Book COLUMNSNIE classroom FeatureS

Missouri Press Foundation helps our newspapers reach young readers by providing in-paper youth content. Through grants and partnerships with a variety of state organizations and agencies, we have provided educational youth features on topics such as Missouri's rivers, economics, environment, geology, state parks and historic sites, energy, government and history. Below are features currently available. For information and dates on upcoming features, please refer to the MPA NIE Calendar.

CIVIC EDUCATION FEATURES

Law Day Feature
Each year we commemorate Law Day on May 1, but do young readers know why? This quarter page feature, created in partnership with The Missouri Bar gives background on Law Day, created in 1958, and provides activities for further learning. Click HERE to download the feature using CODE: lawday1

Vote Missouri Series
Educate your readers, young and old, on the importance of voting in Missouri with this series from MPA and The Missouri Bar. "Vote Missouri" offers 10 features, teaching readers the history, requirement and duties of five elected offices and voting. Click HERE to download the features using CODE: votemo


Constitution Day Features
Schools must teach about the Constitution on or around Sept. 17, Constitution Day each year. Missouri Press, in partnership with The Missouri Bar, has created several newspaper features teaching about the Constitution. Available are two full pages, one teaching about our founding document (that can stand alone) and a second page filled with classroom activities for all grades; a half-page "Celebrating Our Constitution" feature: and a quarter-page "Happy Birthday to Our Constitution" feature. Click HERE to download the features using the CODE: constitution

Celebrate Bill of Rights
Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights December 15, 1789, many lawyers, historians and political scientists have opined that the Bill of Rights is more important than the original Constitution. MPA and The Missouri Bar created two features to present various ways that teachers can demonstrate to their students how the Bill of Rights is a living document. Click HERE to download both the half-page feature and a quarter-page format.  CODE: rights

Judges: Umpires of the Law
Judges are often called umpires of the law, because just like baseball umpire make sure a ball game is fair for all players, judges make sure their courtroom is fair for everyone who comes seeking justice. This three-part educational series from The Missouri Bar and MPA explores the judicial branch of government addressing: What is the Rule of Law?; Living by the Rule of Law; and Choosing Umpires of the Law. Click HERE to download Judges: Umpires of the Law. CODE: judges

High School Civics Series
The Supreme Court of the United States has weighed in on the lives of high school students several times over the past 50 years. Another partnership of The Missouri Bar and MPA, this four part series is based on landmark Supreme Court cases that have greatly impacted high schools throughout the nation. Each feature contains background, the ruling and activities to use with high school students. Click HERE to download the series using CODE: courts4

GEOGRAPHY FEATURES

My Wonderful World Series
Created in partnership with Missouri Geographic Alliance, this four-part series offers a look at the importance geography plays in our lives. Includes an introductory feature What is Geography; 10 Cool things about Geography; a family-friendly geography quiz; and a feature filled with geography activities for family fun. Click HERE to download the features using CODE: geography06

Migration Series
Promote geographic awareness with this three-part series focusing on "Migration: The Human Journey" and highlighting Amish and Black migration into Missouri. Click HERE to download using CODE: migration

Historic Cultures Series
This three-part series of newspaper features, "The People of Our Place,"  focus on historical cultures -- the Missouri French, Scots-Irish and German. These Newspaper In Education features include information and activities. Click HERE to download using CODE: people

Geography Habitats Series
Two quarter-page features, “Home Sweet Home” highlight Missouri’s prairie and river habitats. Classroom activities are included. Click HERE to download the features using CODE: habitats

HISTORY FEATURES

Great American Lives of 19th Century Missourians Series
These features highlight the lives of 10 famous Missourians. The content for this series was donated by the Joplin Globe. These can be used any time or on/around "Missouri Day,” the third Wednesday in October. Click HERE to download using CODE: lives.

Louisiana Purchase Series
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and created a country of diverse cultures, new citizens and vast natural resources. This series of four features includes a look at the Purchase's effect on Native American life and culture; French and Spanish settlement and culture; family life in the Louisiana Territory; and a general history of the Louisiana Purchase. Click HERE to download using Code: purchase.

Was the Louisiana Purchase Legal?
When President Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase, nothing in the constitution specifically gave him that power. Was the Purchase Extra-Constitutional? This feature, created in partnership with The Missouri Bar, looks at the legalities of the Purchase. It can be published at any time and works well as a fifth part to the Louisiana Purchase Series. Click HERE to download using CODE: purchase

Lewis and Clark's Missouri
In partnership with the Missouri Historical Society, MPA created an 8-part educational series on Lewis and Clark's adventures in Missouri. A teacher guide also is available. Click HERE to download the series using CODE: lcmo

Lewis and Clark's: Exploring Another America
Created in partnership with the Missouri Historical Society in celebration of the bicentennial of the Explorer’s famous journey west, this 16-page tabloid covers diplomacy and politics; the role of women; mapping the landscape; animals; warriors and soldiers; language; trade and property; curing and plants. Each theme addresses both the Euro-American and the American Indian perspectives with emphasis on specific tribes. The center pages feature a color map of the journey identifying Indian tribes encountered along the trail. Click HERE to see a sample of the series and teacher guide and to download an order form for the tabloid using CODE: lcteacher

JOURNALISM FEATURES

Celebrate Famous Missouri Journalists
Missouri Press Foundation created a series on Famous Missouri Journalists available for newspapers to use at any time. This series focuses on six contributions to Missouri journalism - Eugene Field, Mark Twain, Joseph Charles, William Switzler, the four generations of Joseph Pulitzers and the Missouri Press Association. Also available is a promotional ad and teaching activities correlated to Missouri’s learning standards. Click HERE to download the features using the CODE: mojournalists

Political Cartoons
Columbia Daily Tribune's John Darkow generously donates a Newspaper In Education themed political cartoon to Missouri Press Foundation each year. Click HERE to download available cartoons using the CODE: mocartoon

Newspaper In Education Editorials
Looking for an editorial on the value of Newspaper In Education? These three guest editorials provide insightful text newspapers can publish or use as inspiration for their own efforts. Click HERE to download using CODE: nieops

SCIENCE FEATURES

What's Growin' On in Missouri
Agriculture is important to Missouri, and Missouri makes a significant contribution to feeding our nation and world. "What's Growin' On in Missouri" is available as an 8-part in-paper series or as a 16-page tabloid.
Click HERE to download these features using CODE: growmo

READING & STUDENT SUCCESS FEATURES

Tips for Parents:
Setting the Foundation for Student Achievement Series
Use one or all of this six-part series to help parents help their children succeed in school. Created by Missouri State Teachers Association, topics for the quarter-page features include: Easing Back to School Jitters; Parent-teacher conferences, Helping the child together; Helping them hone math and science skills; After School: What parents should know; Checklist for helping your child with homework; and Family Involvement: A key to student success. Click HERE to download to download PSA, color and black and white features and Spanish versions using CODE: achieve

Read the Newspaper with your kids!
This half-page feature promotes the value of reading the newspaper with children. Written by Jim Trelease, a best-selling author and speaker, the feature's message is the valuable foundation Trelease's father laid for him as they read the newspaper together. This feature can be used at any time. Click HERE to download using CODE: reading

Dr. Seuss Feature
This feature commemorates Read Across America, a nationwide celebration of reading held each March. Newspaper activities tie to Dr. Suess books. Click HERE to download the feature using CODE: reading1

Newsbee’s Tips for Reading Together
Dozens of tips for sharing reading with children are compiled into this half-page feature from the Washington Missourian, creator of the Book Buzz column. Click HERE to download using CODE: tips07

OTHER RESOURCES

NAA Foundation Literacy Features
National Literacy Day is September 8 and Family Literacy Day is November 1. Each year, the Newspaper Association of America Foundation creates in-paper features and a tabloid for newspapers nationwide. The 16-page tabloid is available for free in either black and white or color formats. Also included are activities to promote the use of newspapers in the classroom. These activities can be used by parents and/or teachers to encourage reading. Go to www.naafoundation.org to order a free CD.

NAA NIE Week Features
The first full week each March is designated as National Newspaper In Education Week. The Newspaper Association of America Foundation produces in-paper resources and teacher guides on a different theme each year. Visit the NAAF to access these resources.