Imagine you are a young reporter covering the national news of the 1920s and 1930s. You've just been assigned to a breaking story about a female pilot, Amelia Earhart. It's your job to tell readers nationwide everything they need to know and cover her life accurately and precisely. Since the designated time period that you are a reporter is during the 1920s and 30s, the events that follow haven't happened yet, such as World War II. You will also research the events of the 1920s and 1930s and get to read an online interview with a woman pilot that lived at the same time as Amelia Earhart. Good luck!

Task 1:
Develop your story as a newspaper article or a radio broadcast. (Radio became an important part of American life in the 1920s.) Before you start writing, it may help to check out some examples of how the news is covered. You could listen to a news story on the radio; read your local or national paper; check out articles from a newspaper Web site, such as   USA Today
Review the writing steps in our  News Writing Workshop  as you prepare to write your story.
Although every source reports the news differently, you will usually find there are basic elements common to all valid news stories. For example, every story should answer the critical five W's and an H about the event: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
To write your news story:
Choose one newsworthy event in Earhart's life that interests you. Be sure to record all the specific information you can find about the event — for example, the exact date and time, place, and circumstances.  Some sites to check out are  Amelia Earhart ,  Amelia Earhart Official Web site    If you need additional information, or want a different perspective, go to the library to find books and other materials about this event.

Task 2:
Think about historical events and social changes taking place in the United States during Earhart's life. How do you think people then would have reacted to the event?
Ask a grandparent or neighbor who remembers Earhart's accomplishments. How would people today react differently to the same event?
To find information on the people and events of the 1930's go to American History - 1930 web site.
Use the information you find from this web site to help write a paragraph with 5-8 sentences on how the events of the 1930's affected people's opinions on Amelia Earhart's attempt to fly around the world. Be sure to  mention at least 4 of the events that influenced the people's opinions.

Other events to look at:
 Susan B. Anthony and Views of Women's Suffrage Movement
 
 

Task 3:
Next, choose 2  individuals who had an impact on history during the 1930's from the list below.  Choose one individual from a web site you've already looked at. On each of these individuals, choose at least 5 interesting facts that you didn't know (Bonnie and Clyde count as only one person, since they did work together). You may write more on each person if you choose.
 
 

Task 4:
Now you can learn more about some of the challenges Amelia Earhart faced by reading an interview with a woman who grew up in the age of Earhart — and also chose to become a pilot!

"Meet Sylvia Barter, a World War II pilot and member of the Ninety-Nines, the organization of women pilots co-founded by Amelia Earhart in 1929.  In April 1997, Ms. Barter was online to answer questions about what life was like for female pilots during this period and to talk about how Amelia Earhart's work had an impact on women in aviation." Read the  INTERVIEW , and explore Sylvia Barter's early experiences, and learn why she chose to become a pilot.

After you read her interview, answer the following questions:
Part A: If you were a pilot wanting to fly around the world, what impact would others' opinions have on your decision? Would you doubt your desire to follow your dreams? Would you still go?
Part B: The challenges Amelia Earhart and Sylvia Barter faced were largely because they were woman. As you have research, people during the 1920s thought a woman's role was in the home, and taking care of the family, not following their dreams. What would you have said to them about their decision to risk their lives? Would your opinion change if a man was the pilot? Why or why not? Do you think the role of women have changed over the years?
(Use the other information you have researched to help show evidence to your opinions.)

When your tasks are completed, you will have a better understanding of the final flight of Amelia Earhart, and the social events and historical figures of the 1920s and 1930s. You're research has molded a new opinion of how women were treated during the 1920s, hopefully, allowing you to see how the times have changed.