Using NewsHour Extra Worksheets

 

Overview: NewsHour Extra worksheets can help students follow along and identify key points in NewsHour science broadcast pieces.

Warm Up: Introduce the topic of the broadcast piece and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Hand out the worksheet and have students answer the questions as they watch the NewsHour segment.

Need a DVD of the science segment?: Write to science@newshour.org.

 

Story: Fierce Competition Adds Verve to Growing Smart Phone Market, 11/20/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec07/smartphone_11-20.html


Worksheet Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What percentage of Americans own cell phones? How many cell phones exist worldwide?

Eighty percent of Americans own cell phones; three billion phones exist worldwide.

2. Is there any industry-wide definition of a smart phone? If not, how do most people define it?

There is no industry-wide definition, but in general, smart phones are phones with a computer-like operating systems that can accommodate a lot of programs or applications made by a variety of companies. These phones access the Internet, play music and hold games, in addition to making phone calls.

3. What percentage of phones sold in the United States today are smart phones?

About 10 percent of the phones sold in the United States are smart phones.

4. How many years ago did Martin Cooper invent the cell phone? How long did it take Motorola to market the device?

Cooper invented the cell phone 34 years ago. It took Motorola 15 years after that to bring the first one to market.

5. How is the search engine company Google planning to enter the cell phone market?

The company is developing a software operating system for mobile phones, and has teamed up with 34 companies that will allow software developers to add any application to the phone -- such as maps or games -- that they want.

 

For more NewsHour Science Reports, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/science.

For more science lesson plans and worksheets, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science.