Teacher Pages 

Introduction for the teacher

• This lesson is estimated to take ten 50 minute class periods. The time required will depend on several factors including the amount of time it takes to learn Microsoft Publisher, availability of computers for, and the amount of guidance that the girls need with various parts of the task.

• You are the Publisher of the magazine. 

• You will need to assign one of four roles to each of the girls. Alternately, you could allow the girls to choose their roles.  The roles and suggested personal characteristics are:
• Editor:  above average writing skills, leadership/ability to work with others 
• Fiction writer: likes to write fiction, good imagination
• Feature writer: likes to research topics, organized
• Advice columnist: has empathy for others, friendly

• After you have assigned roles, then form groups with one girl from each role in the group. Because you know your students, you are in the best position to decide which students would work well together.

• If you are not familiar with Microsoft Publisher or a similar program, you will need to arrange to learn it and teach it to the students at the appropriate point in the lesson. Alternately, the magazine could be produced in Word.

• The students will need to have adequate time on the computers to research their part of the magazine, and to write their articles. If there are enough computers for them all to work at the same time, that would be best. However, if there are fewer computers, then the instructions from the WebQuest can be printed off and distributed. The articles or stories could be written first by hand, edited and then typed into Word.

Lesson Plans

Pre-WebQuest

• activities to help the girls define who they are such as completing a name acrostic, creating a business card to introduce themselves, indicating a song that identifies their personality, and a favorite Bible Verse.

• reviewing Who I Am in Christ

• group activities that require them to work together to complete a given physical challenge  (These should be able to be completed in 20-50 minutes.) 

Step 1 - Introducing the Webquest

• To introduce the concept of a WebQuest to your class, have them access the WebQuest and read the Introduction, and the task.

• Next assign the roles of Editor, Advice Columnist, Feature Writer, and Fiction Writer.If the number of students in your class is not divisible by 4 then assign extra girls to be feature writers and make groups of five as needed.

• Have all of the girls in each role meet in a group around a computer where they can access the WebQuest. Their task in this group is to work together to understand their roles. Encourage them to read their job description and task list together. Then clarify any questions that they have about their role.  If there are not enough computers, you may print out the job descriptions.

Step 2 - First Magazine Group Meeting
Now that the girls understand their roles in the magazine, announce the magazine group assignments to the  of girls. Have the girls form into their group with the following tasks to accomplish.  If there are not enough computers the pages could be printed out.

• Each girl is to describe her role to the other group members.
• Decide on a name for the group. Remember to consider every one's ideas.
• Decide on a name for the magazine. Make it fun and appealing to other girls.
• As a group, read the BIG QUESTIONS.   Then decide on the topics that their version of the magazine will address and who will address that topic (either the fiction writer, the advice columnist or the feature writer).
• At the end of the meeting, the editor will submit in writing (get form) the name of the group, the name of the magazine, and the topics selected to the Publisher to obtain her approval.

Step 3 - Researching and Writing Articles

At the beginning of every class, the editors should hold a brief 3-5 minute huddle with their group to ensure that every one understands the project and that they are making progress on their part.  Following this meeting the editor should report progress to the Publisher.  As the Publisher you may assist each editor, but the group members should be encouraged to talk to the group's editor before consulting the publisher for help.

Step 4 - Putting the Magazine Together 
After the articles are completed in Word, the group should work together to put the magazine together. This includes designing the cover, the lay out, artwork, and the order of the articles. The editor will lead the discussion, but every one's opinion is just as important. Every one must reach a consensus.   The magazine should then be assembled in Microsoft Publisher.  (If needed instruction needs to be given in how to use this program.)

Step 5 - Printing Rough Draft of Magazine

After each group has the rough draft of the magazine completed, they should give it to the Publisher for needed editing and final approval.  

Step 6 - Printing the Magazine.

• After all edits are completed the Publisher should obtain an electronic copy of the magazine. 

• When printing the magazine, you need to consider the printing options open to you. 

• Color printing is expensive, you could opt for a color only on the cover, or for a totally black and white magazine.  (This decision may be discussed with the class in one of the initial classes.  They may have access to a color printer or ink or be willing to finance the cost.) 

• If using a copier to be sure to obtain an excellent master to used for printing.

• Depending on the quality of the copier, you may opt to print all magazines from the printer.  When coping images of any kind, the picture is degraded when it is copied.

• If printing the magazine directly from the computer printer, check on the printer options for printing front and back of the page.

Step 7 - Closure (Optional Assignments)

To bring closure to the assignment you may ask the girls to respond in writing to one or more of these questions. Alternatively, you could use them to stimulate a class room discussion.

•   Have any of the topics affected you personally?
•   What have you learned about the 'tween years?
•   Have you changed any of your actions or behavior because of what you have learned?
•   How does having God in your life make a difference in the way that you live?  
•   How can you use the things that you have learned to make a difference in some one else's life?