This assignment seems like a simple editing project on the surface, but it's really a lot more important than that. Students look at current newspapers, websites, or TV news, and then decide what stories deserve to be the news.

The download provides over a dozen new headlines that classroom "editors" need to place appropriately in sections and as headlines. The bigger learning comes from the decision-making process. Why did some stories get bumped? Why are stories in certain sections? What news is really important?

This assignment could be used effectively in ELA classrooms, but it would also be great as a starter in a media studies or newswriting class. Have your social studies classes deciding what current events are worthy of the title. It can also be done from another perspective, like a foreign country or another state. Lots of possibilities.

Use it with your staff while adding a few school, specific headlines. Use it with your homeschooled kids to see what their values are. Young kids and college students. Try it this year and then twenty years from now to see if perception of news changes. I certainly had to alter a few headlines to sell the assignment.