1. Conflicts

In school or life, people don't always get along. That's perfectly normal. But when there are conflicts, it's important they don't become violent. A new computer game called "Cool School: Where Peace Rules" has just been developed to teach kids how to resolve conflicts without violence. Even better, the game is being made available free to classrooms through a non-profit education Web site www.curriki.org. As a class, talk about ways kids can resolve conflicts without getting violent. Then design a public service ad for the newspaper highlighting three ways to resolve conflicts without violence.

Learning Standard: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about issues; reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively.

2. Get Active ... Bit by Bit

Being active and physically fit is important for good health. But with television, computers and fewer gym classes at school, many kids don't get the 60 minutes of exercise they need each day. Now a University of Missouri fitness expert has created a program called Smart Moves to increase physical activity while kids are in school. The program developed by Steve Ball has students do physical activities for short periods during the day, rather than going to gym class for 60 minutes at a time. They get the same amount of exercise but in small bits. In teams or pairs, look through the newspaper for ways you could get exercise or be active. Pick one and write a sentence or two explaining how this exercise would help you and why you would like doing it.

Learning Standard: Comprehending what constitutes good health and fitness; acquiring information from multiple sources and then evaluating, organizing and communicating it in various contexts.

3. Exploring Saturn

As a space probe, the unmanned Cassini craft has been a great success exploring the moons of the planet Saturn. Now Cassini will get another two years to explore the famous ringed planet, thanks to a decision by America's NASA space agency and the European and Italian space agencies. The three agencies run Cassini together as part of an international agreement. The extra two years will give Cassini a chance to make 60 more revolutions around Saturn and fly by its biggest moon, Titan. As a class, find a story in the newspaper about exploring space. Talk about what scientists hope to learn and what they have learned already. Then draw a comic strip for the newspaper, showing you and your friends on a space mission you would like to take.

Learning Standards: Explaining how we learn about the universe; using the craft of the illustrator to formulate and express ideas artistically.

4. Tiger's Out

Golf great Tiger Woods has just announced he will miss at least a month of competition after having surgery on his left knee. The surgery repaired damaged cartilage in the knee that had been causing pain and discomfort since the middle of last year. Medicine and health make news every day. As a class, find a story in the newspaper about medicine or health and read it together. Then talk about whom the news affects most. Finish by talking about health and medicine issues that are most important to your family.

Learning Standard: Showing how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world-contexts; generating questions about issues that affect students or topics about which they are curious.

5. A Park at Sea

Central Park in New York City is one of the world's most famous parks. Now vacation travelers on a huge new cruise ship will get to feel like they're enjoying Central Park -- while out on the ocean! Royal Caribbean Cruises announced this month that a mini-Central Park the size of a football field will be featured in the center of its new Project Genesis ship, which will be the world's largest cruise ship when it is launched next year. Cruise ships, amusement parks and vacation resorts are always looking for new ways to attract visitors. With a partner, brainstorm ideas for a vacation attraction that you would like. Draw an ad for the newspaper showing the highlights of your attraction.

Learning Standard: Responding to a variety of written, visual and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others.