The following lesson activity invites students to learn about the new Times section What in the World and includes two short articles from it.
Before Reading
What in the World is a new Times section that “offers you glimpses of what our journalists are observing around the globe.”
What places in the world are you most curious about? Why?
If a reporter from another country were to visit your hometown, what customs or traditions might he or she find odd enough to report on?
After Reading “The Wrong Day to Be a Cat in Belgium”
Answer the questions, supporting your responses by citing evidence from the text.
1. Why in the Middle Ages did the people of Ypres, Belgium, toss cats to their death from a bell tower?
2. When and why did they stop?
3. What do they do today instead?
After Reading “In Finland, a Postal Worker Will Mow Your Lawn”
Answer the questions, supporting your responses by citing evidence from the text.
1. Starting May 17, if you live in Finland, what can you have a mail carrier do?
2. Who came up with the idea and when do they do it?
3. What other enterprising things has Finland’s postal service done? What other countries have postal services that do innovative things?
4. What do you wish your postal service would do besides deliver the mail?
Going Further
Read a few more of these What in the World posts so that you understand the basic style and length. Then choose something interesting about your area — whether a custom, tradition, community event, invention, historical event, geographical feature, trend or anything else — and write it up as if you are a What in the World reporter from another country.
Related
Student Question based on a ‘What in the World’ piece | What’s Your Favorite Candy?
Student Question | Where in the World Would You Most Like to Travel?