We all know better. Students are busy all day exploring, investigating, experimenting, practicing, learning, and doing.
A great way to help students recognize the importance of the work they are doing, and help them share their stories is to give their learning an outlet beyond the classroom.
Connect with local media
Connect with a local media source and work with your students to publish their classroom and field experiences in the news! There are many news organizations around Maine that would love to broadcast students’ stories about what they’ve learned and how they are taking action:
Radio stations broadcast from Maine’s college campuses
Newsletters of local organizations including Land Trusts and Conservation Associations
In addition to recognizing the good work of your students, your story might inspire another teacher to use Watershed Experiences with their students!
Media Coverage Tips
Here are a few tips for getting the media interested in covering your Investigations and Student Action projects:
1. Identify the event/ story you want to share. Is it a field investigation? Are students interviewing local experts? Are students taking action?
2. Identify possible news outlet(s) that might be interested in your event/ story. Many local newspapers and television shows are eager for community-contributed ideas for news stories. Check out the websites of newspapers, television stations, etc. for information on how to contact them.
3. Contact the news outlet(s) you identified with a short, engaging synopsis of your event/ story. Include:
Your goals for project
The type of work being done
Your accomplishments
Quotes from your students or from those who joined your event
If the event hasn’t occurred yet:
Share details: when, where, what, why, and who.
Invite them to attend
Let them know what opportunities there will be for photographs, videos, etc.
4. Before your big day with the media, make sure you have permission from parents that authorize student pictures to be published. Know which students do not have permission, and be sure to tell photographers and videographers.
Involve students
Even better than taking on this project by yourself, get your students involved! Have them help you identify appropriate news outlets and develop your story pitch. Where and to whom do they want to tell their story?
Share with the VitalVenture community
Share your students’ videos, websites, photos, news clippings, or show-times with us! These stories will inspire other teachers to offer VitalVenture experiences in their classrooms.
Tips for Making the News
“What did you do at school today?”
“Nothing.”
Sound familiar?
We all know better. Students are busy all day exploring, investigating, experimenting, practicing, learning, and doing.
A great way to help students recognize the importance of the work they are doing, and help them share their stories is to give their learning an outlet beyond the classroom.
Connect with local media
Connect with a local media source and work with your students to publish their classroom and field experiences in the news! There are many news organizations around Maine that would love to broadcast students’ stories about what they’ve learned and how they are taking action:
In addition to recognizing the good work of your students, your story might inspire another teacher to use Watershed Experiences with their students!
Media Coverage Tips
Here are a few tips for getting the media interested in covering your Investigations and Student Action projects:
1. Identify the event/ story you want to share. Is it a field investigation? Are students interviewing local experts? Are students taking action?
2. Identify possible news outlet(s) that might be interested in your event/ story. Many local newspapers and television shows are eager for community-contributed ideas for news stories. Check out the websites of newspapers, television stations, etc. for information on how to contact them.
3. Contact the news outlet(s) you identified with a short, engaging synopsis of your event/ story. Include:
If the event hasn’t occurred yet:
4. Before your big day with the media, make sure you have permission from parents that authorize student pictures to be published. Know which students do not have permission, and be sure to tell photographers and videographers.
Involve students
Even better than taking on this project by yourself, get your students involved! Have them help you identify appropriate news outlets and develop your story pitch. Where and to whom do they want to tell their story?
Share with the VitalVenture community
Share your students’ videos, websites, photos, news clippings, or show-times with us! These stories will inspire other teachers to offer VitalVenture experiences in their classrooms.