts about a topic you have studied, to teach the reader something extrae.g. Real volcanoes can reach 1,000 degrees C.
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