Paper Wonders | EDUCATING FUTURE NOW
Activities That Your Child Can Do
Activity 1: Get him to read the newspapers
The newspapers provide not only up-to-date information on current affairs; it is also a good 'training' resource that it inexpensive. If you find that the hard copy is too bulky, there is always the online version. Either one is good enough.
Click on the boxes to find out more about the various sections of The Straits Times and how they can be used:
Activity 1: Get him to read the newspapers
The newspapers provide not only up-to-date information on current affairs; it is also a good 'training' resource that it inexpensive. If you find that the hard copy is too bulky, there is always the online version. Either one is good enough.
Click on the boxes to find out more about the various sections of The Straits Times and how they can be used:
Enter the name for this tabbed section: THE BIG STORY
THE BIG STORY: covers the headline news and news of major events all over the world. They are the 'highlights' for the day. If your child wants to stay abreast of current affairs, then they have to read this section.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: WORLD
WORLD: I would call this the 'heavy-going' section of the newspapers. It contains news from all over the world and covers a wide range of information. They may find it hard to follow the news initially as they may not be familiar with the countries that the news is reporting on. This situation will improve as they continue to read them and become more familiarised with it. As they may encounter de-contexualised Source-based Questions using another country as a case study in their examinations, reading the WORLD section helps to prepare them for the unknown.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: OPINION & FORUM
OPINION: this section comprises of articles written by journalists or academics. These articles are generally analytical and argumentative in nature. Reading this section helps them improve their ability to understand another person's point of view. They can also learn to identify the writer's basis of argument and the assumptions that they made in the article. This is a good section to read to improve one's critical thinking competencies.
FORUM: Another good resource that can help improve your child's ability to understand Point-of-Views (POV) is the FORUM Letters. These letters represent the POVs of the authors and could only be understood from their perspectives. Furthermore, your child has to learn to contextualise the issues that the authors have raised to understand the letters accurately. Unlike the analytical articles that are found in the same section, letters are easier to read as they are shorter. Your child can learn to judge the validity and strength of an argument presented in the letters.
FORUM: Another good resource that can help improve your child's ability to understand Point-of-Views (POV) is the FORUM Letters. These letters represent the POVs of the authors and could only be understood from their perspectives. Furthermore, your child has to learn to contextualise the issues that the authors have raised to understand the letters accurately. Unlike the analytical articles that are found in the same section, letters are easier to read as they are shorter. Your child can learn to judge the validity and strength of an argument presented in the letters.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE: this section is very relevant to your child's Social Studies syllabus as most of the case studies are local ones. They should read this section to keep abreast of local news. This will help to increase their content knowledge that they need for both the Source-based Questions and Structured Response Questions. But more importantly, this is their country too. Shouldn't they know more about it?
Enter the name for this tabbed section: LIFE
LIFE: includes entertainment and news and the arts.
This section covers the more light-hearted news and information. They may want to read it to find out more about developments in the entertainment scene and the arts. This section also features success stories of entrepreneurs. This is a good place to learn some of the values that enable people to succeed in life.
Another part of this section that you may want to read is the comic strips (unfortunately, most of them have been removed to make way for other news). The comic strips are good in helping them acquire the ability to read the tone of a source. In fact, their brain has to process a lot of 'information' before they can 'get' the joke. The comic strips help to sensitise the brain to read subtle messages and ideas that are not apparent at first sight. Over time, their ability to read 'between the lines' will improve.
This section covers the more light-hearted news and information. They may want to read it to find out more about developments in the entertainment scene and the arts. This section also features success stories of entrepreneurs. This is a good place to learn some of the values that enable people to succeed in life.
Another part of this section that you may want to read is the comic strips (unfortunately, most of them have been removed to make way for other news). The comic strips are good in helping them acquire the ability to read the tone of a source. In fact, their brain has to process a lot of 'information' before they can 'get' the joke. The comic strips help to sensitise the brain to read subtle messages and ideas that are not apparent at first sight. Over time, their ability to read 'between the lines' will improve.
