1. Secret Messages

Invisible ink isn’t just something you find in magic shows or the movies, according to a Yahoo! News article. It has been used for centuries to send secret messages. There is evidence it was used in ancient Roman times, during the American Revolutionary War and in World War II. You can make your own invisible ink using an acidic liquid like lemon juice or vinegar, which dry clearly. Once your writing dries, put the paper near a heat source, such as a light bulb or heater vent, and the message will re-appear. As a class, experiment with invisible ink by bringing in lemon juice or vinegar. Then find an interesting newspaper article, print it out and read it. Use some of your invisible ink to write three sentences that tell the main idea of the story. Have a classmate heat up your writing and read “the secret message” to the class.

Core/National Standard: Identifying the main topic of a multi-paragraph text.

2. Newsmobile

Imagine that you are in charge of car design at a wacky make-believe automobile company. Look through today’s newspaper and cut out pictures of objects that you find interesting. Draw a large outline of a car on a sheet of paper and paste your pictures inside the outline. Explain why you would want these items in your car. Be sure to give your car wheels, legs or another way to get around. Give your car a cool name and label your creation.

Core/National Standard: Reading and writing with developing fluency, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing strategically and representing creatively.

3. Rescued Boy Becomes a Rescuer

When he was six years old, Orlando Morel spent days drifting on the ocean after leaving the Caribbean nation of Haiti to reach America to the north. He might have died if not for the United States Coast Guard, which picked him, his mother and several other passengers up from their small boat. His mother went to Bethesda Naval Hospital to be treated for cancer and burns on her hands. An interpreter who worked with his mother eventually took Morel in and ended up adopting him after his mother died. Now 24, Morel is graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and is pursuing a career with the very group that rescued him 18 years ago. His adopted mother reminded him often that it was the Coast Guard that saved his life, and he said he now wants to help save the lives of others. As a class, find a newspaper story about someone wanting to do something for others. Write a summary of the story, and draw a picture to go with it.

Core/National Standards: Writing informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information; adding drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points.

4. Whap, Bam, Boom!

Long before there were Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, there were Punch and Judy, a pair of popular puppets. Recently, hundreds of puppeteers gathered in the European city of London to celebrate 350 years of Punch and Judy puppet shows. The shows have been popular at English seaside towns for centuries, and usually are done with just one puppeteer behind a red and white striped booth. The puppet shows feature Mr. Punch; his wife, Judy; their baby; and a variety of other characters, such as police officers, ghosts, crocodiles and other creatures. One of Punch’s main opponents tends to be Judy herself. They fight a lot and tend to bop one another on top of the head with small sticks. Supporters compare it to watching a live cartoon. In teams or alone, search your newspaper for a fun story that you could turn into a puppet show. Write and perform the puppet show for your class.

Core/National Standard: Writing narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events.

5. Follow That Story!

Many news stories don’t just appear one day and then disappear. Reporters constantly are updating stories with new stories. For example, the NBA playoffs are under way, and sports reporters didn’t write just one story saying the games are happening. Instead, they write stories about every game and who did what each night. That also goes for news stories. Reporters didn’t write just one story saying we are having a presidential election this year. They write many articles as the contest continues. Such stories are called “ongoing stories” because the news goes on for a long time. As a class, pick an ongoing news story. With a big piece of butcher paper, create a timeline and show changes and new developments in the story over the next two weeks.

Core/National Standard: Explaining the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events or ideas.