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Short Texts at Your Fingertips: Magazine Articles

Julie Wright

Written by Julie Wright & Elizabeth Keim

SHORT TEXTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: MAGAZINE ARTICLES

It’s no surprise that waiting rooms are filled with tables and shelves filled with magazines for people to enjoy while they wait.  Whether your wait is long or short, magazine articles are a perfect fit because you can leaf through the pages and find an article that piques your interest.  Readers of all ages can be inspired by all that this short text type has to offer.  For many reasons, magazine articles are enticing because they can be:

  • Arranged and displayed to catch readers’ eyes

  • Considered a “guilty pleasure” or source for important information 

  • Easily transported and shared with others

  • Read from cover to cover or you can dip in and out of it and read what appeals to you

  • Read once or multiple times

VIDEO 

Take a look at this short video on how to use magazine articles to entertain, inform, and inspire.

TRY THIS!

Step 1

Take a look around your home to see if you have any magazines, old or new. Preview by looking at the front cover and then leafing through the pages.   Consider asking and answering some of these questions. 

  • What is the title of the magazine? 

  • When was this magazine published?

  • Is this a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or annual magazine?

  • Is there a Table of Contents? 

  • What is the feature article?  Are there other articles being highlighted?  How do you know?

  • Is there an article that stands out that you’d like to read first?

If you don’t have access to magazines that are appropriate or appealing to students, you can look online for options, many which can be accessed for free right now.  For a few examples, check out:

Step 2

Choose an article to read.  Here are some things you can do before, during and after you read.

Here’s an example:

For an example, we’ll use the Penguin Census, from the April 17, 2020 issue.  Time for Kids has graciously offered some free digital content for students, families and educators to use due to school closures.  

Here’s what we noticed:

  • There are some words that are in bold, marking their importance.

  • The cover image makes us wonder what the people are doing with/near the penguins.

  • There are captions below each image.

  • There are headings that divide up the article.

This text is filled with reading, writing and talking opportunities.  For example, you could:

  • Talk about the word, “census.” What does it mean?

  • Where is Snow Island, Antarctica?  Locate it on a map.

  • Read/research why it would be so important to count penguins.  

  • Read, write and talk about what krill has to do with this penguin study.

Step 3

Look for other reading, writing and talking opportunities using this short text type.

Reading  Ideas  

Writing  Ideas  

  • Research other animals that are counted [like the Chinstrap Penguin] and write about what, when, where, why, and how they are counted.

    • Some animals are counted annually.  There are Christmas bird counts when participants count all the birds in their yards on a particular day in December.

  • Draw pictures of favorite animals.

  • Make a list of fun facts about a favorite animal.

  • Pick a penguin type, or another animal, to write about.  You can write fiction, nonfiction, or narrative nonfiction.

Talking  Ideas 

  • Share any new ideas you’ve learned with others.

  • Talk about the pros and cons of using drone technology to study animals.

  • Share what you like or don’t like about zoos and aquariums.  What are the advantages and disadvantages for animals and humans?

  • Compare this “census” to the one currently being done in the United States.  How are the censuses similar and different?

Step 4

Look for other magazine articles that you find and read those too! 

FOR MORE RESOURCES, CHECK THESE OUT!

In addition to the magaziness we’ve already shared, here are a few examples you might find helpful.  

Preschool

Elementary

Tweens & Teens

COMING SOON!

Short Texts:  Mighty Mentors That Move Readers and Writers Forward by Julie Wright & Elizabeth Keim (Benchmark, 2021)