1. White Lions Go Wild

White lions are rare in the wild, but more and more of them have been bred in zoos around the world. Now a group of white lions - called a "pride" - has been released into the wild at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in South Africa. The two adult males and two young females will be able to roam wherever they like on the 100,000-acre reserve, but scientists say they expect them to eventually come back together. White lions were first spotted in the wild 400 years ago, and this group was bred under the White Lion Project sponsored by the Shamwari Dubai World Africa Conservation team. As a class, talk about different ways people can help endangered or rare animals. Make a master list of endangered animals as a class. Then choose one and design a public service ad for the newspaper showing ways people could help protect this animal.

Learning Standards: Describing positive and negative effects of humans on nature, wildlife and the environment; reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively.

2. Solar System Alert

Scientists who study space are always looking for solar systems like ours, in which the Earth and other planets orbit around the sun. For the first time, astronomers think they've found one around a star that is close enough to be seen from Earth without a telescope. They say one and possibly three planets are orbiting the star Epsilon Eridani, which is about 63 trillion miles from Earth. The star is slightly smaller and cooler than our sun and is located near the constellation Orion that has a "belt" of stars in a row in its middle. The scientists are interested in this system because they think it is a lot like our solar system when it was younger. As a class talk about the different reasons scientists study space. Then look for stories about space missions in the newspaper or online. Write a paragraph describing the goal of one, or what has been discovered.

Learning Standard: Understanding the nature of scientific inquiry; explaining how we learn about the universe; showing how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world contexts.

3. What a Pooch!

On the continent of Australia, a dog has been praised as a hero after it risked its life to save a litter of newborn kittens in a fire. The dog, a terrier cross named Leo, wouldn't leave the side of the kittens when fire broke out in a house in the city of Melbourne. The dog had to be revived with oxygen and a heart massage when firefighters pulled him from the building. The kittens also survived the fire, despite heavy smoke. Pets often do amazing things. Talk about pets you or your classmates have and some of the most interesting things they have done. Then work with your teacher to find other pet stories in the newspaper or on the Internet. Use what you find to write the beginning of an adventure story in which one pet would be the hero. Or write a story featuring a pet you own. Give your story a creative title and share with the class.

Learning Standard: Responding to visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; writing fluently and creatively for multiple purposes.

4. Garbage Power

With prices high for gas and oil, people are looking for new ways to generate energy and electric power. In states around the nation, scientists, energy companies and government leaders are looking to garbage for answers. In 455 landfills, energy companies and scientists are using a gas produced when garbage and trash break down to run power plants that generate electricity. The gas, called methane, continues to be produced even after landfills close, and the state of New Jersey hopes to produce 30 percent of its electricity from methane by the year 2020. As a class, talk about the things for which people use electricity and other kinds of power. Then find stories about gas, oil or new forms of energy in the newspaper. Discuss what is making news and why it is important to kids and their families.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; showing how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world contexts.

5. Here Comes the Sun

Fall is under way and from now until the first day of winter December 21, there will be less sunshine each day. The sun doesn't make the news very often, and sometimes we take it for granted. However, every picture taken outside during the daytime shows the sun's effect on the world. Where the sun can't reach, there are shadows. Cut out five daytime outside pictures from today's newspaper. Paste them on larger pieces of paper. Using a flashlight to represent the sun, experiment and figure out where the sun must be in each of the pictures. Draw the sun where you decide it is on each of the larger sheets.

Learning Standard: Designing and conducting simple investigations; explaining how shadows are made.